What Happened Today In Music

January 11th

1958 - Elvis Presley

The release date for the Elvis Presley single 'Jailhouse Rock' was put back a week after Decca Records pressing plant in the UK were unable to meet the advance orders of 250,000 copies. Some of the characters named in the song are real people. Shifty Henry was a well-known LA musician, not a criminal. The Purple Gang was a real mob. "Sad Sack" was a U.S. Army nickname in World War II for a loser.

1962 - Cliff Richard

Cliff Richard was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Young Ones'. It stayed at the top of the charts for six weeks and made Cliff the first UK artist to enter the chart at No.1.

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles recorded their first national TV show 'Thank Your Lucky Stars'. They mimed to their new single 'Please Please Me' which was released on this day.

1964 - The Kingsmen

'Louie Louie' by The Kingsmen was the No.1 song on the US Cash Box music chart. For a while, the record was banned by a handful of US radio stations because of its indecipherable lyrics, which were rumored to contain some naughty words. Even the F.B.I. investigated the song, but finally concluded that they could find nothing wrong.

1964 - Johnny Cash

Ring Of Fire The Best of Johnny Cash became the first No.1 album when Billboard debuted their Country Album Chart. It was his sixteenth album in total and the first compilations album by Cash.

1967 - Jimi Hendrix

The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded 'Purple Haze' at De Lane Lea studios in London. Hendrix later stated 'The Purple Haze,' was about a dream he had and that he was walking under the sea." In concert, Hendrix sometimes substituted lyrics for comic effect; "'scuse me while I kiss the sky" was rendered "'scuse me while I kiss this guy" (while gesturing towards his drummer Mitch Mitchell).

1973 - The Rolling Stones

It was confirmed that the forthcoming Rolling Stones tour of Japan had been cancelled, despite record breaking ticket sales. Mick Jagger had earlier been informed that he was banned from entering the country because of a drugs conviction.

1975 - Pink Floyd

The Alan Freeman BBC Radio 1 show broadcast a Pink Floydshow recorded at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England on 16th Nov 1974. The band had played four nights at Wembley on their The Dark Side Of The Moon tour and tapes from these shows have been remixed.

1975 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin played their first concert in 18 months when they appeared at the Ahoy, Rotterdam, Holland, playing one of two warm-up shows for their forthcoming North American tour. The set list included some new songs: 'Sick Again', 'The Rain Song', 'Kashmir', 'No Quarter' and 'Trampled Under Foot'.

1985 - Rod Stewart

A Brazilian rock Festival held in Rio, claimed to be the biggest ever staged. The festival featured; Queen, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Whitesnake, Yes and Iron Maiden.

1986 - Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys scored their first UK No.1 single with 'West End Girls.' The first version of the song was released in April 1984, becoming a club hit in the United States, after the duo signed with EMI, the song was re-recorded with producer Stephen Hague.

1992 - Nirvana

Nirvana appeared on NBC-TV's Saturday Night Live performing two songs, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and 'Territorial Pissings'. Also on this day the group's Nevermind went to No.1 on the US album chart.

1998 - Oasis

Rolling Stone magazine readers poll picked 'Be Here Now' by Oasis as album of the year.

1999 - Barry Pritchard

Barry Pritchard guitarist and singer with The Fortunes died of a heart attack. The group's biggest hit was 'You've Got Your Troubles' which was a UK No.2 hit in 1965, also reaching No.7 seven in the US.

2000 - Whitney Houston

It was reported that Whitney Houston was under investigation after allegedly trying to smuggle 15.2 grams of Marijuana out of Hawaii. A security officer found the drug in the singer's handbag, Houston then walked away when he tried to detain her.

2002 - Mickey Finn

Mickey Finn percussionist and sideman to Marc Bolan in Tyrannosaurus Rex (T. Rex), died of kidney and liver problems aged 55. (1971 UK No.1 single 'Hot Love', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles).

2003 - Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend issued a public statement denying being a paedophile after his name was linked with a police Internet porn inquiry. But The Who guitarist did admit studying child pornography for research into a campaign against it.

2005 - James Griffin

Former Bread guitarist and Academy Award-winning songwriter James Griffin died at his home in Nashville at the age of 61 after suffering from cancer. Bread had the 1970s hits 'Make It With You', 'Baby I'm-a Want You', and 'Everything I Own.'

2008 - Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams' manager told The Times newspaper that the singer would refuse to make another album for his record label EMI, saying he was unhappy after the label was taken over by Terra Firma. Tim Clark told the paper Williams would not deliver a new album because he had no idea how the label would handle it. Williams had sold 47 million albums around the world since leaving Take That in 1995, making him one of EMI's most successful artists.

2008 - Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr helped launch the celebrations for Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture. He was joined by acrobats who dangled on wires from cranes as the opening party kicked off a year-long programme of more than 350 events.Organisers hoped the Capital of Culture tag would attract an extra two million visitors to Liverpool and boost the economy by £100m.

2016 - David Bowie

David Bowie topped the UK album chart with his latest release Blackstar less than 24 hours after his death. With sales of over 43,000 units the album outsold its nearest competitor, Elvis Presley's If I Can Dream, by 25,000.

