What Happened Today In Music

March 8th

1962 - Roy Orbison

The Beatles made their radio debut on the BBC's 'Teenagers Turn', (Here We Go), singing Roy Orbison's 'Dream Baby'. It was reportedly the first time The Beatles wore suits onstage.

1965 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan's single Subterranean Homesick Blues was released in the US. The lead track from his Bringing It All Back Home album, gave Dylan his first top 40 hit. Subterranean Homesick Blues is also noted for its innovative film clip, in what became one of the first 'modern' promotional film clips. The clip was shot in an alley behind the Savoy Hotel in London, the cue cards which Dylan holds were written by Donovan, Allen Ginsberg, and Dylan himself.

1965 - David Bowie

David Bowie made his TV debut with The Manish Boys on a UK program called 'Gadzooks! It's All Happening' when they performed their current single 'I Pity The Fool.'

1968 - Cream

Cream played the first of two nights at at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California. The concert was recorded with some tracks ending up on their 'Wheels Of Fire' double album.

1969 - Small Faces

Small Faces split up after singer Steve Marriott announced he was leaving the band to form Humble Pie. Small Faces scored the hit songs 'Itchycoo Park', 'Lazy Sunday', 'All or Nothing', and 'Tin Soldier', as well as their concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake. Members Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones linked up with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart and formed the Faces.

1973 - Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney was fined £100 ($170) for growing cannabis at his farm in Campbeltown, Scotland. McCartney claimed some fans gave the seeds to him and that he didn't know what they would grow.

1973 - Ron Mckernan

American singer and musician Ron McKernan died aged 27 from liver failure brought on by alcohol poisoning. He was a founding member and keyboard player with the Grateful Dead and played in the group from 1965 to 1972. Unlike the other members of the Grateful Dead, McKernan avoided psychedelic drugs, preferring to drink alcohol (namely whiskey and flavored fortified wine). By 1971, his health had been affected by alcoholism and liver damage and doctors advised him to stop touring.

1986 - Diana Ross

Diana Ross was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the 'Chain Reaction.' Written and produced by The Bee Gees (who also provided the backing vocals for the single). The single became her first No.1 single in the UK since 'I'm Still Waiting' in 1971.

1990 - Cher

Cher won the worst dressed female, and worst video for 'If I Could Turn Back Time', in The Rolling Stone Magazine's awards, Donny Osmond won the most unwelcome comeback award.

2001 - Eminem

It was reported that US manufactures Art Asylum planned to send over 100,000 Eminem dolls to shops in the UK. The lifelike figure had the rapper's tattoos recreated in detail including the words 'Cut Here' on his neck.

2003 - Mark Knopfler

Former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler was injured when the Honda motorbike he was riding was involved in a collision with a Fiat Punto car. The 53-year-old singer and guitarist suffered a broken collar bone and six broken ribs in the accident which happened in London's smart Belgravia district in mid-morning traffic.

2003 - Adam Faith

Singer and actor Adam Faith died. He had the 1959 UK No.1 single 'What Do You Want', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles, and acting roles include the TV series 'Love Hurts.'

2008 - Bjork

China was set to impose stricter rules on foreign pop stars after Bjork caused controversy by shouting "Tibet, Tibet" at a Shanghai concert after a powerful performance of her song Declare Independence. Talk of Tibetan independence was considered taboo in China, which had ruled the territory since 1951. A spokesperson from the culture ministry said Bjork would be banned from performing in China if there was a repeat performance.

2009 - The Who

A blue plaque in honour of The Who drummer Keith Moon was unveiled on the site of The Marquee Club in Soho, London, where in 1964 the band played the first of 29 gigs there. Fans on scooters turned up to pay tribute to Moon, who was 32 when he died of an accidental overdose in 1978. The blue plaque, which means the site is of historic importance, was awarded by the Heritage Foundation.

2016 - AC/DC

AC/DC postponed the rest of their current US tour after singer Brian Johnson was warned he was going deaf. The band posted a statement on their website saying doctors had advised Johnson to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss.

