What Happened Today In Music

August 24th

1959 - Rock 'n' Roll

In the US, a headline in Billboard magazine read, "Rock and Roll Ain't Ready For The Ol' Rockin' Chair Yet." The story stated that Rock 'n' Roll was losing popularity a year ago, but the record buyers now like Elvis Presley, Lloyd Price and Fats Domino along with newcomers, The Everly Brothers, The Drifters and Ricky Nelson.

1963 - Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder became the first artist ever to score a US No.1 album and single in the same week. Wonder was at No.1 on the album chart with 'Little Stevie Wonder / The 12 Year Old Genius' and had the No.1 single 'Fingertips part 2'. This was also the first ever live recording to make No.1.

1966 - The Doors

The Doors started recording their first album at Sunset Sound Recording Studios, West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

1967 - Bruce Springsteen

17-year old singer and guitarist Bruce Springsteen joined a group called Earth.

1968 - The Roundhouse

The Incredible String Band, Traffic, Bonzo Dog Band, Family, Fairport Convention, Blossom Toes, Pretty things, Deviants, Blonde On Blonde and Free all appeared over two nights at The Roundhouse in London.

1974 - Paul Anka

Paul Anka with Odia Coates started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with '(You're Having My Baby', Anka's 24th US top 40 hit. It made No.6 in the UK.

1975 - Queen

Queen started recording 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at Rockfield studio's in Monmouth, Wales, (the song was recorded over three weeks). Freddie Mercury had mentally prepared the song beforehand and directed the band throughout the sessions. May, Mercury, and Taylor sang their vocal parts continually for ten to twelve hours a day, resulting in 180 separate overdubs.

1977 - Waylon Jennings

Singer, songwriter Waylon Jennings was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine. Jennings had recently been named an honorary police chief.

1981 - Mark Chapman

Mark Chapman was given a 20 year jail sentence for the murder of John Lennon. The 25 year old had shot Lennon five times at close range on December 8th, 1980 in front of The Dakota apartment building in New York City. Over the next few months, Chapman would claim many times to have been beaten by fellow inmates, some of whom allegedly tried to kill him.

1983 - Jerry Lee Lewis

The fifth wife of Jerry Lee Lewis, Shawn Michelle Stevens was found dead at their Mississippi home of a methadone overdose. They had been married less than three months. Jerry Lee would marry again in 1984 to 22 year-old Kerrie McCarver, but divorce in 2004.

1985 - Huey Lewis and the News

Huey Lewis and the News started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Power Of Love'. As featured in the movie 'Back To The Future'.

1989 - The Who

The Who performed Tommy at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles with special guests Steve Winwood, Elton John, Phil Collins, Patti LaBelle and Billy Idol.

1990 - Judas Priest

Judas Priest successfully defended themselves against a lawsuit, after two fans attempted suicide while listening to the Stained Class album. Both fans eventually died, one immediately from a shotgun blast, and the other on a second attempt three years later by a methadone overdose. The prosecution claimed that there were subliminal messages in the group’s music that caused the two seventeen year olds to carry out the suicide pact in 1985.

1991 - Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz was at No.2 in the US singles chart with 'It Ain't Over Till It's Over', held off the No.1 position by Bryan Adams'(Everything I Do), I Do It for You'.

1996 - Everything But The Girl

'Missing' by UK duo Everything But The Girl broke the all-time US chart stay record previously held by The Four Seasons' 'December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)', when it appeared on the Billboard chart for the 55th week.

1996 - Liam Gallagher

Oasis singer Liam Gallagher failed to turn up for the recording of the bands MTV unplugged session at London's Royal Festival Hall in front of 400 fans. He later sat in the audience and watched the show with his brother Noel taking over on vocals.

1998 - Gene Page

Producer Gene Page died after a long illness. Worked with Barbra Streisand, Barry White, The Righteous Brothers, Dobie Gray, Bob and Earl. Produced Whitney Houston's 'Greatest Love of All' and Roberta Flack's 'Tonight I Celebrate My Love.'

