What Happened Today In Music

February 18th

1959 - Ray Charles

Ray Charles recorded 'What'd I Say', in New York City. The song had evolved in concert as a call-and-response between Charles and his female back-up singers. It became Charles' biggest hit to date, reaching No.1 on the R&B and No.6 on the pop charts.

1962 - Ed Sullivan

On weekend leave from marine training, The Everly Brothers appeared on the US Ed Sullivan show, in full uniform and with regulation cropped hair, singing their new single, 'Crying In The Rain'.

1965 - The Kinks

The Kinks were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Tired Of Waiting For You', the group's second UK No.1. According to Ray Davies, the music for 'Tired of Waiting for You' was written on the train to the recording studio and the words were written at a coffee shop during a break in the session. 

1965 - The Beatles

Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded two new songs: John Lennon's 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away' and a new Paul McCartney song 'Tell Me What You See'.

1966 - Brian Wilson

Beach Boy Brian Wilson recorded the future classic song 'Good Vibrations', which went on to become the band's third US number-one hit. As a child, his mother told him that dogs could pick up "vibrations" from people, so that the dog would bark at "bad vibrations" Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.

1969 - Lulu

Three thousand uninvited guests showed up to see Lulu and The Bee Gees Maurice Gibb get married at St. James' Church, Gerrard's Cross, England. Brother Barry was the best man.

1972 - Led Zeppelin

On their first Australian tour, Led Zeppelin rescheduled to the following night their concert at the Memorial Drive, Adelaide, after heavy rain left the stage and equipment unsafe. Zeppelin had brought to Adelaide the largest PA system seen in Australia to produce what was expected to be the loudest rock show ever heard.

1990 - Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury made his final public appearance on stage when he joined the rest of Queen to collect the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, held at the Dominion Theatre, London, England.

1995 - Bob Stinson

American guitarist Bob Stinson from The Replacements died from a drug overdose, his body was found in his Uptown, Minneapolis apartment. Founding member of The Replacements, was also a member of Static Taxi.

1998 - Noel Gallagher

Oasis' Noel Gallagher's Epiphone Supernova guitar raised £4,600 ($7,820) in aid of Children In Need at a Bonhams auction held in London, England.

2000 - John Lennon

An American court ordered the release of FBI files relating to John Lennon's interests and activities including his support for the Irish Republican cause and the Workers Revolutionary Party. The British Government told the US that it wanted the files to remain secret. MI5 also had files on Lennon, which they had passed on the FBI during the 70s.

2004 - Dido

Dido entered a Top 10 of the music world's biggest earners after making £15.8 million ($26.9 million) in 2003. The singer's second album Life For Rent was the previous years biggest selling UK album. The Rolling Stones topped the Heat magazine rich list having earned £55.3 million ($94 million) in 2003.

2004 - Marilyn Manson

A court case accusing Marilyn Manson of sexual assault was dismissed after the two sides reached a settlement. Security guard Joshua Keasler had sued Manson after the star allegedly put his legs around Keasler's neck and gyrated against him on stage at a gig in Detroit, Michigan in 2001. Manson was ordered to pay $4,000 (£2,091) in fines and costs in the criminal proceedings.

2005 - Britney Spears

Britney Spears attacked a US magazine after it published photographs of her honeymoon without permission. Weekly publication Us printed five pages of pictures of Spears and husband Kevin Federline on holiday in Fiji. A statement from US said: "Britney should start her own magazine if she'd like to dictate her own coverage."

2008 - Carpenters

Carpenters fans were objecting to plans to have pop duo's former family home in Downey, south of Los Angeles knocked down. The current owners of the house, said they objected to fans looking in the windows and leaving floral tributes. The five-bedroom house was immortalised when it featured on the cover of The Carpenters' 1973 hit album Now & Then.

2009 - Duffy

Welsh songstress Duffy won three trophies at this years Brit awards, taking home Best British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act and British Album of the Year for her debut Rockferry. Kings of Leon won International Group and International Album for Only By The Night, International Male and Female Solo Artists were Kanye West and Katy Perry. British Male Solo Artist went to Paul Weller, Iron Maiden won British Live Act and Elbow won Best British Group. Outstanding Contribution to Music went to the Pet Shop Boys.

2009 - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's management team announced that The King Of Pop was set to auction off his American Music Award for Thriller, his Gold and Platinum records, a Rolls Royce limousine, a customized Harley Davidson, a velvet cape given to him by his children for Father's Day in 1998, a pair of rhinestone-trimmed socks from 1981, a basketball signed by Michael Jordan and his own original artwork.

2012 - Whitney

Whitney Houston had an invitation-only memorial at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Among those who performed at the funeral were Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and R. Kelly. Kevin Costner read a moving and personal Eulogy.

2013 - Otis Damon Harris

African-American soul and R&B singer Otis Damon Harris, who was a member of The Temptations, died at the age of 62 after a 14-year battle with prostate cancer. Harris was a member of The Temptations from 1971 to 1975, joining shortly after the departure of Eddie Kendricks.

