What Happened Today In Music

August 25th

1957 - Paul Anka

Canadian singer, songwriter Paul Anka was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Diana' (written about his brother's baby-sitter). His only UK No.1 as an artist, Anka was the first teenage solo act to reach No.1.

1960 - The Shadows

The Shadows were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Apache'. The first of five UK No.1's for Cliff Richard's backing group.

1961 - The Beatles

After playing a lunchtime gig at The Cavern Club Liverpool, The Beatles played aboard the Merseyside riverboat M.V.Royal Iris supporting Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band.

1962 - Little Eva

Little Eva went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Loco-motion'. The Carole King and Gerry Goffin song was offered to Dee Dee Sharp (Mashed Potatoes), who turned it down. The writers had their babysitter record it who took it to No.1.

1965 - The Beatles

Two female Beatles fans hired a helicopter to fly over the house The Beatles were renting in Beverly Hills, California and jumped from the helicopter into the swimming pool.

1966 - The Beatles

During their last US tour, The Beatles played two shows at the Coliseum in Seattle, Washington. The first show at 3pm was attended by only 8,000 fans (the arena seated 15,000), but the evening show was a sell-out.

1967 - Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson returned to performing live with The Beach Boys in Honolulu after a 2 year hiatus. The group had just released 'Heroes and Villains' in the US.

1967 - Bobbie Gentry

Bobbie Gentry started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Ode To Billy Joe', a No.13 hit in the UK. The song generated eight Grammy nominations, resulting in three wins for Gentry and one win for arranger Jimmie Haskell.

1970 - Jimi Hendrix

A party was held to celebrate the official opening of 'Electric Ladyland' studios in New York City, New York. Artists who went on to record at the studio include: Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, AC/DC, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Frank Zappa and  Guns N' Roses.

1970 - Elton John

Elton John made his US live debut when he kicked off a 17-date tour at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. In the audience that night were Don Henley, Quincy Jones and Leon Russell. Elton's latest single 'Border Song' had just debuted at number 92 on the US chart.

1973 - Hot Chocolate

One Hit Wonders Stories started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Brother Louie'. Hot Chocolate who had a No.7 hit with the song in the UK wrote the song.

1975 - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen released his third studio album Born to Run. The album peaked at No.3 on the Billboard chart eventually selling six million copies in the United States and has since been considered by critics to be one of the greatest albums in popular music. Two singles were released from the album: 'Born to Run' and 'Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out'; the first helped Springsteen to reach mainstream popularity.

1979 - The Knack

The Knack started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'My Sharona', the group's only US chart topper, a No.6 hit in the UK. Lead singer Doug Fieger said he was inspired to write the tune by Sharrona Alperin, a 17 year old senior at Los Angeles' Fairfax High, who later became his girlfriend. Fieger and Alperin eventually got married to other people, but they remained friends. After battling cancer for several years, Fieger died at his home in the Los Angeles on February 14, 2010. He was 57 years old.

1981 - R.E.M.

R.E.M. appeared at The Scorpio, Charlotte, North Carolina. This show was billed as "Charlotte's First Gay New Wave Disco and Costume Party", with the $3 tickets benefitting various gay-lesbian charities.

1990 - Bombalurina

'Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini' by Bombalurina was the UK No.1 single. Bombalurina was childrens TV presenter Timmy Mallett with a remake of Brian Hyland's 1960 hit.

1993 - Snoop Doggy Dogg

Snoop Doggy Dogg was released on $1 million bail after being accused of being involved with the murder of a member of the By Yerself gang during a shooting in Los Angeles. He was acquitted of the charges in 1996.

1995 - Doug Stegmeyer

Bassist and singer Doug Stegmeyer shot himself dead. He'd worked with many artists including Billy Joel, Hall and Oatesand The Carpenters.

1997 - Michael Jackson

A deranged man who had escaped from a mental institution near Helsinki Finland was arrested. The man had planned to set fire to the stage that Michael Jackson was performing from was arrested before he was able to light the gasoline he had put on the stage.

1999 - Robert Fisher

Robert Fisher from New Romantic duo Naked Eyes and Climie Fisher died of cancer aged 39. With Climie Fisher scored the 1988 UK No.2 single 'Love Changes Everything' and wrote songs for Rod Stewart, Milli Vanilli, Fleetwood Mac and Jermaine Jackson. Fisher also worked as a producer, working with various acts including Eric Clapton.

2000 - Jack Nitzche

Academy Award-winning film score composer and record producer Jack Nitzsche died of a heart attack. He produced The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and The Walker Brothers. Musical scores including The Exorcist, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, co-wrote 'Up Where We Belong' with Buffy Sainte-Marie from 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman.

2001 - Aaliyah

American singer, actress Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas aged 22. The small Cessna plane crashed a few minutes after take off killing everyone on board with exception to four passengers who were pulled from the wreckage but later died. Aaliyah had been filming a video for her latest release 'Rock The Boat' on the island.

2005 - Guns N' Roses

Two former members of Guns N' Roses were suing singer Axl Rose for allegedly naming himself sole administrator of the US rock band's copyrights. Slash and Duff - otherwise known as Saul Hudson and Michael McKagan, accused Rose of "arrogance and ego". The legal action claimed the singer "was no longer willing to acknowledge the contributions of his former partners".

