What Happened Today In Music

November 3rd

1957 - Jerry Lee Lewis

Sun Records released 'Great Balls Of Fire', by Jerry Lee Lewis. The single went on to sell over five million copies worldwide, and was a No.1 hit in the UK and No.2 in the US.

1958 - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley went on manoeuvres for the first time with the US Army's 32nd Tank Regiment near the German, Czech border.

1960 - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley had his fifth UK No.1 single with 'It's Now Or Never', it stayed at No.1 for eight weeks. The song which was based on the Italian song, 'O Sole Mio', gave Presley his first post-army No.1.

1962 - The Crystals

The Crystals started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'He's A Rebel', it made No.19 on the UK chart.

1964 - The Rolling Stones

During a Rolling Stones North American tour a 17 year-old Stones fan fell from the balcony during a gig in Cleveland, Ohio. The Mayor of Ohio banned all future pop concerts, saying; "Such groups do not add to the community's culture or entertainment."

1967 - The Beatles

The filming for The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour was completed finishing with a sequence at Ringo's country house in Weybridge, Surrey, BBC television bought the rights to broadcast the film twice, the first broadcast, in black-and-white was scheduled for December 26, 1967. The second showing, on the color channel BBC2, was not yet available to all Britons, was set for January 5, 1968.

1972 - Carly Simon

James Taylor and Carly Simon were married by a judge in Simon's Manhattan apartment, beginning their eleven year marriage. That evening, Simon joined him on stage at New York's Radio City Music Hall and announced their union to a cheering audience.

1973 - David Bowie

David Bowie scored his second UK No.1 album when 'Pinups' started a five-week run at the top of the charts. The set contained Bowie covering his favourite 60s songs; his version of The Mersey's 'Sorrow' made No.3 on the UK singles chart, (first recorded by The McCoys in 1965).

1977 - Elton John

During a concert at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London, Elton John announced his retirement from live performances.

1979 - Robin Scott

One Hit Wonder M went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Pop Muzik'. M was Robin Scott who scored one other UK top 40 hit, 'Pop Muzik' made No.2 in the UK.

1984 - Billy Ocean

Billy Ocean started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Caribbean Queen'. The song was originally called 'European Queen'.

1984 - Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney went to No.1 on the UK album chart with the film soundtrack to 'Give My Regards To Broad Street', featuring the UK No.2 single 'No More Lonely Nights.'

1990 - The Righteous Brothers

25 years after their version was recorded, The Righteous Brothers went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Unchained Melody'. The track had been featured in the Patrick Swayze film 'Ghost.' Written by Alex North and Hy Zaret, 'Unchained Melody is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, with over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages.

1990 - Vanilla Ice

'Ice Ice Baby', by Vanilla Ice became the first rap record to top the US singles chart, (and later also a UK No.1 single). The track was initially released as the B-side to the rapper's cover of 'Play That Funky Music', and became the A-side after US DJ's started playing the track.

1991 - Bill Graham

A free concert was held in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco to honor the memory of promoter Bill Graham, who was killed in a helicopter crash the week before. Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, Grateful Dead, Journey and Joan Baez were the featured acts.

1992 - Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi released their fifth studio album, Keep The Faith, which spent a total of 49 weeks on the US chart. The album produced three Top 40 hits: 'Keep The Faith', 'Bed of Roses' and 'In These Arms'.

1993 - Leon Theremin

Russian inventor Leon Theremin died. Most famous for his invention of the theremin, one of the first electronic musical instruments. He first performed the theremin with the New York Philharmonic in 1928.

1995 - Hootie and the Blowfish

Hootie and the Blowfish reached an out of court settlement with Bob Dylan for the group's unauthorized use of Dylan's lyrics in their song 'Only Want To Be With You'.

1997 - Metallica

Metallica came to a out of court agreement with a fan who claimed he lost his sense of smell after being dropped on his head by fans at one of their shows four years earlier.

2002 - Lonnie Donegan

Lonnie Donegan, died mid-way through a UK tour and shortly before he was due to perform at a memorial concert for George Harrison with The Rolling Stones. He was aged 71. Donegan who launched the skiffle craze in the UK had the 1959 hit ‘Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour’, the 1960 UK No.1 single 'My Old Man's A Dustman', 'Rock Island Line', plus over 30 other UK Top 40 singles.

