What Happened Today In Music

September 22nd

1958 - Elvis Presley

After receiving special permission from the US Army, Elvis Presley gave one last press conference at the Military Ocean Terminal in Brooklyn. He then joined the rest of the 3rd Armored Division on the USS General Randall for a voyage to Bremerhaven, Germany.

1962 - The Springfields

The Springfields (Dusty Springfield her brother Tom and their friend, Tim Field) had 'Silver Threads and Golden Needles', enter the US Top 20 and became the first British vocal group to chart that high in America.

1964 - Herman's Hermits

Herman's Hermits were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Carole King & Gerry Goffin song 'I'm Into Something Good', the group's only UK No.1.

1965 - Grace Slick

San Francisco band The Great Society, featuring Grace Slick and her then-husband Jerry Slick on drums, made their live debut at The Coffee Gallery, North Beach, California.

1967 - The Doors

The Doors appeared on the Murray the K show on WPIX-TV in New York City performing 'People Are Strange' and 'Light My Fire.'

1969 - James Brown

A new weekly TV show 'The Music Scene' aired on ABC in the US for the first time. Stevie Wonder, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Tom Jones, Cass Elliot, James Brown, Janis Joplin and Sly and the Family Stone were all booked to appear on the show.

1969 - The Band

The Band released their self-titled album, which peaked at No.9 on the US chart, and included the tracks; 'Rag Mama Rag', 'Up on Cripple Creek' and 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down'. In 2009, the album was preserved into the National Recording Registry because the album was ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and reflects life in the United States.’

1972 - David Bowie

David Bowie kicked of the North American leg of his Ziggy Stardust world tour at the Music Hall in Cleveland, Ohio.

1973 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones scored their eighth UK No.1 album when 'Goats Head Soup' started a two-week run at the top of the charts. Also a US No.1.

1979 - Def Leppard

Def Leppard had their first major live review when UK music weekly Melody Maker reviewed a gig the band had played in Wolverhampton. With a 15 year-old drummer the band had just released their debut 3-track single.

1979 - Gary Numan

Gary Numan had his second and final UK No.1 single with 'Cars'. Also on this day Gary Numan went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'The Pleasure Principle.'

1981 - Harry Warren

American composer Harry Warren died aged 88. He wrote over 800 songs including 'I Only Have Eyes For You', (a hit for The Flamingos and Art Garfunkel), ‘You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby’, ‘Jeepers Creepers’, ‘That's Amore’ and ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’. Warren's songs have been featured in over 300 films.

1985 - Neil Young

The first Farm Aid benefit concert was held before a crowd of 80,000 people at the Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, the event had been spurred on by Bob Dylan's comments at Live Aid earlier in that year that he hoped some of the money would help American farmers. The star studded line-up of country stars included: Alabama, Hoyt Axton, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels Band, John Denver, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Roger Miller, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Rogers.

1990 - Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks album 'No Fences' entered the US album chart. It went on to become the biggest selling country album of all time and sold over 13m copies in the first five years of release.

1990 - Nirvana

Nirvana played their biggest gig to date when they appeared at the Motor Sports International Garage in Seattle. Drummer Dave Grohl who would audition for the band in a few days time was in the audience of 15,000 people.

1991 - Bryan Adams

Bryan Adams made chart history when '(Everything I Do), I Do It For You', had its twelfth consecutive week as the UK No.1 single.

1992 - Def Leppard

Def Leppard were forced to cancel two US shows after their sound-equipment truck was found abandoned, after one of the bands driver's had attempted to rob a store. The driver was later charged of possessing drugs and criminal damage.

1999 - Diana Ross

Diana Ross was arrested on Concorde after an incident at Heathrow Airport. The singer claimed that a female security guard had touched her breasts when being frisked; Ross retaliated by rubbing her hands down the security guard.

2001 - Bruce Springsteen

‘A Tribute to Heroes’ was aired commercial-free on most of the major US TV networks. The live program was organised to raise money following the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and New York’s World Trade Center. Neil Young, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, U2, Limp Bizkit, Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam all performed. Manning the telephones to take pledges were celebrities including Jack Nicholson, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Goldie Hawn, Robin Williams, Meg Ryan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kurt Russell, Adam Sandler and many more.

2004 - Cat Stevens

Cat Stevens, who now went by the name of Yusuf Islam, was escorted from a diverted transatlantic flight and refused entry into America by FBI agents. His name showed up on a US watch list after United Airlines Flight 919 had taken off from London. The flight landed in Maine where Islam, who was traveling with his 21-year-old daughter, was detained and questioned.

2005 - Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page was made an honorary citizen of Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro for his work helping its street children. The Led Zeppelinguitarist had opened Casa Jimmy (Jimmy's House) in 1998 which had so far supported more than 300 children.

