What Happened Today In Music

September 29th

1956 - Bill Haley

Bill Haley had five songs in the UK Top 30; 'Rockin Through The Rye', 'Saints Rock n' Roll', 'Rock Around the Clock', 'Razzle Dazzle', and 'See You Later Alligator'.

1959 - The Miracles

Berry Gordy's third release on the newly established MotownRecords, 'Bad Girl' by The Miracles, entered the Billboard Pop chart.

1960 - Ricky Valance

Ricky Valance was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Tell Laura I Love Her', making him the first Welsh singer to top the charts, and a One-hit Wonder.

1961 - Bob Dylan

Robert Shelton, wrote a glowing review of Bob Dylan's support slot at Gerde's Folk City in the New York Times, calling him ‘One of the most distinctive stylists to play Manhattan in months’. On the same day Dylan played harmonica at a recording session produced by John Hammond.

1967 - The Beatles

Working at Abbey Road in London, The Beatles mixed the new John Lennon song ‘I Am The Walrus’, which included the sound of a radio being tuned through numerous stations, coming to rest on a BBC production of William Shakespeare's "King Lear". Lennon composed the song by combining three songs he had been working on. When he learned that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyse Beatles' lyrics, he added a verse of nonsense words.

1971 - Led Zeppelin

On the last night of their first ever Japanese tour Led Zeppelinappeared at Osaka Festival Hall. Near the end of the set the group played a medley of songs during an extended version of 'Whole Lotta Love', including 'Let That Boy Boogie', 'I Gotta Know', 'Twist and Shout', 'Fortune Teller', 'Good Times Bad Times' and 'You Shook Me'.

1973 - Grand Funk Railroad

Grand Funk Railroad went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We're An American Band', the group's first of two US chart toppers.

1976 - Jerry Lee Lewis

Enjoying his own birthday celebrations singer Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player Norman Owens in the chest. Lewis had been blasting holes in an office door. Owens survived but sued his boss.

1979 - The Police

The Police had their first UK No.1 single with 'Message In A Bottle' the group's third Top 20 hit. The song was released as the first single from Reggatta de Blanc and also topped the charts in Ireland and reached No.5 in Australia. Despite its popularity in the UK, the single only reached No.74 in the United States.

1984 - Prince

Prince and the Revolution started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let's Go Crazy', his second US No.1, and a No.7 hit in the UK. It was the opening track on both the album and the film Purple Rain.

1987 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd's thirteenth studio album A Momentary Lapse Of Reason was on the UK chart. The shoot for the album cover involved dragging 800 hospital beds onto Saunton Sands in Devon, but rain interrupted the session and they had to repeat the exercise two weeks later. A hang glider can be seen in the sky, a possible reference to the track 'Learning to Fly'. Photographer Robert Dowling won a gold award at the Association of Photographers' Awards for the image, which took about two weeks to create.

1989 - Bruce Springsteen

While travelling on his motorbike from Los Angeles, Bruce Springsteen called in at Matt's Saloon in Prescott, Arizona and jammed with the house band. Bruce played a bunch of rock and roll classics, including Elvis Presley's 'Don’t Be Cruel,' and Chuck Berry's 'Sweet Little Sixteen' and 'Route 66.’ Bruce also donated $100,000 to a barmaid's hospital bill.

1990 - Maria McKee

Maria McKee was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Show Me Heaven' the song featured in the Tom Cruise film 'Days Of Thunder'.

1992 - Paul Jabara

American singer, songwriter Paul Jabara died from lymphoma related to AIDS at the age of 44. He wrote Donna Summer's Oscar and Grammy Award-winning hit ‘Last Dance’ and Barbra Streisand's ‘The Main Event/Fight’ and co-wrote the Weather Girls hit, ‘It's Raining Men’ with Paul Shaffer.

1999 - Manic Street Preachers

The Manic Street Preachers were given a bill for £28.000 after smashing up equipment during their show at Scotland's T In The Park festival.

2004 - Keith Moon

Keith Moon's five-piece drum kit, custom-made for The Whodrummer in 1968, sold for £120,000 pounds ($215,772) in London to an American collector, setting a world auction record for a set of drums.

2004 - Michael Jackson

The Sun reported that Michael Jackson had a secret fourth child who was now 19. The story claimed that Norwegian Omar Bhatti was born after a one night stand and had stayed with Jackson at his Neverland home in California.

2007 - Kanye West

US rapper 50 Cent was beaten by rival rap star Kanye West in the stand-off to claim the best-selling album in the US. West's Graduation shifted 957,000 copies in its first week of sales while 50 Cent's album, Curtis, only sold 691,000. Before the albums went on sale 50 Cent vowed he would retire from making solo albums if he was outsold by West. 50 Cent axed his forthcoming European tour and a performance at London Mobo Awards the Vodafone Live Music Awards in London, as well as at an MTV show in Germany.

2012 - Lisa Marie Presley

The UK press reported that there really was a girl who works down the chip shop and swears she's Elvis' daughter, after Lisa Marie Presley was spotted serving up deep-fried treats on a mobile motor called Mr Chippy. The 44-year-old, offspring of Elvis and actress Priscilla, donned an apron and cooked battered cod for the locals. Kim Scales, who owned the business, said: "Lisa Marie likes to see how we live and experience British life. We were laughing because the customers didn't know who she was. She really enjoyed it." The singer, had moved to the quaint village of Rotherfield, East Sussex, two years ago from Los Angeles.

