What Happened Today In Music

April 23rd

1956 - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley (with Scotty Moore and Bill Black), played the first night of a two-week engagement (playing 2 shows a day) at the New Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas. Presley was not the typical Las Vegas Strip entertainer of the time and his shows were met with a cool reception.

1960 - Paul McCartney

The Nerk Twins appeared at The Fox And Hounds in Caversham, Berkshire, England. The Nerk Twins being John Lennon and Paul McCartney who were staying at Paul's aunt's pub.

1963 - The Rolling Stones

The Beatles and The Rolling Stones met for the first time during a Stones performance at the Crawdaddy Club. The music venue in Richmond, Surrey, also saw performances by Led Zeppelin, Long John Baldry, Elton John and and Rod Stewart.

1969 - The Beatles

The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Get Back' the group's 16th UK No.1. Credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston", it was the Beatles' only single that credited another artist, 'Get Back' was also the Beatles' first single release in true stereo in the US.

1971 - Andy Warhol

The Rolling Stones released their classic album Sticky Fingersin the UK. The band's first release on their own label via Atlantic Records, the cover was designed by Andy Warhol, who was paid $15,000 for his efforts. The LP sleeve featured a close-up of a pair of jeans with a working zip. Widely assumed to be that of Mick Jagger, the crotch photographed for the cover was actually that of actor Joe Dallesandro.

1976 - Ramones

Ramones released their eponymous debut album. The front cover depicts the band members standing in a line leaning against a brick wall, taken by Roberta Bayley. The cover was ranked No.58 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Album Covers.

1977 - Thelma Houston

Thelma Houston went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Leave Me This Way', a No.13 hit in the UK.

1978 - Sid Vicious

Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious filmed his version of 'My Way' for the Sex Pistols film 'The Great Rock n Roll Swindle.'

1979 - Doug Rauch

American bassist Doug Rauch died of a heroin overdose in San Francisco, at the age of 28. He was most famous for his work with Carlos Santana during his jazz fusion period in the early 1970s and had also worked with Carly Simon, John McLaughlin and David Bowie.

1983 - U2

U2 kicked off their 48-date 'War' North American tour at The Carolina Concert For Children benefit, Chapel Hill, Carolina.

1983 - David Bowie

David Bowie started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the Nile Rodgers produced 'Let's Dance', featuring the title track which made No. 1 on the US and UK singles chart and 'China Girl.' 

1987 - Carole King

Carole King sued record company owner Lou Adler for breach of contract. King claimed that she was owed over $400,000 in royalties. She also asked for all rights to her old recordings.

1988 - Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son', their second No.1 LP.

1988 - Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison celebrated his 52nd birthday at a Bruce Springsteen concert, during which the audience sang happy birthday to him.

1988 - Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston smashed a chart record held by The Beatlesand The Bee Gees when 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go', became her seventh consecutive US No.1, a No.14 hit in the UK.

1991 - Johnny Thunders

Founder member of The New York Dolls Johnny Thunders (John Anthony Genzale, Jr), died of a drug overdose. He renamed himself Johnny Thunders, after a comic book of the same name. The influential New York Dolls formed in 1972 and made just two albums. A teenage Morrissey acted as president of the UK branch of the New York Dolls fan club. Formed The Heartbreakers with Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan, and Television bassist Richard Hell.

1992 - George Michael

George Michael announced he was donating $500,000 royalties from the sale of 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', to various British and American charities.

1994 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were at No.1 on the UK album chart with The Division Bell, their fourth UK No.1 album. 

1995 - The Beatles

Peter Hodgson, from Liverpool found a tape in his attic containing 16 of The Beatles earliest recordings made in 1959. The tape included 'Hello Little Girl', a Lennon-McCartney composition that the Beatles never recorded and Ray Charles' 'Hallelujah, I Love Her So'. The sessions had been made on a reel-to-reel recorder that Hodgson's father had lent to Paul McCartney. 