2015 - Willie C. Jackson

American singer Willie C. Jackson from Fifties doo-wop group The Spaniels died aged 79. Their 1954 hit 'Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite' was featured in such films as Three Men and a Baby and American Graffiti. The Spaniels became one of the first artists to sign with Vee-Jay Records, the first large, independent Afro-American owned record label.

2021 - Prince Markie Dee

American rapper, songwriter and producer, Prince Markie Dee died age 52. He was a member of the Fat Boys, a pioneering rap group that gained fame during the 1980s. Morales was also the vice-president of Uncle Louie Music Group.

Born Today In Music

February 18th

1933 - Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono, Japanese artist, singer, poet, author and peace activist and wife of John Lennon. Ono moved to New York City from Tokyo aged 14 and first met John Lennon in London in 1966, the couple married in 1969.

1934 - Skip Battin

American singer, songwriter, bassist, Skip Battin, from The Byrds, who had the 1965 US & UK No.1 single 'Mr Tambourine Man'. In 1959-60 he sang in a duo, Skip & Flip, with Gary Paxton when they had two US hits that each went to No.11, Paxton later formed the Hollywood Argyles, who had the No.1 hit, 'Alley Oop'. Battin was in the Byrds from 1970 to 1973. He was also a member of New Riders Of The Purple Sage and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Battin died on 6 July 2003.

1939 - Bobby Hart

American singer, songwriter Bobby Hart, who had the 1968 US No 8 single with Tommy Boyce, 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite'. He also wrote 'Last Train To Clarksville', and 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' covered by The Monkees. 

1941 - Herman Santigo

Herman Santigo, singer with American-Puerto Rican doo wop group Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers, who had the 1956 UK No.1 & US No.6 single 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'. They are also noted for being rock's first all-teenaged act.

1945 - Jimmy Jewell

British musician Jimmy Jewell, from Gallagher & Lyle who had the 1976 UK No.6 single 'I Wanna Stay With You'.

1947 - Dennis Deyoung

American singer, songwriter Dennis Deyoung, from Styx who had the 1979 US No.1 & 1980 UK No.6 single 'Babe'. He was the band's most successful writer, penning 7 of the band's 8 Billboard top 10 singles as well as a solo top 10 single. 

1948 - Keith Knudsen

American rock drummer, vocalist, and songwriter Keith Knudsen best known as a drummer and vocalist for The Doobie Brothers. Knudsen died of pneumonia on 8 February 2005 in California, at the age of 56.

1952 - Judy Newton

Juice Newton American pop and country singer, songwriter, and musician who had the 1981 US No.2 single, 'Queen Of Hearts'. Newton has received five Grammy Award nominations in the Pop and Country Best Female Vocalist categories. 

1952 - Randy Crawford

Randy Crawford, US female singer who had the 1980 UK No.2 single 'One Day I'll Fly Away' and with the Crusaders the 1979 UK No.5 & US No.36 single 'Street Life.'

1953 - Robbie Bachman

Canadian drummer Robbie Bachman from Bachman Turner Overdrive who had the 1974 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet'.

1954 - John Travolta

John Travolta, American actor, singer, who had the 1978 UK & US No.1 single with Olivia Newton John, 'You're The One That I Want'. The track topped the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks in the summer of 1978 and as of 2008, is still the sixth best-selling single ever in the UK where it has sold over 2,015,000 copies. His mother and his sister Ann appeared as extras in Saturday Night Fever and his sister Ellen appeared as a waitress in Grease.

1955 - Brian James

Brian James, from British punk group The Damned, who had the 1986 UK No.3 single 'Eloise', James was also a member of Lords Of The New Church.

1961 - Jasper Stainthorpe

Jasper Stainthorpe, with English rock band Then Jerico who had the 1989 UK No.13 single 'Big Area'.

1965 - Dr Dre

Dr Dre, NWA, who had the 1990 UK No.26 single 'Express Yourself'. As a solo artist had the 1996 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'California'. Dre is the host of 'Yo! MTV Raps.'

1966 - Tommy Scott

Tommy Scott, singer from English group Space who had the 1996 UK No.14 single 'Female Of The Species'.

1970 - Jez Williams

Twins, Andy Williams (drums, vocals), and Jez Williams, (guitar) who were members of English group Sub Sub who had the 1993 UK No.3 single ‘Ain’t No Love, (Ain’t No Use'). Also members of Doves, who had the 2002 UK No.3 single ‘There Goes The Fear’ and 2002 UK No.1 album ‘The Last Broadcast’.

1994 - J-Hope

J-Hope (Jung Ho-seok), South Korean singer, songwriter, with the boy band BTS. They became the first Korean act to top the US Billboard chart with their studio album Love Yourself: Tear (2018). BTS also became the fastest group since The Beatles to earn four US No.1 albums, doing so in less than two years. They became the first Asian act to chart a No.1 song in the US since Kyu Sakamoto with ‘Sukiyaki’ (1963).