2015 - The Beatles

The original contract signed by The Beatles and manager Brian Epstein sold at Sotheby's for £365,000, ($548.000). The 1962 document was said to be one of the most important contracts in popular music, marking the beginning of the band's journey to international fame.

2018 - Otis Rush 

American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Otis Rush died from complications of a stroke aged 84. His distinctive guitar style featured a slow-burning sound and long bent notes. His first single, ‘I Can't Quit You Baby’, in 1956 reached No.6 on the Billboard R&B chart. Two of his other best-known songs, are ‘Double Trouble’ and ‘All Your Love (I Miss Loving).’

2020 - Mac Davis

American country music singer, songwriter, and actor Mac Davis died age 78. During his early career he wrote for Elvis Presley, providing him with the hits 'Memories", "In the Ghetto', 'Don't Cry Daddy', and 'A Little Less Conversation'. A subsequent solo career in the 1970s produced hits such as 'Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me'. Davis also starred in his own variety show, a Broadway musical, and various films and TV shows.

2020 - Helen Reddy 

Australian-American singer, songwriter Helen Reddy died age 78. During the 1970s she placed 15 singles on the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six made the top 10 and three reached number one, including her signature hit 'I Am Woman'.

Born Today In Music

September 29th

1907 - Gene Autry

Gene Autry, America's singing cowboy. During his career Autry scored 25 successive Top 10 Country hits. He died on 2nd October 1998 aged 91.

1921 - Franny Beecher

Franny Beecher who was the lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962. He died on February 24, 2014.

1930 - Billy Strange

American singer, songwriter, guitarist Billy Strange who was a session musician with the famed Wrecking Crew. He appeared on hit songs for Elvis Presley, including 'A Little Less Conversation', Nancy and Frank Sinatra's 'Somethin' Stupid' and worked with The Ventures, Willie Nelson, The Everly Brothers, Wanda Jackson, The Beach Boys, Randy Newman, and Nat King Cole, among others. He died on February 22, 2012, aged 81.

1935 - Jerry Lee Lewis

American singer and pianist, Jerry Lee Lewis, (often known by his nickname, The Killer). He had the 1958 UK No.1 & US No.1 single 'Great Balls Of Fire', and the 1957 multi million seller 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On'. Lewis made his first recordings in 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis.

1937 - Joe 'Guitar' Hughes

Joe 'Guitar' Hughes, US blues guitarist, died May 20th 2003 aged 65. Worked with T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Big Joe Turner.

1939 - Tommy Boyce

Tommy Boyce, singer, songwriter. 1968 US No 8 single with Bobby Hart, 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite'. Wrote 'Last Train To Clarksville', 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' and 'Scooby-Doo Where Are You.' Sold over 40m records. Boyce committed suicide on 23rd November 1994.

1943 - Manuel Fernandez

Manuel Fernandez, from Spanish beat group Los Bravos who had the 1966 UK No.2 & US No.4 single 'Black Is Black'. They were the first Spanish rock band to have a UK & US hit single.

1948 - Mark Farner

Mark Farner, American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad who had the US No.1 single with their version of 'The Loco-Motion' which was produced by Todd Rundgren. They were the most successful US Heavy Metal band of the 70s selling over 20m albums.

1948 - Mike Pinera

Mike Pinera, Blues Image, (1970 US No.4 single, 'Ride Captain Ride').

1957 - Mari Wilson

Mari Wilson, UK singer, (1982 UK No.8 single 'Just What I Always Wanted').

1958 - Mick Harvey

Mick Harvey, from Australian rock band Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds who have released over 15 studio albums including the 2013 Australian No.1 Push the Sky Away.

1965 - Ian Baker

Ian Baker Keyboards with English group Jesus Jones who had the 1990 US No.2 hit with 'Right Here Right Now' and the 1991 UK No.7 single 'International Bright Young Thing'.

1966 - Tony Foster

Tony Foster, English guitarist who worked with Julian Cope and Olive who scored the 1997 UK No.1 single 'You're Not Alone'.

1967 - Brett Anderson

Brett Anderson, singer, songwriter from English alternative rock band Suede, who had the 1994 UK No.3 single 'Stay Together'. After Suede disbanded in 2003, he briefly fronted The Tears, and has released four solo albums.

1968 - Matt & Luke Goss

Twin brothers Matt and Luke Goss from English pop band Bros who had the 1988 UK No.1 single 'I Owe You Nothing' plus 10 other UK Top 40 singles.

1981 - Suzanne Shaw

English actress, singer and television personality Suzanne Shaw who with Hear'Say had the 2001 UK No.1 single, 'Pure and Simple'.

1987 - Joshua Farro

Joshua Farro, guitarist, from American rock band Paramore, who had the 2009 UK No.1 album Brand New Eyes and their 2013 self-titled fourth studio album hit No.1 on the US chart.

1994 - Halsey

American singer and songwriter Ashley Nicolette Frangipane known professionally as Halsey. Halsey achieved success with the release of 'Closer' (2016), a collaboration with The Chainsmokers. The song topped the charts in over 10 countries including the US and UK.