What Happened Today In Music

December 8th

1961 - The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys first single 'Surfin' was released on Candix Records, a small label based in Los Angeles. On the strength of the song’s performance in the Southern California market, Capitol Records signed the group. Other surfing songs would follow: 'Surfin’ Safari,' 'Surfin’ U.S.A.,'and 'Surfer Girl.'

1963 - Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra Jr was kidnapped at gunpoint from a hotel in Lake Tahoe. He was released two days later after his father paid out the $240,000 ransom demanded by the kidnappers, who were later captured, and sentenced to long prison terms. In order to communicate with the kidnappers via a payphone the senior Sinatra carried a roll of dimes with him throughout this ordeal, which became a lifetime habit, he is said to have been buried with a roll of dimes.

1966 - The Beatles

Working at Abbey Road in London, Paul McCartney overdubbed his lead vocal for ‘When I'm Sixty-Four’. Then The Beatles set about remaking a new John Lennon song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’

1968 - Graham Nash

Singer and guitarist Graham Nash left The Hollies and started work with David Crosby and Stephen Stills who went on to form Crosby Stills & Nash.

1969 - Jimi Hendrix

On trial in Canada on drug possession charges, Jimi Hendrix told a Toronto court that he had only smoked pot four times in his life, snorted cocaine twice and took LSD no more than five times. Telling the jury that he had now 'outgrown' drugs. They found the guitarist not guilty.

1973 - Roxy Music

Roxy Music had their first UK No.1 album when 'Stranded' went to the top for one week. The sleeve featured Playboy's Playmate of The Year, model Marilyn Cole, (who was the magazines's first full-frontal nude centerfold).

1976 - The Eagles

The Eagles released their fifth studio album Hotel California, their first album with guitarist Joe Walsh, who had replaced founding member Bernie Leadon. The album topped the US chart for eight weeks (non-consecutively) and at the 20th Grammy Awards, the Eagles won a Grammy Award for 'Hotel California', which won Record of the Year. Worldwide sales now stand at over 32 million. 

1977 - Blondie

Four people were arrested after a riot broke out when Blondiedidn't arrive for a gig in Brisbane. Over 1,000 Australian fans had waited over an hour for the group to appear on stage, but the gig was cancelled due to singer Debbie Harry being unwell.

1979 - Styx

Styx went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Babe', the group's only US No.1, a No.6 hit in the UK.

1980 - John Lennon

John Lennon was shot five times by 25 year old Mark Chapman outside the Dakota building in New York City where John and Yoko lived. Chapman had been waiting for Lennon outside the Dakota apartments since mid-morning and had asked for an autograph earlier in the day. Lennon was pronounced dead from a massive loss of blood at 11.30pm. Chapman has since said he shot the former Beatle because he wanted to "steal" his fame — stating that now he was a bigger nobody than he was before. He also revealed he planned the killing for three months and considered murdering other celebrities who he thought were "phonies."

1982 - Marty Robbins

American country singer, songwriter Marty Robbins died aged 57 of complications following cardiac surgery. Had the first No.1 of the 60s in the US with 'El Paso', (winning him a Grammy Award). Robbins later portrayed a musician in the 1982 Clint Eastwood film Honkytonk Man.

1984 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Frankie Goes To Hollywood were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Power Of Love'. The group's third No.1 of the year and final UK No.1. This made them the first group since Gerry And The Pacemakers to have a UK No.1 with their first three singles.

1984 - Vince Neil

Vince Neil from Motley Crue was involved in a car accident in Redondo Beach, California, which killed Nick Dingley from Hanoi Rocks and injured two other passengers. Neil was later sentenced to 30 days in jail, five years probation, and had to pay $2.6 million in restitution to the victims of the crash. Neil got out of jail after 15 days for good behavior.

1995 - Courtney Love

Courtney Love appeared on the ABC TV show '10 Most Fascinating People', telling the presenter that she wished she had done 'eight thousand million things differently' to have prevented the death of her husband Kurt Cobain. 