2003 - P. Diddy

P Diddy ran in the New York City Marathon and raised $2,000,000 for the educational system for the children of New York. He finished the marathon in four hours and eighteen minutes.

2005 - Madonna

Winners at this years MTV Europe awards included Coldplay who won best UK act and best song for 'Speed Of Sound’, Green Daywon best rock act and best album, Alicia Keys was named best R&B act, System of a Down won best alternative act, The Black Eyed Peas won the best pop award and for the first time, the awards included a category for best African act, won by 2 Face. Madonna, in her first live TV performance since a riding accident, launched the show by emerging from a giant disco ball. Madonna also presented MTV's 'Free Your Mind' humanitarian award to Live 8 organiser Bob Geldof.

2013 - YouTube Awards

The first ever YouTube awards were held in New York City. The event featured Eminem, Lady Gaga and M.I.A making live music videos directed by the awards' creator, Spike Jonze, and others. Eminem won Artist of the Year, while Taylor Swift's 'I Knew You Were Trouble' took the YouTube Phenomenon award.

2015 - George Michael

A former prison officer was jailed for 12 months after admitting selling stories about George Michael to the Sun newspaper for £2,150, ($3,249). Michael was jailed for eight weeks in September 2010 for crashing his Range Rover while under the influence of cannabis.

2019 - Bruce Dickinson

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson, left his wife of 29 years to move in with a 'superfan' 15 years his junior. It was reported that the singer was now living with fitness instructor Leana Dolci at her Paris home. 

Born Today In Music

November 3rd

1933 - John Barry

English composer and conductor John Barry. He composed the scores for 11 of the James Bond films between 1963 and 1987. He wrote the Grammy- and Academy Award-winning scores to the films Dances with Wolves and Out of Africa, as well as the theme for the British television cult series The Persuaders! Barry died of a heart attack on 31st January 2011 aged 77.

1943 - Bert Jansch

Bert Jansch, UK folk singer, songwriter, guitarist with Pentangle, John Renbourn and solo. He died on 5 October 2011.

1946 - Nick Simper

Nick Simper, English bass guitarist with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, The Flower Pot Men, and Lord Sutch's Savages. Simper was in the 1966 car crash that Killed Johnny Kid, became a founder member of Deep Purple. He quit the band in 1969.

1946 - Tommy Dee

Tommy Dee, from John Fred and His Playboy Band who had the 1968 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)' which was a parodic play on the title of The Beatles' song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'.

1948 - Lulu

Marie Lawrie, (Lulu), UK singer, (1964 UK No.7 single 'Shout' plus over 10 other UK Top 40 singles including 1993 UK No.1 'Relight My Fire' with Take That and the 1967 US No.1 single 'To Sir With Love').

1954 - Adam Ant

English singer and musician Stuart Goddard, (Adam Ant), who had the 1981 UK No.1 single 'Stand And Deliver' with Adam and the Ants. He scored 10 UK top ten hits from 1980 to 1983, including three UK No.1 singles. He has also worked as an actor, appearing in over two dozen films and television episodes from 1985 to 2003.

1960 - James Prime

James Prime, with Deacon Blue who had the 1988 UK No.8 single 'Real Gone Kid', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles.

1962 - Ian McNabb

Ian McNabb, guitar, vocals, Icicle Works, (1984 UK No.15 single 'Love Is A Wonderful Colour'), solo, worked with Crazy Horse.

1962 - Marilyn

Marilyn, singer, (1983 UK No.4 single 'Calling Your Name').

1969 - Mark Roberts

Mark Roberts, guitarist with alternative rock band Catatonia who had the 1998 UK No.3 single 'Mulder And Scully'. The song makes direct reference to fictional FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), the two main characters of the popular sci-fi TV series The X-Files.

1969 - Robert Miles

Swiss-born Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ Robert Miles, (1996 UK No.2 single 'Children'). Miles died in Ibiza, Spain, on 9 May 2017 at the age of 47 after a 9-month battle with stage 4 metastatic cancer.

1973 - Mick Thomson

Mick Thomson lead guitarist in the metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #7. Slipknot is well known for its attention-grabbing image, aggressive style of music, and energetic and chaotic live shows.