What Happened Today In Music

July 3rd

1967 - The Monkees

A private party was held at the Speakeasy Club in London, England for The Monkees. Guests included: John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Dusty Springfield, Eric Clapton, Lulu and all the members from Manfred Mann, The Who and Procol Harum.

1968 - Crosby, Stills and Nash

At an impromptu gathering at Joni Mitchell's house in Lookout Mountain, Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash played together for the very first time. The trio went on to form Crosby, Stills and Nash.

1968 - Equals

The Equals were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Baby Come Back'. The group's only UK No.1. The song was first released in 1966 but did not chart. The song was covered by and became a No.1 hit for Pato Banton in 1994, (with Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40).

1969 - Brian Jones

Brian Jones drowned while under the influence of drugs and alcohol after taking a midnight swim in his pool, aged 27. His body was found at the bottom of the pool by his Swedish girlfriend Anna Wohlin. The coroner's report stated "Death by misadventure", and noted his liver and heart were heavily enlarged by drug and alcohol abuse. Jones was one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones and in the early 60’s used the name "Elmo Lewis."

1971 - Jim Morrison

American singer, songwriter and poet, Jim Morrison of The Doors was found dead in a bathtub in Paris, France, the cause of death was given as a heart attack. He co-wrote some of the group's biggest hits, including ‘Light My Fire’, ‘Love Me Two Times’, and ‘Love Her Madly.’ On the 25th anniversary of his death an estimated 15,000 fans gathered at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France to pay their respects.

1972 - Fred McDowell

Blues singer, guitarist Mississippi Fred McDowell died of cancer aged 68. The Rolling Stones covered his 'You Got To Move' on their Sticky Fingers album. He coached Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar technique.

1973 - David Bowie

After 182 Ziggy Stardust concert performances, David Bowieannounced he was about to retire from live performing, although it eventually transpires that the stage persona is being retired and not Bowie himself. Only his guitarist Mick Ronson knew about the announcement, which came as a complete shock not only to the audience but the rest of Bowie's band and crew.

1973 - Laurens Hammond

Laurens Hammond the inventor of the Hammond organ died aged 73. Many rock artists including Procol Harum, Keith Emerson, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Allman Brothers Band and the Faces featured the sound of the Hammond. He also invented a silent spring-driven clock and during the second world war he helped design guided missile systems.

1975 - Chuck Negron

Lead singer from Three Dog Night Chuck Negron was arrested at his Louisville hotel room on the opening night of the bands tour and charged with possession of cocaine.

1982 - Captain Sensible

After a record breaking jump from No.33 on the UK singles charts, The Damned's guitarist Captain Sensible started a two week run at No.1 with his version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein song 'Happy Talk' from the 1949 musical South Pacific.

1986 - U2

U2 crew member Greg Carroll was killed in a motorcycle accident in Dublin while running an errand for Bono. The song 'One Tree Hill' on the bands Joshua Tree album is dedicated to Carroll.

2000 - Ronald Ferguson

Harvard professor Ronald Ferguson accused the culture of hip-hop and rap music of stalling academic progress among young American blacks. He claimed time spent learning intricate rhyming lyrics detracted from reading.

2001 - Johnny Russell

American singer, songwriter Johnny Russell died aged 61. Wrote 'Act Naturally' covered by The Beatles and Buck Owens. Jim Reeves, Jerry Garcia, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt all covered his songs.

2002 - Bobby Valentino

A session violinist serenaded a High Court judge during a copyright battle worth an estimated £100,000. The case was over the rights to The Bluebells version of 'Young At Heart.' Bobby Valentino won his case as joint owner of the song.

2002 - Britney Spears

Three diners at a newly opened Britney Spears owned restaurant suffered food poisoning. The three students who had eaten wild striped bass at the New York restaurant made official complaints and vowed never to eat they're again.

2004 - David Crosby

David Crosby was fined $5,000 (£2,745) by a US court after admitting attempted criminal possession of a weapon. It followed his arrest in New York in March when a gun, knife and marijuana were found in his luggage.

2007 - Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty escaped jail after a judge decided to defer sentencing him for drugs offences on condition he went into rehab. Doherty pleaded guilty to possessing crack cocaine and heroin at West London Magistrates' Court. He was warned by Judge Davinder Lachhar that he would go into custody if he failed to take up a place he was offered on a detox programme.

2008 - Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue received an OBE for services to music from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace, England. Earlier this year, she was also presented with the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government for her "contribution to the enrichment of French culture".

