What Happened Today In Music

February 24th

1963 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones started a Sunday night residency at The Station Hotel, Richmond, Surrey. The Stones were paid £24 ($41) for the gig and played on the first night to a total of 66 people. £24 from 1963 would be worth £392, adjusted for inflation.

1965 - The Beatles

The first full day of filming took place for The Beatles movie Help! ' with the group riding bicycles on location near London Airport, England.

1968 - Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac released their debut studio album (also known as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac), a mixture of blues covers and originals penned by guitarists Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer which peaked at No.4 on the UK chart and stayed on the charts 37 weeks. This is the only album by the band not to feature keyboardist, vocalist Christine McVie in any capacity.

1969 - Jimi Hendrix

The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their last ever-British performance when they appeared at the Royal Albert Hall.

1973 - Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack had her second US No.1 when 'Killing Me Softly With His Song', started a five-week run at the top of the charts. The song was written in collaboration with singer songwriter Lori Lieberman and was born of a poem she wrote after experiencing a strong reaction to the Don McLean song 'Empty Chairs.' Roberta Flack first heard the song during a flight. She performed it for the first time live when supporting Marvin Gaye who told her she had to recorded a version before playing it live again.

1973 - Byrds

The Byrds made their final live appearance when they played at The Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey. (The then-current incarnation of the Byrds, which included Roger McGuinn, Clarence White, John York and Gene Parsons).

1975 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin released their sixth album Physical Graffiti in the UK. Recording sessions had been disrupted when bassist and keyboard player John Paul Jones had proposed quitting the band, supposedly to become choirmaster at Winchester Cathedral, England, although in reality he just needed time to rest after Zeppelin's demanding tour schedule. The group decided on a double album so they could feature songs left over from their previous albums Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin IV and Houses Of The Holy.

1976 - Eagles

The Eagles 'Greatest Hits' became the first album to be certified platinum by the R.I.A.A. New certification's represented sales of 1 million copies for albums and two million for singles.

1982 - The Police

The Police won best British group at the first annual Brit Awards held in London, Adam And The Ants won best album for 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier', Cliff Richard won British Male Solo Artist, Randy Crawford won British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act went to The Human League, British Producer was Martin Rushent and Outstanding Contribution went to John Lennon. 

1982 - Quincy Jones

Winners at the Grammy Awards included John & Yoko Album of the year with 'Double Fantasy, Kim Carnes for Song of the year with 'Bette Davis Eyes', Quincy Jones won producer of the year and Sheena Easton best new act.

1990 - Johnnie Ray

American singer, songwriter, pianist Johnnie Ray died of liver failure at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He scored over 20 Top 40 singles between 1952 & 1960 including 1956 UK No.1 & US No.2 single, 'Just Walking In The Rain'. Dexys Midnight Runners' name checked Ray in the lyrics to their 1982 hit 'Come On Eileen'.

1992 - Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love in Waikiki, Hawaii. The press reported that the couple were expecting a baby on Sept 10th of this year.

1997 - Gabrielle

The Spice Girls won best single with 'Wannabe' at this year's Brit Awards held in London. Other winners included, Best Group for Manic Street Preachers, Best Dance Act went to The Prodigy, George Michael won Best Male, Best Female went to Gabrielle, Best Newcomer was won by Kula Shaker, International Male was Beck, International Female Sheryl Crow and Best International Group was The Fugees.

2000 - Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana won eight awards at this years Grammy Awards for his Supernatural album. Before Supernatural, the guitarist had not had a Top 10 album since 1981. Sting won two awards, one for best pop album and another for best male pop vocalist. Sir Elton John won the legend award and Phil Collins the best soundtrack award for Tarzan.

2004 - Estelle Axton

Estelle Axton, who helped create the legendary US soul music label Stax, died in hospital in Memphis, aged 85. Stax was home to Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes and Booker T and the MG's and the Stax studio, 'Soulsville USA', was second only to Motown in its production of soul hits during its 1960s heyday.

2009 - Duke Ellington

The United States Mint launched a new coin featuring American composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington.

