What Happened Today In Music

May 7th

1966 - Mamas and the Papas

The Mamas & the Papas started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Monday Monday', it made No.3 in the UK. The group was reported, as saying they all hated the song except for its writer John Phillips. The Mamas & the Papas won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for this song.

1967 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd appeared at The Mojo Club, Tollbar, Sheffield, England, opened and owned by Peter Stringfellow. Acts who have also appeared at the club include Stevie Wonder, John Lee Hooker, Rod Stewart, Ike and Tina Turner, The Who, Small Faces and Jimi Hendrix .

1967 - Pearls Before Swine

Pearls Before Swine begin recording an album called 'One Nation Underground'. The LP included a song called 'Miss Morse', which would be banned in New York when it was discovered that lead singer Tom Rapp was singing F-U-C-K in Morse code. After disc jockey Murray The K played the record on the air, local Boy Scouts correctly interpreted the chorus and phoned in a complaint.

1971 - David Bowie

'Moonage Daydream' was released as a single by Arnold Corns, a band, formed by David Bowie the name of which was inspired by the Pink Floyd song 'Arnold Layne'. This was one of Bowie’s side projects and something of a dry run for Ziggy Stardust. The song later reappeared on Ziggy Stardust in a new version with updated lyrics.

1974 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin held a party at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City for the launch of their new label Swan Song. Other label signings including, Scottish singer Maggie Bell (whose album Suicide Sal was the labels fourth release), and British supergroup, Bad Company also attended.

1977 - Eagles

The Eagles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hotel California', the group's fourth US No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK. The Eagles also won the 1977 Grammy Award for Record of the Year for 'Hotel California' at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978. The song's guitar solo is ranked 8th on Guitar Magazine's Top 100 Guitar Solos and was voted the best solo of all time by readers of Guitarist magazine.

1978 - Bob Dylan

90,000 tickets were sold in eight hours for Bob Dylan's forthcoming London dates at Earls Court.

1983 - Paul Weller

Former Jam leader Paul Weller unveiled his new group The Style Council at an anti nuclear benefit gig in London. The Style Council scored seven UK Top 10 hits and the band was also very successful in Australia and New Zealand during the 1980s, with multiple hit singles and albums.

1983 - Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'True', the group's only No.1. The song spent four weeks at the top of the UK chart and was a hit in 20 other countries. Parts of the original version have been sampled and used in a number of songs - most notably PM Dawn's 1991 US No.1 hit 'Set Adrift on Memory Bliss', which contains a sample of the song's famous guitar hook.

1988 - Terence Trent D'arby

Terence Trent D'arby went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Wishing Well', a No.4 hit in the UK.

1991 - Wilson Pickett

Wilson Pickett was arrested after running into an 86 year old man and yelling death threats whilst driving his car over the mayor's front lawn in Englewood, New Jersey. Pickett was charged with driving with open bottles of alcohol in his car.

1992 - John Lennon

A leather Jacket worn by John Lennon during 1960-1963, was sold at Christies, London, England for £24,200.

1992 - Nigel Preston

Nigel Preston drummer with The Cult died in London, England aged 32. Was a founding member of The Death Cult, he also played and recorded with Sex Gang Children, Theatre of Hate and The Gun Club.

1998 - Eddie Rabbitt

Eddie Rabbitt, US singer, songwriter died of lung cancer aged 56. During his career, he scored over 20 No.1's on Billboard's country singles chart including 1981 'I Love A Rainy Night'. Elvis Presley, Dr Hook, Tom Jones, Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle and Lynn Anderson all recorded his songs.

2000 - Britney Spears

Britney Spears went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Oops!... I Did It Again'. Written and produced by hit-makers Max Martin and Rami Yacoub, who had previously collaborated with Spears on '...Baby One More Time'.

2003 - Dr Dre

A Los Angeles federal jury recommended a $1.5 million award to a British record company that sued rapper-producer Dr Dre for song plagiarism. London-based Minder Music Ltd. sued Dre in 2000, claiming his 1999 song, 'Let's Get High,' used the bass line of The Fatback's 1980 song, 'Backstroking' which was featured on Dre's successful '2001' album, which sold 9 million copies worldwide.

2003 - 50 Cent

A US surgeon sued 50 Cent over an unpaid medical bill. The doctor claimed 50 Cent and his friend turned up at a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds in 2000, but said the rapper never paid the $20,000 he owed for treatment despite being asked several times.

2004 - Madonna

A planning inquiry hearing Madonna's appeal to ban ramblers from parts of her £9m country estate heard details of the land's make-up. The pop star claimed 100 acres of land at the 1,200-acre Ashcombe House estate had been inaccurately classified as open country. Madonna was appealing against the classification in a hearing. Under the act, people would have the right to access any land registered on the final map as open country-mountain, moor, heath or down.

2006 - Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Eyes Open' the bands fourth album. Also a No.1 in Ireland, and Australia and a No. 27 hit on the US Chart. The bands first album 'Songs For Polarbears' peaked at No.143 when released in 1998.

