What Happened Today In Music

December 27th

1960 - The Beatles

The Beatles appeared at Litherland Town Hall Ballroom in Liverpool. Added to the bill at the last minute, The Beatles were not advertised to appear, so banners had been pasted onto advertising posters, saying "Direct From Hamburg, The Beatles!" Since The Beatles were playing in an area they'd only played in once before, most of the audience assumes they were a German group.

1963 - Lennon and McCartney

The music critics from the UK newspaper The Times, named John Lennon and Paul McCartney as The Outstanding Composers of 1963. Two days later, the Sunday Times' music critic Richard Buckle proclaims the same two songwriters "the greatest composers since Beethoven."

1967 - The Doors

The Doors appeared on the Jonathon Winters Show CBS TV show from Los Angeles, California.

1969 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin II was at No.1 on the US album charts, (the band's first album to reach No.1 on charts in the UK and the US), it went on to sell over six million copies in the US alone. The album's cover designer David Juniper was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.

1969 - Diana Ross

Diana Ross and The Supremes went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Someday We'll Be Together', the group's 12th US No.1. A No.13 hit in the UK.

1975 - Queen

Queen started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with A Night At The Opera, the group's first No.1 album.

1975 - Rod Stewart

The Faces split became official. Rod Stewart had severed all connections with the group to work as a solo artist, Ronnie Woodwas on permanent loan to the Stones, Ronnie Lane went on to form Slim Chance and drummer Kenny Jones joined The Who.

1975 - Staple Singers

The Staple Singers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let's Do It Again' the group's second US No.1.

1975 - Morrissey

Future Smiths singer Steve Morrissey had a letter published in this week's music magazine the NME, complaining about the lack of media coverage for the New York Dolls.

1978 - Chris Bell

American singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Bell from Big Star was killed after his car crashed into a telephone pole, he was 27. Bell inspired the likes of Beck, R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, Wilco, The Posies, and The Replacements, all of which have covered his music or name-dropped Big Star in the press.

1980 - John Lennon

John and Yoko's Double Fantasy album started an eight-week run at No.1 on the US chart. 'Just Like Starting Over' started a five-week stay at No.1 on the singles chart.

1981 - Hoagy Carmichael

American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader Hoagy Carmichael died aged 82. Composer of 'Georgia On My Mind', (covered by many acts including Ray Charles), 'Star Dust' and 'Lazy River'.

1983 - Bob Kuban & The In-Men

Walter Scott lead singer of Bob Kuban & The In-Men, who scored a 1966 US hit with ‘The Cheater’, was seen alive for the last time. On April 10th, 1987, his badly decomposed, bound body was found floating face down in a cistern, he’d been shot in the back. Scott's second wife, Jo Ann Calceterra, pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution in his murder and received a five-year sentence. Her boyfriend (whom she married in 1986), James H. Williams Sr. was found guilty of two counts of capital murder in the deaths of Walter Scott as well as his previous wife, Sharon Williams. James Williams received two life terms.

1986 - Jackie Wilson

Jackie Wilson had the UK Christmas No.1 single with 'Reet Petite' two years after Wilson's death, following its use in a commercial for Levi's. Written in 1957 by Berry Gordy and Tyran Carlo, the success of the song helped Gordy fund the launch of MotownRecords.

1989 - Chuck Berry

A former chef at the Chuck Berry owned restaurant Southern Air started court proceedings against Berry alleging that the singer had installed secret video cameras in the ladies toilets. A further 200 other women also took action claiming that the recordings were used for improper sexual fetishes.

1997 - Spice Girls

The Spice Girls went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Too Much'. The group set another new world record as their first six singles all made No.1.

1999 - Jennifer Lopez

Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs and his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were arrested after a gun was found in their car as they left a Manhattan nightclub. Police were investigating a shooting in the club.

2005 - Axel F

It was announced that ‘Crazy Frog’ by Axel F was the best selling UK ringtone of 2005. ‘Tweet Tweet’ by Sweetie Chick was the second and ‘(Is This The Way To) Amarillo’ by Tony Christie and Peter Kay was the third biggest seller. The UK ringtone market was now worth more than double the value of the CD singles sales.