1999 - Heinz

1960s singer Heinz was given a formal caution by magistrates in Southampton for playing music to loud in his flat. The singer who scored 4 Top 40 singles in the 60s is now wheelchair bound.

2000 - John Lennon

A plaque to commemorate the 20th anniversary of John Lennon's death was unveiled outside his childhood home in Liverpool.

2003 - Darkness

BPI figures showed that the UK sales of seven-inch singles had increased by 84% on the previous year. The report claimed that bands such as The Darkness, The Strokes and The White Stripes had boosted sales by releasing special limited edition seven-inch records.

2004 - Darrell Abbott

Former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell was one of five people killed after a man stormed the stage during a Damageplan show at the Alrosa Villa Club in Columbus. Nathan Gale, aged 25, began firing at the band and crowd, was then shot and killed by a police officer who arrived shortly after the first shots were fired.

2013 - Metallica

Metallica played a gig inside a dome at the Argentine Antarctic Base Carlini, thus becoming the first band ever to play on all seven continents. During the concert audio was transmitted to an audience made up of competition winning fans from Latin America through headphones. Staged in conjunction with Coca Cola Zero, it was only the second ever gig to take place on the continent, following a performance in 2007 from a group of musical scientists, called Nunatak, at British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station as part of the Live Earth climate change awareness concerts.

2016 - Mick Jagger

Sir Mick Jagger became a father again at the age of 73, after his 29-year-old girlfriend, American ballerina Melanie Hamrick, gave birth to a boy in New York City. The singer already had seven children, whose ages range from 17 to 45 and he became a great-grandfather in 2014.

2019 - Juice Wrld

American rapper, singer, and songwriter Juice Wrld best-known for his viral 2018 hit 'Lucid Dreams' died age 21. He suffered a seizure at Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died. 

Born Today In Music

December 8th

1925 - Sammy Davis Jr

Sammy Davis Jr, singer, actor, (1972 US No.1 single 'The Candy Man'). Died of throat cancer on 16th May 1990.

1939 - James Galway

James Galway, Irish musician, (1978 UK No.3 single 'Annie's Song',)

1939 - Jerry Butler

Jerry Butler, vocals, The Impressions, (1965 US No.7 single 'Lilies Of The Field', solo 1969 US No.4 single 'Only The Strong Survive').

1942 - Toots Hibbert

Jamaican singer and songwriter Toots Hibbert who was the lead vocalist for the reggae and ska band Toots and the Maytals. Hibbert's 1968 song 'Do the Reggay' is widely credited as the genesis of the genre name reggae. He died age 77 on 11 September 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. 

1942 - Bobby Elliott

Bobby Elliott, drummer with British pop/rock group The Hollies who have scored over 30 top 40 hits, including 'Just One Look', 'Bus Stop', 'Carrie Anne', and later 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' and 'The Air That I Breathe'.

1943 - Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison singer and lyricist with The Doors who had the 1967 US No.1 single 'Light My Fire' and 1971 single 'Riders On The Storm'. Due to his wild personality and performances, he is regarded by some people as one of the most iconic, charismatic and pioneering frontmen in rock music history. Morrison died of heart failure in a bathtub in a Paris hotel room on 3rd July 1971. The events surrounding his death continue to be the subject of controversy, as no autopsy was performed on his body after death, and the exact cause of his death is disputed by many to this day.

1944 - Mike Botts

Mike Botts, drums, Bread, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'Make It With You').

1946 - Graham Knight

Graham Knight, bassist from Scottish pop rock band Marmalade, (originally formed in 1961 as The Gaylords). They scored the 1969 UK No.1 single with their version of The Beatles song 'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da'. 

1947 - Gregg Allman

Gregg Allman, keyboards, guitar, vocals, The Allman Brothers Band who released the classic album Eat a Peach in 1972 and had the 1973 US No.12 single 'Ramblin Man'. Allman was referred to as a Southern rock pioneer and received numerous awards, including several Grammys. Following a series of health problems, including hepatitis C and a 2010 liver transplant, Allman died at his home in Richmond Hill, Georgia, on 27 May 2017, due to complications of liver cancer.