2011 - The Walker Brothers

John Walker (John Joseph Maus) best known as the founder of The Walker Brothers died of liver cancer at his Los Angeles home. He formed The Walker Brothers (originally The Walker Brothers Trio) in 1964, with himself as lead vocalist and guitarist. The Walker Brothers scored the 1966 UK No.1 & US No. 13 single 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore'.

2015 - B.B. King

Three of B.B. King's 11 surviving children lost a bid in a Las Vegas court to take control over their father's affairs after they said they suspect the 89-year-old Blues legend's manager of stealing his money and neglecting his medical care while blocking them from seeing him in home hospice care. King died in his sleep on May 14, 2015, at the age of 89.

Born Today In Music

May 7th

1939 - Jimmy Ruffin

American soul singer Jimmy Ruffin, who had the 1974 UK No.4 single 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted'. Ruffin who was the elder brother of David Ruffin of the Temptations died on Nov 17, 2014 aged 78.

1942 - Derek Taylor

Derek Taylor press officer for The Beatles also worked with The Beach Boys and The Byrds. Taylor died of cancer on 10th September 1997.

1943 - Rick Westwood

Rick Westwood, guitarist, who with Brian Poole and the Tremeloes had the the UK 1963 No.1 hit 'Do You Love Me' and with The Tremeloes the 1967 UK No.1 & US No.11 single 'Silence Is Golden'.

1945 - Cornelius Bumpus

American woodwind, keyboard player and vocalist Cornelius Bumpus who toured with The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan. Bumpus died of a heart attack at age 58 on February 3, 2004 while on an airline flight from New York to California, where he was scheduled to perform at the Columbia College Jazz Concert Series. The plane made an emergency landing in Sioux City, Iowa but Bumpus died by the time the plane reached the ground.

1945 - Christy Moore

Irish folk singer, songwriter and guitarist Christy Moore. He is one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts. In 2007, he was named as Ireland's greatest living musician in RTÉ's People of the Year Awards.

1946 - Bill Kreutzmann

Bill Kreutzmann, drummer with Grateful Dead. He played with the Grateful Dead for its entire thirty-year career, usually alongside fellow drummer Mickey Hart. The group released more than 140 albums, the majority of them recorded live in concert.

1946 - Bill Danoff

Bill Danoff, from American pop group Starland Vocal Band, who had the 1976 US No.1 & UK No.18 single 'Afternoon Delight' one of the biggest-selling singles of 1976.

1946 - Jerry Nolan

Jerry Nolan, drums, The New York Dolls, 1973 album New York Dolls. Nolan joined the New York Dolls in the autumn of 1972 to replace Billy Murcia. He left the Dolls together with Johnny Thunders in the spring of 1975. The two then placed a call to bassist Richard Hell, formerly of the Neon Boys and Television, to form The Heartbreakers. Nolan died on 14th January 1992 from a fatal stroke.

1946 - Thelma Houston

American singer and actress Thelma Houston who had the 1977 US No.1 & UK No.13 single 'Don't Leave Me This Way' which won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

1948 - Pete Wingfield

Pete Wingfield, singer, Pianist and producer, who had the 1975 UK No.7 and US No.15 single 'Eighteen With A Bullet', (which was later featured on the soundtrack to the 1998 film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). Produced the first album by Dexys Midnight Runners, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels and The Proclaimers hit, 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)'.

1949 - James Keefer

Keith, (James Keefer), American singer, who had the 1967 US No.7 and UK No.24 single '98.6' which sold over one million copies worldwide. He legally changed his name to Bazza Keefer in 1988, in memory of his mother.

1950 - Prairie Prince

Prairie Prince, drummer with American band The Tubes known for their 1977 hit single 'White Punks On Dope' and the 1983 US No.10 single 'She's A Beauty'.

1951 - Mic Gillette

American brass player Mic Gillette famous for being a member of Tower of Power. He died on 17 Jan 2016 of a heart attack.

1955 - Steve Diggle

Steve Diggle, guitarist from punk rock band Buzzcocks, who had the 1978 UK No.12 single 'Ever Fallen In Love, With Someone You Shouldn't've'.

1960 - Anne Dudley

Anne Dudley, from English avant-garde synth-pop group Art of Noise who had the 1988 UK No.5 single 'Kiss' with Tom Jones.

1961 - Phil Campbell

Phil Campbell, lead guitar, Persian Risk, Motorhead, who had the 1980 UK No.15 single 'Ace Of Spades'.

1969 - Eagle Eye Cherry

Swedish musician Eagle Eye Cherry, who scored the 1998 UK No.6 single 'Save Tonight'. Cherry co-wrote and sang on 'Wishing It Was' on Santana's 1999 album Supernatural. He is the son of jazz artist Don Cherry.

1974 - Lynden David Hall

English singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer Lynden David Hall. In 1999, he was the first UK performer ever voted "Best Male Artist" by the readers of Britain's Blues & Soul magazine. In October 2003, Hall was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma; he died on 14 February 2006, at the age of 31, from complications resulting from the stem cell transplant he received in January 2005.

1986 - Matt Helders

Matt Helders, drummer, with English rock band Arctic Monkeys who had the 2005, UK No.1 single ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’, and the 2006 UK No.1 album Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not. The band has won six Brit Awards – winning both Best British Group and Best British Album three times, and have been nominated for three Grammy Awards.