2005 - Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake accepted libel damages for a fabricated story that he had an affair behind girlfriend Cameron Diaz's back. A News of the World article in July 2004 alleged Mr Timberlake had sexual relations with model Lucy Clarkson. The singer's solicitor Simon Smith told London's High Court Ms Clarkson had admitted lying to the newspaper. Under the headline "Exclusive: Bad News for Cameron as model reveals lover's secret fling", Ms Clarkson went into detail about several dates they had before spending the night together in a hotel. Timberlake donated the "substantial" damages paid by the newspaper and Ms Clarkson to charity.

2009 - Michael Jackson

The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled Michael Jackson's death a homicide caused by a mix of drugs meant to treat insomnia. On February 8, 2010, Dr. Conrad Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter by prosecutors in Los Angeles. Dr. Murray pleaded not guilty and was released after posting $75,000 bail, but would be found guilty in November, 2011 and was sentenced to four years in a Los Angeles County jail.

2010 - George Michael

George Michael pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in London to driving under the influence of drugs. The singer had been arrested in July when he was returning home from the London Gay Pride parade and crashed his car into the front of a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, North London.

2014 - Marion 'Suge' Knight

Death Row Records founder Marion 'Suge' Knight was injured in a shooting at a party that Chris Brown was hosting in Los Angeles. Another man and a woman, were also shot at the 1 Oak nightclub, West Hollywood. All three victims were treated at local hospitals.

Born Today In Music

August 24th

1905 - Arthur Crudup

Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup blues artist. Wrote Elvis' hit 'That's All Right (Mama).' Died of a stroke on 28th March 1974 aged 69.

1938 - David Frieberg

David Frieberg, American musician best known for contributing vocals, keyboards, electric bass, rhythm guitar, viola and percussion as a member of Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.

1941 - Ernest Wright

Ernest Wright from Little Anthony and the Imperials who had the 1958 US No.4 single 'Tears On My Pillow', which was The Imperials' first million-seller. The song has been extensively covered, including a No.1 in the UK Singles Chart version by Kylie Minogue in January 1990.

1943 - John Cipollina

John Cipollina, guitar, US acid rock band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, (1970 US album 'Fresh Air'). He died on 29th May 1989.

1945 - Ken Hensley

English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Ken Hensley, from rock band Uriah Heep who had the 1975 UK No.7 album Return To Fantasy. They have sold over 40 million albums worldwide. Hensley died on 4 November 2020, at the age of 75 following a short illness.

1945 - Molly Duncan

Molly Duncan, from Scottish funk and R&B group the Average White Band who scored the 1975 US No.1 and UK No.6 single 'Pick Up The Pieces'. He died on 8 October 2019 aged 74. 

1947 - Jim Fox

Jim Fox, drummer and organist of the James Gang (with Joe Walsh). He was the band's founder and its namesake, the band released the 1970 album The James Gang Rides Again. He is an avid collector of automobile license plates. 

1948 - Jean-Michel Jarre

Jean-Michel Jarre, French instrumentalist, (1977 UK No.4 single 'Oxygene part IV').

1951 - Michael Derosier

Michael Derosier, from American rock band Heart who scored the 1987 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Alone'. Heart has sold over 35 million records worldwide.

1953 - John Cowan

American soul music and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitarist John Cowan. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival and has also worked with the likes of, Steve Earle, The Doobie Brothers, Jesse Winchester, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Wynonna Judd.

1954 - Steve Holley

English rock music drummer Steve Holley. He was a member of Wings from August 1978 to April 1981. Holley has also worked with Elton John, Kiki Dee, Joe Cocker, Ian Hunter, Julian Lennon,Ben E. King and Chuck Berry.

1955 - Jeffrey Daniels

Jeffrey Daniels, Shalamar, (1980 US No. 8 single 'The Second Time Around', 1982 UK No.5 single 'A Night To Remember').

1961 - Colin Angus

Colin Angus, The Shamen, (1992 UK No.1 single 'Ebeneezer Goode').

1961 - Mark Bedford

Mark Bedford bass, Madness, (1982 UK No.1 single 'House Of Fun & over 20 other UK Top 40 hits).

1963 - John Bush

John Bush, Anthrax, (1991 UK No.16 single 'Got The Time').

1968 - Andreas Kisser

Andreas Kisser from Brazilian heavy metal Sepultura. Formed in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera, the band was a major force in the thrash metal and groove metal genres during the late 1980s and early 1990s.