2008 - The Allman Brothers Band

Thieves broke into a house belonging to The Allman Brothers Band singer and keyboardist Gregg Allman in Georgia and stole a coin collection, knives and unreleased concert recordings. Two men where charged with the burglary two days later.

2008 - Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift started a seven-week run at No.1 on the US album charts with Fearless. The album was the best-selling album of 2009, making Swift, 18 at the time of the album's release, the youngest artist to have the best-selling album of a calendar year. The album is certified diamond by RIAA and has sold over 7.18 million copies.

2008 - Delaney Bramlett

Singer, songwriter, guitarist, Delaney Bramlett died in Los Angeles from complications after gall bladder surgery. Was a member of Delaney, Bonnie & Friends and worked with George Harrison, The Everly Brothers, John Lennon, Janis Joplin, J.J. Cale, and Eric Clapton.

2015 - Stevie Wright

Singer Stevie Wright died aged 68. During 1964–69 he was lead singer of Sydney-based band the Easybeats, who had the 1966 world-wide hit 'Friday on My Mind'. The Easybeats were widely regarded as the greatest Australian pop band of the 1960s.

Born Today In Music

December 27th

1931 - Scotty Moore

Scotty Moore, guitarist, whose first group was Doug Poindexter & the Starlite Wranglers. He played on the first Sun Studios session with Elvis Presley and went on to a lengthy career with Presley, playing on many of his most famous recordings including 'Baby Let's Play House', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Mystery Train', 'That's All Right', 'Hound Dog' and 'Jailhouse Rock'. Moore died on 28th June 2016 aged 84.

1941 - Les Maguire

Les Maguire, who with Gerry And The Pacemakers had the 1963 UK No.1 single 'How Do You Do It' and the 1965 US No.6 single, 'Ferry Cross The Mersey'. In common with The Beatles they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein, and were recorded by George Martin.

1941 - Mike Pinder

Mike Pinder, Keyboards with English rock band The Moody Blues who had the 1965 UK No.1 & US No.10 single 'Go Now' and the hits singles including 'Go Now', 'Nights in White Satin' and 'Question'.

1942 - Mike Heron

Mike Heron, The Incredible String Band, UK folk group, (1967 album 'The 5000 Spirits or The Layers Of The Onion).

1944 - Mick Jones

Mick Jones, guitarist with English-American rock band Foreigner, who scored the 1985 UK & US No.1 single 'I Want To Know What Love Is'. They are one of the world's best-selling bands of all time with worldwide sales of more than 80 million records. Prior to Foreigner, Jones was in the band Spooky Tooth.

1948 - Martin Birch

British music producer and sound engineer Martin Birch. He became renowned for engineering and producing albums recorded predominantly by British rock bands, including Deep Purple, Rainbow, Fleetwood Mac, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. He died on 6 Aug 2020 age 71. 

1948 - Larry Byrom

Larry Byrom, guitarist from Steppenwolf who had the 1969 US No.2 hit single 'Born To Be Wild'. Steppenwolf sold over 25 million records worldwide, released eight gold albums and scored 12 Billboard Hot 100 singles.

1952 - David Knopfler

British singer-songwriter, guitarist, David Knopfler, (the younger brother of guitarist Mark Knopfler). He is a co-founder of the rock band Dire Straits, with whom he spent three years. After quitting the band, Knopfler embarked upon a solo career.

1961 - Youth

Youth, record producer and a founding member and bassist of Killing Joke who had the 1985 UK No.16 single 'Love Like Blood'. As a producer he has worked with U2 and he is a member of The Fireman, along with Paul McCartney.

1972 - Matt Slocum

Matt Slocum, guitarist, keyboards, Sixpence None The Richer, (1999 UK No.4 single, 'Kiss Me', 1999 US No.8 single 'There She Goes').

1984 - Spectacular Blue Smith

Spectacular Blue Smith, singer, from American R&B/hip hop group Pretty Ricky who scored the 2007 US No.1 album Late Night Special.

1988 - Hayley Williams

Hayley Williams, singer, from American rock band Paramore, who had the 2009 UK No.1 album Brand New Eyes and their 2013 self-titled fourth studio album hit No.1 on the US chart.