What Happened Today In Music

October 1st

1956 - Elvis Presley

After test audiences gave a negative reaction to Elvis Presleydying at the end of the film Love Me Tender, The King was called back to re-shoot the scene. In the new ending, the hero lived.

1965 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He introduced his new touring band on this tour, made up of guitarist Robbie Robertson, organist Garth Hudson, bassist Rick Danko, pianist Richard Manual and drummer Levon Helm. They will become known simply as The Band.

1966 - Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix appeared live for the first time in the UK when he jammed with Cream at their gig at London Polytechnic. Hendrix made his official UK live debut a month later on Friday 25 Nov 1966, when the Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Bag O'Nails Club, London.

1967 - The Rolling Stones

Thieves broke into Mick Jagger's London flat and stole jewellery and furs belonging to his then girlfriend Marianne Faithfull.

1967 - John Peel

The first edition of UK BBC Radio 1's 'Top Gear' was aired. Presented by John Peel and Pete Drummond they featured The Move, Traffic, Pink Floyd, Tim Rose and Tomorrow featuring Keith West.

1970 - Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was buried at The Greenwood Cemetery at the Dunlop Baptist Church, Seattle. Among the mourners; Miles Davis, Eric Burdon, Johnny Winter and members of Derek and the Dominoes.

1973 - Simon Park Orchestra

The Simon Park Orchestra were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Eye Level,' taken from the ITV series 'Van Der Valk.' It was the first TV theme to become a No.1 in the UK.

1975 - Al Jackson

39 year old Al Jackson, drummer for Booker T. And The MGs, was shot and killed by a burglar at his home. His wife was questioned about the killing because she was arrested in July for shooting her husband in the chest during a domestic dispute. He wasn't badly hurt and the charges were dismissed when his wife claimed self-defense. Jackson had returned home to what police described as a botched robbery attempt. According to Jackson's wife, an intruder made her answer the door and then threw her husband to the floor demanding money. Jackson was forced to lie face down and then was shot in the back five times. The identity of the culprit remains a mystery. Booker T had backed such artists as Otis Redding, Al Green and Sam and Dave.

1977 - Elton John

Elton John became the first musician to be honoured in New York City's Madison Square Hall Of Fame.

1977 - Meco

Meco started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with a disco version of 'Star Wars Theme'. Had other hits with versions of 'Close Encounters', 'Wizard Of Oz' and 'Empire Strikes Back'.

1981 - Martin Chambers

The Pretenders were forced to cancel the last leg of a US tour after drummer Martin Chambers put his hand through a windowpane, cutting tendons and arteries.

1982 - John Cougar

John Cougar went to No.1 on both the US album and singles chart with the album 'American Fool' and the single 'Jack And Diane'.

1983 - David Bowie

A David Bowie world convention was held at The Cunard Hotel in London. The event had the largest collection of Bowie merchandise ever assembled.

1986 - Andy McVann

Andy McVann drummer with Liverpool band The Farm was killed in a car crash during a police chase.

1988 - Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi scored their first UK No.1 album with 'New Jersey', their fourth release. The follow-up to Slippery When Wet produced five Billboard Hot 100 top ten singles, the most top ten hits to date for a hard rock album. 'Bad Medicine' and 'I'll Be There for You' both hit No.1 on Billboard Hot 100.

1990 - New Kids On The Block

Forbes Magazine listed New Kids On The Block as the fifth richest entertainers in the US with an income of $78 million.

1994 - Michael Jackson

The Daily Mirror in the UK printed a photo of Michael Jackson in a scoutmaster's uniform along with five young Boy Scouts. A Boy Scouts leader later made a statement saying that Jackson had no association with the organization.

1999 - Lena Zavaroni

Singer Lena Zavaroni died aged 35 after a long battle against anorexia. Zavoroni was discovered on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks, in 1974 she became the youngest British singer to earn a silver disc with 'Ma He's Making Eyes At Me' and the youngest person to appear on TV's Top Of The Pops.

2002 - James Blunt

James Blunt left the British army having served six years, (in the cavalry regiment). Blunt rose to prominence in 2004 with the release of his debut studio album Back to Bedlam, before achieving worldwide fame with the singles 'You're Beautiful' and 'Goodbye My Lover'.

2004 - AC/DC

The Lord Mayor of Melbourne officially opened 'AC/DC' Lane after the veteran rockers. The Lord Mayor erected the sign to cheers and bagpipes playing the bands song 'Long Way To The Top'. The City of Melbourne had extra copies of the sign made, in anticipation of fans stealing them.

2004 - Bruce Palmer

Canadian bassist Bruce Palmer died of a heart attack. Member of The Mynah Birds and The Buffalo Springfield. Also worked with Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and Neil Young.

2004 - Ms Dynamite

Ms Dynamite was arrested over allegations of assault after an incident at a restaurant in Central London. Ms Dynamite (real name Niomi McLean-Daley), was arrested in connection with the allegation after voluntarily attending a police station, she was later released on bail.

