What Happened Today In Music

November 24th

1964 - The Who

The Who appeared at The Marquee Club London, England. Between 1964-1968 The Who made 29 appearances at The Marquee. 

1966 - John Lennon

The Beatles got together for the first time since their return from the summer tour of the United States, ready to record a new album. The first song selected for recording was John Lennon's 'Strawberry Fields Forever', which would not end up on the album, but as The Beatles' next single. This day's session was devoted entirely to ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’

1968 - Diana Ross

Diana Ross and The Supremes were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Love Child', their 11th No.1 in the US. The song is also notable for knocking off and keeping The Beatles massive ‘Hey Jude’ off the top spot in the US.

1973 - Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Photograph'. His first of two US chart toppers as a solo artist. Written by Starr and George Harrison, the promotional film shot for the single showed Starr walking around his new house at the time, Tittenhurst Park, which had been previously the home of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, (and where the 'Imagine' promo film was shot).

1976 - Chicago

Chicago started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'If You Leave Me Now', the American group's only UK No.1. It went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance.

1983 - Feargal Sharkey

Irish group The Undertones split up. Lead singer Feargal Sharkey went on to have a No.1 UK single as a solo artist with 'A Good Heart' and later worked in A&R for various record labels, and later became the head of UK Music, an umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the UK's commercial music industry.

1984 - Motley Crue

Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married his girlfriend, nude model Candice, (Elaine Margaret Starchuk). The marriage lasted one month. Lee has also been married to actress Heather Locklear and the former Playboy Playmate Pamela Anderson.

1991 - Eric Carr

Eric Carr (Paul Charles Caravello) drummer with Kiss died aged 41, of complications from cancer in a New York hospital. Carr replaced Peter Criss in 1980 and remained a band member until he became ill in 1991. For his Kiss stage persona, Carr was known as 'The Fox.'

1991 - Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury died of complications from aids at his home in London's Holland park aged 45, just one day after he publicly admitted he was HIV positive. Mercury was openly bisexual and enjoyed a colourful rock star lifestyle. During his career with Queen he scored over 40 Top 40 UK singles including the worldwide No.1 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.

1992 - Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman's divorce was finalised with the high court awarding his ex wife Mandy Smith £580,000. The Rolling Stones bassist had started to date Smith when she was 13, the marriage lasted for two years.

1993 - Albert Collins

American blues guitarist and singer Albert Collins died of lung cancer aged 61. Known as ‘The master of the telecaster’, he shared a Grammy for the 1985 album Showdown! which he recorded with Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland.

1999 - Buddy Holly

During a Bonhams of London rock auction, Buddy Holly's first driving licence sold for £3,795; and a copy of The Beatles 1968 The White Album numbered 00000001, sold for £9,775.

2002 - Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams started a five week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with his fifth studio album ‘Escapology’. The album became the best selling album of 2002 in the United Kingdom, selling 1.2 million copies.

2003 - Black Lace

'Agadoo' by Black Lace was named the worst song of all time by a panel of music writers. The song which peaked at No.2 on the UK charts in 1984 spent 30 weeks in the top 75 and went on to become the eighth best-selling single of 1984 in the UK. Black Lace themselves recorded an X-rated version of the song entitled 'Have a Screw', which was released on the B-side of the 12-inch vinyl 'Gang Bang'.

2006 - Shakira

Winners at this year’s American Music Awards included, Kelly Clarkson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Shakira, Jamie Foxx, Nickelback, Sean Paul, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Mary J. Blige. Nelly Furtado, John Mayer and Fall Out Boy.

2007 - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea lost his multi-million pound house in a wildfire that swept through Malibu, 53 other properties were destroyed by the blaze. Flea told the Los Angeles Times the $4.8m (£2.3m) property was "burnt to a crisp".

