What Happened Today In Music

January 22nd

1959 - Buddy Holly

Alone with an acoustic guitar and tape recorder in his New York City apartment Buddy Holly made his last recordings, including ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’, ‘Crying, Waiting, Hoping’, ‘That's What They Say’, ‘What To Do’, ‘Learning The Game’ and ‘That Makes It Tough’. The recordings would be overdubbed posthumously and were later released by Coral Records.

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles appeared on three UK radio programs. First The Beatles recorded a session for the show Pop Inn at the BBC Paris studio, they then went to the Playhouse Theatre also in London, to tape a radio appearance on Saturday Club, recording five songs. Then the Beatles went back to the BBC Paris studio to record an appearance on The Talent Spot recording 'Please Please Me', 'Ask Me Why' and 'Some Other Guy' before a live audience.

1966 - The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys went into Gold Star studios to record 'Wouldn't It Be Nice', which would be the opening track on their forthcoming album Pet Sounds. The musicians present on the day were The Wrecking Crew including Hal Blaine on drums and Carol Kaye on electric bass. 

1967 - Monkees

The Monkees performed live for the very first time at The Cow Palace, San Francisco to a sell-out crowd.

1969 - The Beatles

The Beatles moved from Twickenham Film Studios to Apple studios in London to start recording the "Get Back" LP. Billy Preston was brought into the sessions (John, Paul, and George knew Preston from 1962, when he was a member of Little Richard's backing group). The Beatles were determined to record the album "live", flaws and all.

1970 - Bruce Springsteen

Steel Mill, (featuring Bruce Springsteen) opened for The Elvin Bishop Band at The Matrix in San Francisco, California. Steel Mill were paid only $5 for the gig, The Elvin Bishop Band received $90 as headliner.

1972 - David Bowie

David Bowie 'came out' as bisexual during an interview in the British music weekly Melody Maker.

1972 - Don McLean

Don McLean's album 'American Pie' started a seven week run at No.1 in the US album chart.

1977 - Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Wings Over America', Paul McCartney's sixth US No.1 after The Beatles.

1983 - MTV

The new 24-hour music video network MTV started broadcasting to the West Coast of America after being picked up by Group W Cable, Los Angeles.

1987 - Steve 'Silk' Hurley

One Hit Wonder Steve 'Silk' Hurley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Jack Your Body', the first 'House' record to top the UK chart.

1994 - D:Ream

D:Ream had their first UK No.1 single with 'Things Can Only Get Better', it stayed at No.1 for four weeks. In 1997 the track was adopted by the UK Labour Party as their theme for the 1997 UK General Election. Keyboard player Brian Cox became a renowned physicist and science broadcaster on the BBC.

1994 - Telly Savalas

American actor and singer Telly Savalas died of prostate cancer aged 72. He scored the 1975 UK No.1 single 'If'. Played Lt. Theo Kojak a bald New York City detective in the television series Kojak, with a fondness for lollipops and whose trademark line was "Who loves ya, baby?"

1994 - Rhett Forrester

American musician Rhett Forrester was shot and killed at a Northwest Atlanta intersection after he refused to give up his vehicle in an attempted carjacking, he was 37 years old. He was best known as the lead singer for New York-based band Riot from 1981 until 1984.

1997 - Billy MacKenzie

Scottish singer Billy MacKenzie from The Associates committed suicide aged 39 after he overdosed on a combination of paracetamol and prescription medication in the garden shed of his father's house in Auchterhouse, Scotland. The Associates debut single, a cover of David Bowie's 'Boys Keep Swinging', was released June 1979, just six weeks after Bowie's version hit the UK Top 10 in April.

2002 - Peter Bardens

English keyboardist Peter Bardens died from lung cancer aged 57. He was a founder member of the British progressive rock group Camel and during his career, Bardens also worked alongside Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood and Van Morrison, and recorded solo albums.

2004 - Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams broke a wrist after falling during a gig at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool. Adam's fell from the stage and suffered a fractured wrist. A fan said, 'One minute he was on the stage and the next he had disappeared. He went down with a thud and we couldn't believe he was trying to continue singing'.

2005 - Craig David

One of the biggest charity concerts since Live Aid raised £1.25 million ($2 million) for victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The concert held at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff featured Eric Clapton, Manic Street Preachers, Keane, Charlotte Church, Snow Patrol, Embrace, Feeder, Craig David and Liberty X, who appeared before 60,000 fans at the sold-out concert.

2006 - Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys scored their second UK No.1 single with 'When The Sun Goes Down', from their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. The song contains the line, "and he told Roxanne to put on her red light," a reference to The Policesong, Roxanne.