1947 - Geoff Daking

Geoff Daking, from American rock group The Blue Magoos, who scored the 1967 US No.5 single, 'We Ain't Got Nothin' Yet'. They were at the forefront of the psychedelic music trend, beginning in 1966.

1949 - Ray Shulman

Ray Shulman who was a member of Simon Dupree And The Big Sound, who had the 1967 UK No.9 single 'Kites' and later worked with Gentle Giant.

1950 - Wah Wah Watson

American guitarist and session musician Wah Wah Watson, (Melvin Ragin) famed for his skills with a wah-wah pedal. He became a member of the Motown Records studio band, The Funk Brothers, where he recorded with The Temptations (his guitar work on 'Papa Was A Rollin' Stone'), The Jackson 5, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye and The Supremes. He also appeared on Michael Jackson's Off The Wallalbum. He died on 24 October 2018. 

1951 - Dan Hartman

Dan Hartman, multi- instrumentalist, producer, worked with Edgar Winter. Had the 1978 UK No.8 & US No.29 solo single 'Instant Replay'). He died on 22nd March 1994. Wrote ‘Relight My Fire’ a UK No.1 for Take That and Lulu, collaborated with Tina Turner, Dusty Springfield, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Tyler, Paul Young, James Brown, Holly Johnson and Steve Winwood. Hartman died on March 22, 1994 at his Westport, Connecticut, home of an AIDS-related brain tumor.

1953 - Colin Routh

Colin Routh, Black Lace, (1984 UK No.2 single 'Agadoo').

1955 - Nathan East

American jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist Nathan East. He has recorded, performed and co-written songs with Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Joe Satriani, George Harrison, Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder, Toto, Kenny Loggins, Daft Punk, and Herbie Hancock.

1956 - Warren Cuccurullo

Warren Cuccurullo, guitarist. Worked with Frank Zappa, Duran Duran and Missing Persons. After posing naked with an erection in Brazilian gay magazine, G, in 2000, the guitarist marketed an eight-inch dildo modeled on his own penis, called the Rock Rod. In the early 1990s, Cuccurullo collaborated with Duran bandmate Nick Rhodes, calling themselves TV Mania.

1957 - Phil Collen

Phil Collen, guitar, Def Leppard, (1987 UK No.6 single 'Animal' and 1987 worldwide No.1 album Hysteria 1988 US No.1 single 'Love Bites').

1959 - Paul Rutherford

Paul Rutherford, vocals with Frankie Goes To Hollywood, the British band who formed in Liverpool and had the 1984 UK No.1 & US No.10 single 'Relax'. The single eventually sold 2 million copies in the UK alone, making it the seventh best-selling single in the UK Singles Chart's history. Their debut album, Welcome to the Pleasuredome, reached No.1 in the UK in 1984 with advanced sales of over one million.

1962 - Marty Friedman

Marty Friedman, Megadeth, (1990 UK No.13 single 'No More Mr Nice Guy').

1966 - Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O’Connor, Irish singer, songwriter, (1990 UK, US and world-wide No.1 single with the Prince penned 'Nothing Compares To U'). Her version of the song was also a No.1 hit in 18 other countries.

1973 - Judith Pronk

Judith Pronk, Alice Deejay, 1999 UK No. 2 single ‘Better Off Alone’.

1973 - Corey Taylor

Corey Taylor, lead singer with American heavy metal band Slipknot, (sometimes known by the number 8). Their 2008 fourth album All Hope Is Gone gave them their first US No.1. The band's early performances included extreme acts such as stage dives from high balconies and band members setting each other on fire. Taylor is also a founding member of Stone Sour.

1974 - Nick Zinner

Nick Zinner, guitarist, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, (2006 UK No. 18 single 'Gold Lion').

1982 - Chrisette Michele

Chrisette Michele, American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, 2009 US No.1 album 'Epiphany'.