What Happened Today In Music

February 27th

1964 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones made their second appearance on BBC TV show Top Of The Pops performing their latest single 'Not Fade Away'. 

1964 - Cilla Black

21 year-old former hairdresser and cloakroom attendant at The Cavern Club, Cilla Black was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Anyone Who Had A Heart.' Written by Bacharach and David it was Black's first UK No.1. Also this week's UK Top Ten was the first ever to feature only UK acts.

1967 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd continued working on their debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn at Abbey Road Studios, London. With the exception of two group-composed instrumentals and one Roger Waters song, the album was written entirely by Syd Barrett.

1968 - Frankie Lymon

25 year old Frankie Lymon, lead singer of The Teenagers, died of a heroin overdose in his grandmother's New York home. Lymon was on leave from a Georgia Army post at the time and was scheduled to record for Roulette Records the next day. He first hit the national charts in 1956 when he was just 13 with 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love'.

1971 - Janis Joplin

Five months after her death, Janis Joplin started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with her second and final solo studio album Pearl. Joplin sang on all tracks except 'Buried Alive in the Blues', which remained a Full Tilt Boogie instrumental because she died before adding her vocals.

1972 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin appeared at Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney in Australia, over 25,000 fans attending the show. Jimmy Pageappeared clean shaven having shaved of the beard he had grown since the summer of 1970.

1977 - Keith Richards

Keith Richards was arrested at Toronto’s Harbour Castle Hotel, after an ounce of heroin was found following a raid of his hotel room by 15 Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Richards, who was charged with possession with intent to traffic, faced seven years to life in prison. Bail was set at $25,000 (£14,705).

1980 - Billy Joel

Winners at the Grammy Awards included: song of the year, 'What A Fool Believes', The Doobie Brothers, album of the year, Billy Joel's '52nd St', best new artist, Rickie Lee Jones, best disco record, 'I Will Survive' Gloria Gaynor.

1988 - George Michael

George Michael scored his sixth No.1 US single with 'Father Figure' a No. 11 hit in the UK - the first time Michael had failed to reach the top ten in his home country.

1991 - James Brown

James Brown was paroled after spending two years of a six-year prison sentence, imposed for resisting arrest after a car chase across two States.

1993 - The Orlons

Marlena Davis of The Orlons lost a battle with lung cancer aged 48. The Orlons who formed in the late 1950s had five US Top 20 hits in the Sixties including ‘The Wah Watusi’, ‘Don't Hang Up’ and ‘South Street’. The Orlons provided back-up vocals on Dee Dee Sharp's 1962 hit ‘Mashed Potato Time’ and Dee Dee Sharp's second hit, ‘Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)’.

1993 - Whitney Houston

After 14 weeks at No.1 on the US singles chart, 'I Will Always Love You', gave Whitney Houston the longest ever US chart topper, taking over from Boyz II Men's hit 'End Of The Road', and became the second biggest selling single in the US.

1999 - Britney Spears

Britney Spears started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with '...Baby One More Time'. It became the biggest UK selling single of the year and also a No.1 in the US. It was originally written for TLC but the song was submitted after completion of their third record, FanMail.

2004 - Michael Jackson

A worker in a supermarket in Aspen, Colorado alerted the police-after seeing a man shopping with his face covered by a mask. Police arrived on the scene and identified the man as Michael Jackson who was in town on holiday with his children.

2007 - Bobby Brown

Bobby Brown was sentenced to 30 days in jail over $19,000 (£9,670) in unpaid child support. An arrest warrant was issued in October 2006 after he failed to show up at a hearing on overdue child support for Kim Ward, the mother of two of his children.

2010 - U2

U2 raked in more money than any other music act in the US in 2009 making $109m (£71m) from touring, record sales and other royalties, almost twice as much as the second best, Bruce Springsteen who took home $58m (£38m), followed by Madonnawith $47m (£31m) and AC/DC with $44m (£29m). Coldplay were the most successful British group, at number eight, with takings of $27m (£18m).