2010 - 50 Cent

50 Cent was being sued over claims he unlawfully distributed a homemade sex video. Lastonia Leviston filed legal action in Manhattan, saying she made the private video with a lover in 2008 and alleged that 50 Cent posted the video on his website last year after blurring out the lover's face - and editing himself into it as narrator.

2010 - Ramones

The personal assistant to former Ramones manager Linda Stein was convicted in a New York court of bludgeoning her boss to death at her Manhattan apartment on 30 October 2007. Prosecutors said Natavia Lowery, 28, stole more than $30,000 (£19,500) from Stein, then clubbed her with a piece of exercise equipment. Jurors spent less than a day reaching a second-degree murder verdict.

2010 - Prince

Promotions company MCD launched a $2.3 million lawsuit against Prince for pulling out of a concert in Dublin, Ireland in June, 2008, just ten days before it was to take place. The singer blamed the William Morris Agency for booking the event without permission, but the agency said the star cancelled the gig and gave "no reason of substance" for deciding to pull out.

2014 - Franny Beecher

Franny Beecher the lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962 died in his sleep from natural causes. He was 92 years old. He continued to perform with surviving members of the Comets into 2006.

2016 - Dolores O'Riordan

Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan was ordered to give 6,000 euros to charity after head-butting an Irish police officer.The artist was arrested at Shannon Airport in November 2014 when she was taken off a flight from New York after an alleged air rage incident. Medical reports given to the court showed she had been suffering mania and was mentally ill when then incident happened.

2020 - David Roback

American guitarist, songwriter and producer, David Roback best known as the founding member of the duo Mazzy Star died age 61 from metastatic cancer. The American alternative rock band formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1989 from remnants of the group Opal. They were best known for the song 'Fade into You' which brought the band some success in the mid-1990s and was the group's biggest mainstream hit.

Born Today In Music

February 24th

1942 - Paul Jones

English singer, actor, harmonica player, radio personality and television presenter Paul Jones, from British group Manfred Mann who had the 1964 UK & US No.1 single 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy. Jones is also a member of The Blues Band.

1944 - Nicky Hopkins

English pianist and organist Nicky Hopkins, who worked with The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, The Beatles, John Lennon, The Whoand The Small Faces. Along with Ry Cooder, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts, Hopkins released the 1972 album Jamming with Edward! Hopkins died on 6 September 1994 age 50. 

1947 - Rupert Holmes

British-American composer, singer-songwriter Rupert Holmes, who had the 1980 US No.1 & UK No. 23 single 'Escape, (The Pina Colada Song).

1947 - Lonnie Turner

Lonnie Turner, American bassist with the Steve Miller Band who had the 1974 US No.1 & 1990 UK No.1 single 'The Joker', the 1976 hit 'Fly Like an Eagle' and the 1982 US No.1 hit 'Abracadabra'. 

1948 - Dennis Waterman

Dennis Waterman, British singer, actor who had the1980 UK No.3 single with the theme from UK TV show 'Minder', 'I Could Be So Good For You'.

1950 - George Thorogood

George Thorogood, American musician, singer and songwriter. His high-energy boogie-blues sound became a staple of 1980s rock radio, with hits like his original songs 'Bad to the Bone' and 'I Drink Alone'.

1959 - Colin Farley

Colin Farley, British bassist with Cutting Crew who had the 1987 US No.1 & 1986 UK No.4 single 'I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight'.

1962 - Michelle Shocked

Michelle Shocked, American singer songwriter, 1988 single 'Anchorage'. She had the track 'Quality of Mercy' featured on the soundtrack for the film Dead Man Walking.

1973 - Chris Fehn

Chris Fehn, American musician, best known as one of the two custom percussionists of the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Slipknot.

1974 - Noah 

American musician Noah "Wuv" Bernardo Jr, founding member of the multi-platinum selling, San Diego based band P.O.D.

1974 - Chad Hugo

American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Chad Hugo, one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes. His partner is Pharrell Williams, who has produced numerous No.1 hits for Mystikal, Jay-Z, *NSYNC, Britney Spears and Nelly.

1989 - Trace Cyrus

American musician Trace Cyrus the son of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and brother of recording artists Miley Cyrus and Noah Cyrus. He is the backing vocalist and guitarist of the band Metro Station.