2016 - George Martin

English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer and musician, Sir George Martin died aged 90. He worked as EMI records in-house record producer and became known as the so-called fifth Beatle. Martin produced all but one of The Beatles albums giving him 30 No.1 hit singles in the UK and 23 No.1 hits in the US. He also produced many other acts including: Matt Monro, Cilla Black, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, The Fourmost, Jeff Beck, Ultravox, Kenny Rogers, UFO, Cheap Trick, Elton John and Celine Dion. Martin received a Knighthood in 1996.

Born Today In Music

March 8th

1942 - Ralph Ellis

Ralph Ellis from British group The Swinging Blue Jeans who had the 1964 UK No.2 & US No.24 single 'Hippy Hippy Shake'.

1943 - Andrew Semple

Andrew Semple, guitarist and singer from English harmony beat group The Fortunes, who had the 1965 UK No.2 & US No.7 single 'You've Got Your Troubles' and the hits 'Here It Comes Again and 'Storm in a Teacup'.

1945 - Michael Dolenz

Michael Dolenz, singer and drummer with The Monkees who had the 1967 UK & US No.1 single 'I'm A Believer' plus 10 US & 8 UK Top 40 singles. Dolenz is now a actor, television director, radio personality and theatre director.

1946 - Carole Bayer Sager

Carole Bayer Sager, singer, songwriter. Wrote 'Groovy Kind Of Love', hit for The Mindbenders and Phil Collins. Sinatra, Pitney and Dolly Parton have all recorded her songs. Married Burt Bacharach in 1982.

1946 - Randy Meisner

Randy Meisner, guitarist with US group Poco who later joined the Eagles who had the 1977 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Hotel California'. He quit The Eagles in 1977.

1947 - Mike Allsup

Mike Allsup, guitarist with US group Three Dog Night who had the 1970 UK No.3 & US No.1 single with their version of the Randy Newman song 'Mama Told Me Not To Come'.

1948 - Peggy March

Little Peggy March, (Margaret Battivio.) US singer who had the 1963 US No.1 single 'I Will Follow Him'.

1948 - Mel Galley

Mel Galley, guitarist with Whitesnake who had the 1987 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Here I Go Again'. Died of cancer on 1st July 2008.

1949 - Dave Lambert

Dave Lambert with English folk rock group The Strawbs who scored the 1973 UK No.2 single with 'Part Of The Union'.

1954 - Cheryl Baker

Cheryl Baker,singer with British pop group Bucks Fizz who had the UK hits 'Making Your Mind Up' (1981), 'The Land of Make Believe' (1981) and 'My Camera Never Lies' (1982) and became one of the top-selling groups of the 1980s. Baker now works as a TV presenter.

1957 - Clive Burr

Clive Burr, drummer with UK Rock group Iron Maiden who had the 1982 UK No.1 album The Number Of The Beast, and the 1991 UK No.1 single 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter'. Burr died on 13th March 2013 at the age of 56. He had been suffering from multiple sclerosis, and died in his sleep. Burr was a member of up-and-coming British metal band, Samson, before joining Maiden in 1979.

1958 - Gary Numan

Gary Numan, singer with Tubeway Army who had the 1979 UK No.1 single 'Are Friends Electric'. As a solo artist had the 1979 UK No.1 & 1980 US No.9 single 'Cars' plus 18 other UK Top 40 singles.

1960 - Richard Darbyshire

Richard Darbyshire, singer, songwriter from UK group Living In A Box, who had the 1987 UK No.5 single 'Living In A Box'.

1962 - Steve Grantley

Steve Grantley from Eighth Wonder who had the 1988 UK No.7 single 'I'm Not Scared'.

1964 - Peter Gill

Peter Gill, drummer 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.

1968 - Shawn Mullins

Shawn Mullins, US male singer, songwriter who had the 1999 UK No.9 single 'Lullaby'.

1976 - Gaz Coombes

Gaz Coombes singer, songwriter with UK group Supergrass who had the 1995 UK No.2 single 'Alright'. Their 1995 UK No.1 album I Should Coco spent 35 weeks on the UK chart. He first entered the music scene aged sixteen as the lead singer of the band The Jennifers.

1979 - Tom Chaplin

Tom Chaplin singer, songwriter with UK group Keane who had the 2004 UK No.1 album 'Hopes And Fears' which was the second best-selling British album of the year.

1988 - Eleanor Jackson

Eleanor Jackson, singer with La Roux who had the 2009 UK No.1 single 'Bulletproof'.