2006 - Aerosmith

Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton was undergoing treatment for throat cancer causing him to sit out the first half of the band's Route of All Evil Tour, the first time he would miss any shows in the band's history. Longtime band friend David Hull filled in for Hamilton until his return.

2009 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan revealed during his weekly radio show broadcast on 6 Music, that he was speaking to a number of car companies about becoming the voice of their satellite navigation systems. The 68 year-old said he thought it be would be good for drivers to hear him saying things such as: "Take a left at the next street. No, a right. You know what, just go straight".

2010 - The Beatles

A selection of previously unseen photographs of The Beatleswent on display in Liverpool at the Victoria Gallery and Museum. The images were taken by Astrid Kirchherr the former girlfriend of original bass player Stuart Sutcliffe, who took pictures of the band's early years after meeting them in Hamburg in 1960. The exhibition included images of the Beatles on holiday in Tenerife and of the making of their film A Hard Day's Night in 1964 in Liverpool.

2014 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love' was voted the greatest guitar riff of all time by listeners of BBC Radio 2 in the UK. The rock classic came out top from a list of 100 riffs drawn up by a panel of Radio 2 and 6 Music DJs, critics and record producers. 'Sweet Child O' Mine' by Guns 'N' Roses was second in the poll, with Back In Black (AC/DC) and 'Smoke On The Water' (Deep Purple) the next most popular.

Born Today In Music

August 25th

1918 - Leonard Bernstein

composer, pianist, conductor, Leonard Bernstein. Composed music for 1957 'West Side Story', 'On The Waterfront', conducted the New York Philharmonic aged 25. Died on 14th October 1990.

1933 - Wayne Shorter

American jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter who has worked with Miles Davis (Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet), and Weather Report who had the 1976 single 'Birdland' and the 1977 album Heavy Weather. Shorter has won 10 Grammy Awards and in 2017, he was awarded the Polar Music Prize.

1942 - Walter Williams

Walter Williams, The O'Jays, (1973 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Love Train').

1949 - Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons bassist and singer with American hard rock band Kiss. Their 1976 US No 11 album Rock and Roll Over spent 26 weeks on the chart and they had the 1987 UK No.4 single 'Crazy Crazy Nights'. Also known by his stage persona The Demon.

1950 - Willy DeVille

Willy DeVille, Mink DeVille, (1977 UK No.20 single 'Spanish Stroll'). Died of pancreatic cancer on 6th Aug 2009.

1951 - James Warren

James Warren, The Korgis, (1980 UK No.5 single 'Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime').

1951 - Rob Halford

English singer and songwriter Rob Halford who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He has been involved with several side projects, including Fight, 2wo and Halford.

1954 - Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello, (Declan McManus), singer, songwriter. Had the 1979 UK No.2 single with The Attractions 'Olivers Army' and his 1979 UK No.2 album Armed Forces spent 28 weeks on the chart. Costello has won multiple awards in his career, including a Grammy Award, and has worked with Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Lucinda Williams, Kid Rock, and Brian Eno.

1956 - Matt Aitken

Matt Aitken, part of the Stock, Aitken and Waterman production team, produced over 10 UK No.1 singles.

1961 - Billy Ray Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus, US singer who scored the 1992 UK No.3 single 'Achy Breaky Heart', and the No.1 US album Some Gave All. In 2019 after Billboard removed American rapper Lil Nas X's country-rap song 'Old Town Road' from their Country chart, Cyrus was featured in the remix which peaked at No.1 on the Billboard chart for a record-breaking nineteen consecutive weeks.

1962 - Vivian Campbell

Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician Vivian Campbell, who joined Def Leppard in 1992, replacing Steve Clark, who had died the previous year. Campbell had also been a member of Dio and Whitesnake.

1963 - Candida Doyle

Candida Doyle, from English rock band Pulp, who had the 1995 UK No.2 single 'Common People'. He quit the band in January 1997. Pulp were regarded among the Britpop "big four", along with Oasis, Blur and Suede.

1965 - Erik Dahlgren

Erik Dahlgren, drummer, with alternative Swedish rock band The Wannadies who had the 1996 UK No. 18 single, 'You And Me Song'.

1966 - Norman Rogers

Norman Rogers, Public Enemy, (1988 UK No.18 single 'Don't Believe The Hype').

1967 - Jeff Tweedy

Jeff Tweedy, American songwriter, musician and leader of the American alternative rock band Wilco who released the albums Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost Is Born, Sky Blue Sky and Wilco (The Album).

1969 - Luke Scott

Luke Scott, from British indie band Babybird, who had the 996 UK No.3 single ‘You’re Gorgeous’, and the 1996 UK No. 9 album Ugly Beautiful.

1985 - Diana "Wynter" Gordon

Diana "Wynter" Gordon, American pop/dance singer-songwriter who had the 2011 word wide hit 'Dirty Talk'.

1987 - Amy MacDonald

Amy MacDonald, Scottish singer/songwriter. (2008 UK No.1 with her debut album ‘This Is the Life’).

1988 - Ray Quinn

Ray Quinn, English actor and singer, runner-up to Leona Lewis in the third series of ITV talent show The X Factor, (2007 UK No.1 album 'Doing It My Way').

1988 - Alexandra Burke

Alexandra Burke, R&B singer and winner of the 2008 series of UK television talent show The X Factor. 2009 UK No.1 single 'Bad Boys' featuring Flo Rida.