2017 - Tommy Allsup

Rockabilly guitarist Tommy Allsup, who narrowly avoided boarding the plane that killed Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, died aged 85. The musician famously lost a coin toss for a seat on the plane. His place was taken by teen star Ritchie Valens, who also perished when the plane crashed. Allsup went on to become a Grammy-winning musician, who played with Merle Haggard, Roy Orbison and Willie Nelson.

2021 - Senseless Things

Mark Keds the former frontman with early 90s British indie-punks Senseless Things died of unspecified causes at the age of 50. Keds was also briefly a member of The Wildhearts, as well as Jolt, Lams, Trip Fontaine and Deadcuts.

Born Today In Music

January 11th

1895 - Laurens Hammond

Laurens Hammond, inventor of the Hammond organ. The sound of the Hammond was used by many rock artists including; Procol Harum, Keith Emerson, Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers Band and the Faces. Hammond died on 3rd July 1973.

1924 - Slim Harpo

American blues musician Slim Harpo. His most successful and influential recordings included ‘I'm a King Bee’ (1957), ‘Rainin' In My Heart’ (1961), and ‘Baby Scratch My Back’ (1966). A master of the blues harmonica, his stage name was derived from the popular nickname for that instrument, the "harp". He died of a heart attack on 31 January 1970 aged 46.

1933 - Goldie Hill

American country music singer Goldie Hill. She became one of the first women to reach the top of the country music charts with her 1953 No.1 hit, 'I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes'. Along with Kitty Wells, she helped set the standard for later women in country music. Hill died from complications of cancer on 24 Feb 2005. 

1942 - Clarence Clemons

Clarence Clemons, also known as The Big Man, saxophonist with E Street Band, (1987 UK No.16 single Born To Run). He released several solo albums and in 1985, had a hit single with "You're a Friend of Mine," a duet with Jackson Browne and as an actor Clemons featured in several films, including New York, New York and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Clemons died from complications caused by a stroke on June 18, 2011.

1946 - Naomi Judd

American country music singer Naomi Judd. With her daughter, Wynonna Judd, she formed the highly successful singing duo known as the Judds. They scored twenty top-10 country hits (including fifteen at No.1) and went undefeated for eight consecutive years at all three major country music awards shows. In addition, the duo won five Grammy Awards. 

1946 - Tony Kaye

English keyboardist, songwriter, producer and manager Tony Kaye. He was a founding member of the rock band Yes and later played in Badfinger. 

1948 - Terry Williams

Welsh rock drummer Terry Williams, who has worked with Dire Straits, Dave Edmunds' band Love Sculpture, Graham Parker, Man, Nick Lowe, The Everly Brothers, Tina Turner and others.

1949 - Daryl Braithwaite

Australian singer Daryl Braithwaite, lead vocalist of Sherbet who scored 15 singles in the Australian top 40, including two No.1 hits. ‘Howzat (1976) was also a top 5 UK hit. 

1949 - Frederick Dennis Greene

Frederick Dennis Greene, who was a member of Sha Na Na, the US rock 'n' roll group. Sha Na Na hosted the Sha Na Na syndicated variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981.

1951 - Charlie Huhn

American rock singer and guitarist Charlie Huhn. He has worked with many artists including, Ted Nugent, Gary Moore, Trevor Rabin, Humble Pie and Foghat. 

1956 - Big Bank Hank

Big Bank Hank (Henry Lee Jackson), rapper from The Sugarhill Gang who were the first hip hop act to have a hit with the cross-over single 'Rapper's Delight' in the pop charts in 1979. He died on Nov 11th 2014 aged 58 from kidney complications due to cancer.

1958 - Vicki Peterson

Vicki Peterson, guitar, vocals, The Bangles, (1986 UK No.2 single with the Prince song 'Manic Monday', 1986 US No.1 single 'Walk Like An Egyptian').

1968 - Tom Dumont

Tom Dumont, No Doubt, (1997 UK No.1 single 'Don't Speak').

1971 - Mary J. Blige

Mary Jane Blige, American R&B soul singer, songwriter, actress. (1997 US No.1 album, 'Share My World', 1999 UK No.4 single' 'As', 2001 US No.1 single, 'Family Affair', 2006 US No.1 album 'The Breakthrough'). Blige has sold over 60 million records world-wide and is known as the 'Queen of hip-hop soul.'

1971 - Tom Rowlands

Tom Rowlands, from English electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers who had the 1996 UK No.1 single 'Setting Sun', and the 2007 UK No.1 album We Are The Night.

1981 - Thomas Meighan

Thomas Meighan, lead singer, Kasabian, (2005 UK No.8 single 'Cutt Off', 2006 UK No.1 album 'Empire'). Kasabian won a Brit Award in 2010 for Best British Group.

1981 - Jamelia

Jamelia, UK R&B singer, (2003, UK No.4 album 'Thank You').

1985 - Newton Faulkner

Newton Faulkner, UK singer, songwriter, (2007 UK No.1 album 'Hand Built By Robots', 2007 UK Top 10 single 'Dream Catch Me').