2015 - Madonna

Madonna said she suffered whiplash as a result of her "nightmare" accident at the 2015 Brit Awards. The 56-year-old was pulled backwards off stage by a cape, which was supposed to fall from her shoulders causing the singer to fall down a flight of steps.

2019 - Doug Sandom

English drummer Doug Sandom died one day after his 89th birthday. He was the first drummer for the rock band The Who. No recordings with Sandom playing with the band were ever released.

Born Today In Music

February 27th

1927 - Guy Mitchell

Guy Mitchell, US singer who had the 1957 UK & US No.1 single ‘Singing The Blues’ plus over ten other UK Top 40 singles. Mitchell died on July 1st 1999.

1947 - Louis Clark

British musical arranger and keyboard player Louis Clark. He was the conductor of the orchestra and choir hired to back Electric Light Orchestra's sound, introduced on their album Eldorado in 1974. and arranged string arrangements for the studio albums Eldorado, Face the Music, A New World Record, Out of the Blue, Discovery and Xanadu.

1948 - Eddie Gray

Eddie Gray from American rock band, Tommy James & The Shondells who had the 1966 US No.1 single 'Hanky Panky', the 1968 UK No.1 single 'Mony Mony' and the hit 'I Think We're Alone Now'.

1950 - Robert Balderrama

Robert Balderrama, from American group ? & The Mysterians who had the 1966 US No. 1 & UK No.37 single '96 Tears'. (which was also a UK No.17 hit for The Stranglers in 1990).

1951 - Steve Harley

English singer and songwriter Steve Harley best known as the frontman with Cockney Rebel who had the 1975 UK No.1 single 'Make Me Smile, (Come Up And See Me') as well as hits with 'Mr Soft' and 'Judy Teen'. Harley has released over five solo albums and has also worked as a radio presenter.

1954 - Neal Schon

American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, Neal Schon with Journey who had the 1982 US No.2 single 'Open Arms'. Schon was also a member of Santana, who had the 1977 UK No.11 single 'She's Not There'.

1955 - Gary Christian

Gary Christian, singer with English group The Christians who had the 1988 UK No.8 single 'Harvest For The World'. The name of the band refers to the surname of the three brothers that were originally in the line-up.

1957 - Adrian Smith

Adrian Smith, guitarist with English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, who had the 1982 UK No.1 album The Number Of The Beast, and the 1991 UK No.1 single 'Bring Your Daughter ...To The Slaughter'. Iron Maiden have sold over 100 million copies of their albums worldwide.

1960 - Johnny Roy Van Zant

Johnny Roy Van Zant, American musician and the current lead vocalist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He is the younger brother of the late Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant and of the 38 Special founder Donnie Van Zant.

1960 - Paul Humphreys

Paul Humphreys, keyboards and vocals with Liverpool duo Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark who released their debut single, 'Electricity, in 1979, and gained popularity throughout Europe with the 1980 anti-war song 'Enola Gay'.

1964 - Derek McKenzie

Derek McKenzie from British group The Shamen who had the 1992 UK No.1 single 'Ebeneezer Goode'.

1964 - Ewan Venal

Ewan Venal, from Scottish group Deacon Blue who had the 1988 UK No.8 single 'Real Gone Kid' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles.

1971 - Rozonda Thomas

Rozonda Thomas, Chilli, singer with American girl group TLC. They scored nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four No.1 singles, 'Creep', 'Waterfalls', 'No Scrubs', and 'Unpretty'. Their 1999 US No.1 album Fanmail spent 57 weeks on the UK chart. Having sold over 65 million records worldwide, TLC is the best-selling American girl group.

1973 - Peter Andre

Peter Andre, singer and former actor and reality TV star who had the 1996 UK No.1 single 'I Feel You', and the 1996 UK No. 1 album 'Natural'.

1981 - Josh Groban

Josh Groban, US singer, who had the 2002 US No.7 & UK No.28 album ‘Josh Groban’ and the 2004 US No.1 album 'Closer'. Groban was America's top selling artist of 2007.