2008 - Boy George

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard how Boy George chained a male escort to his bedroom wall and beat him with a metal chain after accusing him of hacking into his laptop. The singer had made contact with Mr Carlsen, 29, on the social networking website Gaydar. Mr Carlsen told the court that he was dragged along the floor towards the bed and a handcuff was put on his right hand. The manacle was attached to a hook drilled into the wall by the bed. The police later photographed welts on Mr Carlsen's arm where the handcuffs had been. The fire brigade had to be called to cut the cuffs off.

2008 - Michael Lee

English drummer Michael Lee died from a seizure aged 39. Lee had worked with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Little Angels, The Cult, Ian Gillan, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Quireboys and Thin Lizzy. 

2013 - Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams scored his 11th UK No.1 album when Swings Both Ways went to the top of the charts. It was also the 1,000 No.1 UK album since the charts began in 1956 when Frank Sinatra was at No.1 with Songs For Swingin' Lovers.

Born Today In Music

November 24th

1939 - Jim Yester

Jim Yester, guitar, vocals, The Association, (1967 US No.1 single 'Windy').

1941 - Wayne Jackson

Wayne Jackson, American soul and R&B trumpet player in the Mar-Keys, and the house band at Stax Records and later as one of The Memphis Horns. Jackson played on 52 No.1 songs, supporting the likes of Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Otis Redding, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Peter Gabriel and the Doobie Brothers. Jackson died on 21st June 2016 aged 74.

1941 - Donald Dunn

Donald Dunn,Booker T and the MG's, (1962 US No. 3 single 'Green Onions', 1969 UK No.4 single 'Time Is Tight'). Dunn died in his sleep on 13th May 2012 after playing a show at the Blue Note night club in Tokyo the night before. He had been in the country as part of an ongoing tour with Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd.

1941 - Pete Best

Pete Best, The Beatles drummer, 1960-1962.

1942 - Billy Connolly

Billy Connolly, singer, actor, comedian, The Humblebums with Gerry Rafferty, 1975 UK No.1 single 'D.I.V.O.R.C.E.'

1943 - Robin Williamson

Robin Williamson, Scottish multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, songwriter and storyteller, who first made his name as a founding member of The Incredible String Band.(1967 album 'The 5000 Spirits or The Layers Of The Onion').

1945 - Lee Michaels

Lee Michaels, US keyboard player, (1971 US No.6 single 'Do You Know What I Mean').

1948 - Tony Bourge

Tony Bourge, guitarist, from Welsh hard rock Budgie. They were one of the earliest heavy metal bands and a seminal influence to many acts. Budgie had the 1971 single 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman'.

1950 - Bob Burns

Bob Burns, American drummer who was in the original line-up of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Burns also played on the band's first two official albums: (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) and Second Helping. He died in a car crash in Georgia late at night after a performance on April 3, 2015.

1955 - Clem Burke

Clem Burke, American musician who is best known as the drummer from Blondie from 1975, shortly after the band formed, throughout the band's entire career. Blondie have scored five UK No.1 singles including the 1979 UK & US No.1 single 'Heart Of Glass' and 1978 worldwide No.1 album Parallel Lines.

1957 - Chris Hayes

Chris Hayes, guitarist from Huey Lewis and the News who had the 1985 UK No.11 & US No.1 single 'The Power Of Love'. Their third, and best-selling, album was the 1983 Sports, and they contributed to the soundtrack of the 1985 feature film Back to the Future.

1958 - Carmel

Carmel, (1983 UK No.15 single 'Bad Day').

1962 - John Squire

English musician, songwriter and artist John Squire best known as the guitarist for the Stone Roses. After leaving the Stone Roses he went on to found the Seahorses and has since released two solo albums.

1962 - Gary Stonadge

Gary Stonadge, bass, Big Audio Dynamite, who scored the 1986 UK No.11 single 'E=MC2.

1964 - Tony Rombola

Tony Rombola, guitarist, Godsmack, (2003, US No.1 album ‘Faceless’, 2006 US No.1 album ‘IV’).

1970 - Chad Taylor

Chad Taylor, guitarist, from American rock band Live who achieved worldwide success with their 1994 album Throwing Copper, which sold eight million copies in the US.