2012 - Kiss

Kiss announced that they were set to release a guitar size book containing unseen photographs from their 40-year career. The limited edition called Monster would have a $4,299 price tag and at 3 feet tall, 2.5 feet wide, was reported to be the largest music book ever published.

2017 - Tony Hadley

Singer Tony Hadley said he had left 1980s group Spandau Ballet, and "will not be performing" with them in the future. In an oddly-worded statement, the star said: "I am required to state that I am no longer a member of the band". He did not indicate why he was leaving, but blamed "circumstances beyond my control".

Born Today In Music

July 3rd

1929 - David Lynch

David Lynch, from American vocal group The Platters who had the 1959 UK & US No.1 single 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'. The group had 40 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1955 and 1967. Lynch died of cancer on 2nd January 1981.

1930 - Tommy Tedesco

Tommy Tedesco, American session guitarist. Described by Guitar Player magazine as the most recorded guitarist in history recording with The Beach Boys, Everly Brothers, The Supremes, The Monkees, The Association, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Sam Cooke, Cher, and Nancy and Frank Sinatra. He died on 10th Nov 1997.

1940 - Fontella Bass

Fontella Bass, US female singer, pianist, who had the 1965 US No.4 and UK No.11 single 'Rescue Me'. Bass died on 26th Dec 2012 of complications following a heart attack aged 72.

1943 - Judith Durham

Judith Durham, singer from Australian folk-influenced pop quartet The Seekers who scored the 1965 UK No.1 single 'I'll Never Find Another You'. They were the first Australian group to achieve major chart and sales success in the UK and the US.

1946 - Victor Unitt

Victor Unitt, from English psychedelic rock group Edgar Broughton Band who had the 1970 UK hit single 'Out Demons Out'.

1947 - Top Topham

English musician Top Topham best known as a blues guitarist and also for being the first lead guitarist of The Yardbirds. Topham left the band before they achieved mainstream popularity and was replaced by Eric Clapton. 

1948 - Paul Barrere

Paul Barrere, guitar, Little Feat, who scored two Top 40 albums during the 70s, best known songs, 'Dixie Chicken' and 'Sailin Shoes'. Barrere later played with Phil Lesh and Friends and also toured with Bob Dylan. He died on 26 October 2019 age 71. 

1949 - Johnnie Wilder

Johnnie Wilder, singer from funk, disco band Heatwave who scored the 1977 UK No.2 single 'Boogie Nights' and the hits 'The Groove Line', and 'Always and Forever'.

1952 - Andy Fraser

Andy Fraser, bass player with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Joined Free when he was aged 16. (1970 UK No.2 & US No.4 single ‘All Right Now'). Ted Nugent, Robert Palmer and Joe Cocker have all covered songs written by Fraser. He died on 16 March 2015 at his home in California.

1955 - Mike Corby

British guitarist and keyboardist Mike Corby, The Babys who had two hits on the US chart, 'Isn't It Time' (1977) and 'Everytime I Think of You' (1979).

1955 - Neil Clark

Neil Clark, guitarist from British pop band Lloyd Cole And The Commotions who had the 1985 UK hit single 'Brand New Friend'. Between 1984 and 1989, the band scored four Top 20 albums and five Top 40 singles in the UK.

1957 - Laura Branigan

Laura Branigan, US singer, (1984 US No.4 & UK No.5 single 'Self Control'). Died of a brain aneurysm 26th Aug 2004.

1960 - Vince Clarke

English synthpop musician and songwriter Vince Clarke, who with Depeche Mode had the 1981 UK No.8 single 'Just Can't Get Enough'. With Yazoo the 1982 UK No.2 single 'Only You', and with Erasure, the 1992 UK No.1 single 'Abba-Esque EP'. Clarke was also a member of The Assembly.

1968 - Martyn Walsh

Martyn Walsh, bassist from English alternative rock band Inspiral Carpets who had the 1990 UK No.14 single 'This Is How It Feels'.

1969 - Kevin Hearn

Kevin Hearn, keyboards, guitar, accordion, with Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies who scored the 1998 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'One Week'. The group has sold over 15 million records including albums and singles, and were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in March of 2018.

1975 - Javier Weyler

Javier Weyler, drummer from Welsh rock band, Stereophonics, who replaced Richard Cable in 2003. Their 1999 UK No.1 album, Performance and Cocktails spent 97 weeks on the UK chart.

1976 - Shane Lynch

Shane Lynch, 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.