THIS DAY IN MUSIC

March 23rd: On this Day

1961, Elvis Presley had his seventh UK No.1 single with 'Wooden Heart.' The song was based on a German folk song and was featured in Presley's film GI Blues.

1964, John Lennon's book of verse and rhyme 'In His Own Write' was published in the UK. Some of the content was first published in Lennon's 'Beachcomber' column in Mersey Beat.

1967, At a ceremony held at the Playhouse Theatre in London, The Beatles were awarded three Ivor Novello awards for 1966: Best-selling British single ‘Yellow Submarine’, most-performed song ‘Michelle’, and next-most-performed song 'Yesterday'. None of the Beatles attended and the winning songs were played by Joe Loss and his Orchestra. The lead vocal for ‘Michelle’ was sung by Ross MacManus, whose son would go on to become the professional musician Elvis Costello.

1972, The film of The Concert For Bangladesh  featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton premiered in New York. The event was the first benefit concert of this magnitude in world history. The concert raised $243,418.51 for Bangladesh relief, which was administered by UNICEF. Sales of the album and DVD continue to benefit the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF.

1974, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross entered the UK singles chart with ‘You Are Everything’ which was originally recorded by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics. Released as the second UK single from the Diana & Marvin album, the song reached No.5 in the UK Singles Chart in this year.

1974,

1977, Elvis Presley  appeared at the Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. This was the first date of 49 date US tour over three months and Presley's last ever tour. (His last ever show was on 26th June 1977 at the Indianapolis Indiana Market Square Arena).

1985, Billy Joel married model Christie Brinkley on a boat moored alongside the Statue Of Liberty. They divorced in 1993.

1985, Former Creedence Clearwater Revival front man John Fogerty went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Centerfield.'

1991, R.E.M. scored their first UK No.1 album with their seventh LP 'Out Of Time' featuring the singles 'Losing My Religion' (which became R.E.M.'s highest-charting hit in the US, reaching No.4), and 'Shiny Happy People.' The video for 'Losing My Religion' won two Grammy Awards and six MTV Awards.

1995, Alan Barton of UK pop band Black Lace died. Had the 1984 UK No.2 single 'Agadoo.' Black Lace represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 in which they finished in 7th position. Agadoo earned them the dubious accolade of being voted as the worst song of all time by a panel of music writers for Q Magazine.

1996, Celine Dion went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Because You Loved Me', her second US No.1, a No.5 hit in UK. The Diane Warren song was taken from the film 'Up Close And Personal' starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer. And on the same day her album 'Falling Into You' went to No.1 on the UK album chart.

2005, (Is This The Way To) Amarillo by Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay was the No.1 UK single, Candy Shop by 50 Cent was at No.1 on the US chart and Almost Here by Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden was at No.1 on the Australian singles chart.

2008, Neil Aspinall, who ran the Apple Corps music empire for the Beatles from 1970 - 2007 died at a hospital in New York from cancer aged 66. A school friend of Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison, he was regarded by some of the band as the "fifth Beatle" becoming The Beatles road manager in 1961 before becoming their personal assistant. He led the legal battle with Apple computers over the use of the Apple name and a royalties dispute between the Beatles and record label EMI. Aspinall had also played background instruments on Beatles tracks including Magical Mystery Tour, Within You Without You and Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite.

2011, The Who's Pete Townshend told Uncut magazine that he regretted ever forming the band. "What would I have done differently? I would never have joined a band. Even though I am quite a good gang member and a good trooper on the road, I am bad at creative collaboration."

2015, British artist Lil' Chris was found dead in Suffolk at the age of 24. Chris Hardman first rose to fame on the UK reality show Rock School in 2006 when he was just 15 years old. He later released a hit single, 'Checkin' It Out,' which reached No.3 on the UK singles chart.

March 23rd: Born on this day

1942, Born on this day, Jimmy Miller, New York-born record producer and musician. He is best known for his lengthy association with The Rolling Stones, for whom he produced a string of singles and albums during the band's career: Beggars Banquet(1968), Let It Bleed (1969), Sticky Fingers (1971), Exile On Main Street (1972) and Goats Head Soup (1973). Miller died on 22 October 1994.

1942,

1944, Born on this day, Tony McPhee, guitar, vocals, The Groundhogs, (1971 UK No.5 album 'Split').

1944, Born on this day, Michael Nyman, UK composer, pianist, (1993 'The Piano' film soundtrack). Worked with Damon Albarn from Blur.

1949, Born on this day, Ric Ocasek, The Cars, (1978 UK No.3 single 'My Best Friend's Girl.' 1984 US No.3 & 1985 UK No.4 'Drive' was used as part of the soundtrack for the Live Aid concert.

1952, Born on this day, Dave Bartram, Showaddywaddy, (1976 UK No.1 single 'Under The Moon Of Love' plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hits).

1953, Born on this day, Chaka Khan, (Yvette Marie Stevens), US singer, (1984 UK No.1 & US No.3 single 'I Feel For You'), Rufus, (1974 US No.3 single 'Tell Me Something Good').

1966, Born on this day, Mark McLoughlin, (Marti Pellow), vocals, Wet Wet Wet, (1994 UK No. 1 single 'Love Is All Around' which spent 15 weeks at the top of the charts plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles). Left the band in 1999.

1967, Born on this day, John Stohm, The Lemonheads, (1993 UK No.14 single 'Into Your Arms').

1968, Born on this day, Damon Albarn, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. With Blur he scored the 1994 UK No.1 album Parklife, which spent over 2 years on the UK chart, and the 1995 UK No. 1 'Country House'. Albarn along with Jamie Hewlett formed the "virtual band" Gorillaz who had the 2001 UK No.4 single, 'Clint Eastwood.' Other projects include The Good, The Bad & The Queen, (2007 self-titled album with Paul Simonon, Tony Allen and Simon Tong). Albarn's debut solo studio album Everyday Robots was released in 2014.

1971, Born on this day, American session drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr. Has worked with Paul McCartney for many years as well as many other artists including Shakira, B.B. King, Sting, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Les Paul, Ashlee Simpson and LeAnn Rimes.

1972, Born on this day, Beverly Knight, UK singer, (2002 UK No. 10 single ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’).

1979, Born on this day, American Grammy-winning record producer Ariel Rechtshaid who has worked with many artists including Adele, Brandon Flowers, Vampire Weekend, Madonna, Tobias Jesso Jr., Usher, We Are Scientists, Plain White T's and Kylie Minogue