2007 - The Game

The Game was given a conditional discharge at Manhattan's Criminal Court after being charged with impersonating a police officer. Police said the star told a cab driver he was an undercover officer, ordering him to run several red lights. The rapper (real name Jayceon Taylor), claimed the cab driver noticed they were being followed and asked who was in the car, He said he told the driver they were the hip-hop police, and the driver decided on his own to run the red lights.

2007 - Britney Spears

Britney Spears was charged with hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence after she was accused of hitting a parked car and driving away from a Los Angeles car park on 6 August. The owner of the car filed an accident report on 9 August at the North Hollywood Community Police Station. The city attorney's office did not know whether Ms Spears' car had been damaged, nor did he know the extent of damage to the other car.

2011 - Queen

Research conducted by car maker SEAT found that Queen’s 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was the song most likely to be found on British iPods, with more than 40% of owners having the hit on their players. The Beatles had four songs in the list, a feat also matched by Coldplay. Other favourites included U2, The Killers and Rihanna.

2015 - Happy Birthday

A US District Judge ruled that the original copyright to 'Happy Birthday' was invalid and the song would now be entirely in the public domain. The copyright was obtained by the Clayton F. Summy Co. from the song's writers, sisters Mildred and Patty Hill and bought for $15 million in 1988 by Warner / Chappell Music Inc.

2018 - Chas Hodges

English musician and singer Chas Hodges died from pneumonia on aged 74. Hodges had worked with British producer Joe Meek as a session musician, backing Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent. He later joined Heads Hands and Feet, (with guitarist Albert Lee). With Chas & Dave he scored the 1982 UK No.2 single 'Ain't No Pleasing You'. He also played piano for short-lived supergroup the Rockers, which featured Roy Wood, Phil Lynott and John Coghlan.

Born Today In Music

September 22nd

1922 - Raymond Edwards

American singer Raymond Edwards from The Silhouettes. The doo wop/R&B groups single 'Get A Job' was a No.1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and pop singles chart in 1958. The doo-wop revival group Sha Na Na derived their name from the song's lyrics. 'Get A Job' is included in the soundtracks of the film American Graffiti, Trading Places and Stand By Me. Edwards died on March 4th 1997.

1942 - Mike Patto

English musician Mike Patto who was primarily notable as lead singer for Spooky Tooth and Boxer. He first became vocalist and frontman for The Bo Street Runners, who won a TV band competition Ready Steady Win during 1964. Patto died of throat cancer on 4 March 1979 aged 36.

1943 - Toni Basil

Toni Basil, US singer actress and dancer, (1982 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Mickey'). Basil worked as David Bowie's choreographer on his Diamond Dogs tour in 1974 and on his Glass Spider tour of 1987.

1951 - David Coverdale

David Coverdale, English rock singer with Whitesnake who scored the 1987 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Here I Go Again'). Coverdale was the lead singer of Deep Purple from late 1973 to 15 March 1976.

1952 - Mark Panker

Mark Panker, Guitar, American Music Club, (1993 album 'Mercury').

1953 - Richard Fairbrass

Richard Fairbrass, singer, Right Said Fred, (1991 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘I’m Too Sexy’, 1993 UK No.1 album ‘Up’).

1956 - Debby Boone

Debby Boone, US singer. Daughter of 50s singer Pat Boone. Ten weeks at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Light Up My Life', in 1977. The longest stay at the top of the charts since Guy Mitchell's 'Singing The Blues. A No.48 in the UK.

1956 - Rhett Forrester

American musician Rhett Forrester best known as the lead singer for New York-based band Riot from 1981 until 1984. Forrester was shot and killed at a Northwest Atlanta intersection after he refused to give up his vehicle in an attempted carjacking, he was 37 years old.

1957 - Nick Cave

Nick Cave, Australian singer, songwriter, who had the 1995 UK No.11 single with Kylie Minogue, 'Where The Wild Roses Grow'. Cave fronted the Birthday Party, one of the most extreme and confrontational post-punk bands of the early 1980s. In 2006, he formed the garage rock band Grinderman.

1957 - Peter Jones

Peter Jones, Public Image Ltd, (1983 UK No.5 single 'This Is Not A Love Song').

1958 - Joan Jett

Joan Jett, American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer. Founding member of The Runaways and with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts scored the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll'. She is also known as the Godmother of Punk.

1965 - Adam Cairns

Adam Cairns, guitar, vocals with alternative metal band from Northern Ireland Therapy? who had the 1993 UK No.9 single 'Screamager'.

1975 - Mystikal

Mystikal, (Michael Tyler), US rapper, (2001 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Stutter').

1982 - Billie Piper

Billie, UK singer, actress, (1998 UK No.1 single 'Because We Want To'). Once married to former Radio 1, Virgin radio DJ and TV presenter Chris Evans.

1983 - Will Farquarson

Will Farquarson, bass and guitar with Bastille who won a Brit award and had a No.1 U.K. album with Bad Blood.