2012 - Adele

Adele broke an American chart record that has stood for years after being set by The Beatles and Pink Floyd. The singers second album 21 clocked up 16 weeks at No.1 on the US chart matching the success of the Titanic original soundtrack. '21', released last January had now beaten The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's and Pink Floyd's The Wall which had previously held the accolade with runs of 15 weeks at No.1.

2015 - Rihanna

In the first successful celebrity case of its kind, Rihanna won a legal battle against UK high street store Topshop over a T-shirt bearing her image. The Court of Appeal in London upheld a ban on the store selling a sleeveless T-shirt featuring a photo of the star without obtaining her permission. The star had sued Topshop's parent company Arcadia for $5m (£3.3m) back in 2013 over the T-shirts, which featured a photo taken during a video shoot in 2011.

2017 - Pete Overend Watts

English bass guitar player Pete Overend Watts and founding member of the 1970s rock band, Mott the Hoople died from throat cancer aged 69. Watts helped start the Buddies with guitarist Mick Ralphs, a band that evolved into Mott the Hoople after periods in which it was known as the Doc Thomas Group, the Shakedown Sound, then Silence. They became Mott the Hoople after Ian Hunter joined in 1969. Watts continued with Dale Griffin, Morgan Fisher and Ray Major in the Mott successor British Lions. He later became a record producer, producing albums for artists including Hanoi Rocks and Dumb Blondes.

2017 - Jaki Liebezeit

German drummer Jaki Liebezeit died of pneumonia aged 78. He was best known as a founding member of the experimental rock band Can who were hailed as pioneers of the German krautrock scene. He also worked with Jah Wobble, Depeche Mode and Brian Eno.

2021 - James Purify

James Purify died Pensacola, Florida, of complications due to COVID-19. The R&B singing duo, James & Bobby Purify biggest hit was ‘I'm Your Puppet’ in 1966, which reached No.6 in the US Billboard Hot 100. 

Born Today In Music

January 22nd

1931 - Sam Cooke

American singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur Sam Cooke who had the 1957 US No.1 & UK No.29 single 'You Send Me' and a 1986 UK No.2 single with 'Wonderful World', (which was first released in 1960). He began singing as a child and joined The Soul Stirrers before moving to a solo career. Cooke died on December 11th 1964 at the Hacienda Motel, at 9137 South Figueroa Street, in Los Angeles, California after he sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.

1940 - Addie Harris

Addie Harris, singer with American girl group The Shirelles, notable for their popularity in the early 1960s. They were the first all-female black group to have a No.1 hit record with 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' in 1961. Harris died on 10th June 1982.

1947 - Malcolm Mclaren

Malcolm Mclaren, manager of the Sex Pistols and solo artist, (1983 UK No.3 single 'Double Dutch'). Died aged 64 from cancer on 8th April 2010.

1949 - Steve Perry

Steve Perry, vocals, Journey, who had the 1982 US No.2 single 'Open Arms', and the solo 1984 US No.3 hit single, Oh, Sherrie'.

1949 - Nigel Pegrum

English drummer Nigel Pegrum who was in an early line-up of the Small Faces, then played drums with Lee Grant And The Capitols before joining Spice, who subsequently changed their name to Uriah Heep. He was also a member of English folk rock band Steeleye Span who formed in 1969. They had the 1975 UK No.5 single 'All Around My Hat'.

1949 - Vini Lopez

American drummer Vini Lopez. Between 1968 and 1974 Lopez backed Bruce Springsteen in several bands, including Steel Mill and the E Street Band. He also played on Springsteen's first two albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle.

1960 - Michael Hutchence

Michael Hutchence, singer, songwriter from Australian rock band INXS, who had the 1988 UK No.2 & US No.1 single 'Need You Tonight'. Their 1987 album Kick has sold over 10m copies in the US alone and features four Top 10 singles; 'Need You Tonight,' 'Devil Inside', 'New Sensation,' and 'Never Tear Us Apart.' INXS has sold over 55 million records worldwide. Hutchence was found dead in his hotel suite in Sydney on 22nd Nov 1997 age 37. Hutchence body was found naked behind the door to his room, he had apparently hanged himself.

1965 - Jazzy Jeff

DJ Jazzy Jeff, (1993 UK No.1 single 'Boom! Shake The Room').

1965 - Roachford

Roachford, UK singer, (1989 UK No.4 single 'Cuddly Toy').

1965 - Steven Adler

American drummer Steven Adler, a member of Guns N' Roses, from 1985 - 1990. He appeared in the reality TV show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, as well as on the first season of its spin-off Sober House.