2005 - Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty was arrested during a police drugs operation in Shrewsbury where his band Babyshambles had been playing and held overnight. Police said a man and a woman were arrested for possession of class A drugs and 17 others searched during an operation in Telford. A gig in Norwich planned for the following night was cancelled.

2007 - Radiohead

Radiohead's official website crashed after the band announced that their new album 'In Rainbows' would only be available to order via www.radiohead.com. Fans could pre-order the download at any price they choose or pay £40 for a "discbox", which included two CDs, two records, plus artwork and booklets.

2007 - Spice Girls

The Spice Girls London reunion concert sold out in 38 seconds after fans were notified tickets had gone on sale. More than one million people in the UK registered for the concert, on 15 December 2007 at the O2 arena, tickets cost £55-75. Three more London dates were added to the world tour which was kicking off in Vancouver on 2nd Dec.

2015 - The Beatles

An original tape of The Beatles performing at The Cavern Clubin Liverpool in 1962 was found after 50 years languishing in a desk drawer. It featured the Fab Four playing 'Some Other Guy' in September 1962, four weeks before their debut single came out. It was recorded after the group were filmed for Granada TV's Know The North, but was never broadcast.

2018 - Charles Aznavour

French singer, actor, public activist and diplomat Charles Aznavour was found dead in a bathtub at his home at Mouriès at the age of 94. He was famous for his 1974 UK No.1 single 'She' and was one of France's most popular and enduring singers (dubbed France's Frank Sinatra). He sold more than 180 million records, recorded more than 1,200 songs (interpreted in nine languages) and he wrote or co-wrote more than 1,000 songs for himself and others. 

Born Today In Music

October 1st

1930 - Richard Harris

Actor, singer, Richard Harris, (1968 US & UK No.4 single 'MacArthur Park'). Died of cancer on 25th Oct 2002.

1935 - Julie Andrews

Born on this day singer, actress, Julie Andrews, (1965 UK & US No.1 album 'The Sound Of Music', spent 382 weeks on the UK chart).

1940 - Barbara Parritt

Barbara Parritt, The Toys, (1965 US No. 2 & UK No.5 single 'A Lover's Concerto').

1942 - Herb Fame

Herb Fame, Peaches and Herb, (1979 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Reunited').

1943 - Jerry Martini

American musician Jerry Martini, saxophonist for Sly and the Family Stone who had the 1968 US No.1 singles 'Everyday People', the 1971 US No.1 'Family Affair' and the 1971 US No.1 album There's a Riot Goin' On.

1945 - Donny Hathaway

Donny Hathaway, US soul singer (1972 UK No.29 single with Roberta Flack 'Where Is The Love', 1978 US No.2 single 'The Closer I Get'). Committed suicide falling from a 15th floor hotel window on 13th January 1979.

1947 - Rob Davis

Rob Davis, guitarist songwriter from English glam rock band Mud who had the 1974 UK No.1 single 'Tiger Feet' which was the UK's best-selling single of 1974 plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles. In 2000, he achieved commercial songwriting success, most notably with the songs 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)' for Spiller and co- wrote the 2001 UK No.1 hit 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' for Kylie Minogue.

1948 - Mariska Veres

Mariska Veres, singer, Shocking Blue, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Venus'). Died on Dec 2nd 2006 aged 59.

1948 - Cub Koda

Cub Koda, guitarist, songwriter, Brownsville Station, (1973 US No.3 UK No.27 single 'Smokin' In The Boys Room'). He died on 5th July 2000.

1955 - Howard Hewett

Howard Hewett, Shalamar, (1980 US No. 8 single 'The Second Time Around', 1982 UK No.5 single 'A Night To Remember').

1957 - Andy Walton

Andy Walton, from English pop and glam rock band Kenny who had several hit singles in the UK in the mid-1970s, including 'The Bump' and 'Fancy Pants'.

1958 - Martin Cooper

Martin Cooper, from English electronic music band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. OMD released their debut single, 'Electricity', in 1979, and gained popularity throughout Europe with the 1980 anti-war song 'Enola Gay'.

1959 - Youssou N'dour

Youssou N'dour, Senegalese singer, percussionist, (1994 UK No.3 single '7 Seconds'), worked with Peter Gabriel, Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Sting.

1974 - Keith Duffy

Keith Duffy, vocals, Boyzone, who have had 21 UK hit singles, including 6 UK No.1 singles. Their breakthrough hit was their second single and cover version of the classic Osmonds hit, 'Love Me for a Reason', which peaked at No.2 on the UK Singles Chart. Duffy joined the UK soap Coronation Street in 2002 playing the role of Peter Barlow's old Navy mate Ciaran McCarthy.

1985 - Dizzee Rascal

Dizzee Rascal (Dylan Kwabena Mills), British rapper, songwriter and record producer. 2009 UK No.1 single ‘Holiday’.