1997 - Peter Andre

Club boss Paul Donavan was fined over £2,000 after being found guilty of tricking fans that he had Peter Andre appearing at his Club in the West Midlands. He had in fact an act called Peter Andrex a puppet who threw toilet rolls.

2008 - Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was sentenced to three years probation after admitting to driving under the influence of alcohol. 48-year-old Sambora who was not at the court hearing would also have to attend first offender alcohol awareness classes. He was arrested in Laguna Beach after his car was seen weaving between traffic lanes.

2008 - Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse went out on a drink and drug-fuelled spree and hit and head-butted two men. After drinking all day, Amy visited the Good Mixer pub in Camden, London with Babyshambles guitarist Mik Whitnall. Inside she allegedly punched Mustapha el Mounmi in the face after he refused to give way to her at the pool table. The singer then left to visit Bar Tok in the early hours and once at the bar shouted "I am a legend get these people out. I want to take drugs." After leaving the bar a good Samaritan tried to get her a cab, but she reportedly thought he was trying to molest her and allegedly head-butted him in the face.

2012 - Chris Ethridge

American country rock bass guitarist Chris Ethridge died age 65 from pancreatic cancer. He was a member of the International Submarine Band and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Ethridge also worked with Nancy Sinatra, Leon Russell, Delaney Bramlett, Johnny Winter, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Jackson Browne, and Willie Nelson.

2012 - Thomas "Tommy" Marth

Thomas "Tommy" Marth, the touring and studio saxophonist for the Killers, died after shooting himself in the head at his Las Vegas home. The 33-year-old musician joined the band in 2005 and played on the live tours with Brandon Flowers and co between 2008 and 2010. Tommy also performed on 2006 release Sam's Town and 2008's Day & Age.

2017 - Kerry Turman

Kerry Turman, a longtime bassist for The Temptations died of natural causes age 59 after performing at a show in Missouri. Turman had performed with The Temptations since the 1980s.

2019 - Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran was forced to knock down an outdoor sauna and ditch a huge pub sign at his £1.5 million Suffolk mansion after he failed to get planning permission. He had named his home pub after his wife Cherry Lancaster Seaborn, calling it The Lancaster Lock - but council officers weren't happy. They demanded he take down the 16ft sign after finding he'd broken planning rules during a site visit.

Born Today In Music

April 23rd

1936 - Roy Orbison

American singer-songwriter Roy Orbison "the Big O" who had a 1964 UK & US No.1 single with ‘Pretty Woman’ plus over 20 US & 30 UK Top 40 singles including 'Only the Lonely' (1960), 'Running Scared' (1961) and 'Crying'. With the Traveling Wilburys he had a 1988 UK hit single ‘Handle With Care’. Orbison died of a heart attack on 6 December 1988.

1939 - Ray Peterson

American pop singer Ray Peterson, who scored the 1960 US No.7 single 'Tell Laura I Love Her'. The song was recorded and released by Ricky Valance in the United Kingdom, where it went to No.1. Peterson died on 25 January 2005 aged 65.

1940 - Dale Houston

Dale Houston, American singer who, along with his performing partner, Grace Broussard, hit the Billboard chart as Dale & Grace with two rock and roll singles. The first was the No. 1 gold record 'I'm Leaving It Up to You' in 1963. 'Stop and Think It Over' reached No. 8 in 1964. Their recordings are highly regarded examples of the Louisiana-Texas style known as "Swamp Pop". Houston died on 27 September 2007. 

1949 - John Miles

British rock music vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player John Miles, who scored the 1976 UK No.3 single 'Music'. Miles has also worked with Alan Parson's, Jimmy Page, Joe Cocker and Tina Turner. He died on 5 December 2021 after a short illness age 72.

1955 - Captain sensible

Ray Burns, (Captain Sensible), from English punk rock band The Damned, who had the 1983 UK No.3 single 'Eloise'. Captain Sensible had the solo 1982 UK No.1 single with a cover of 'Happy Talk' from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific

1960 - David Gedge

David Gedge, vocals, guitar, from British indie rock group The Wedding Present. During 1992 they released one single every month giving them 12 Top 30 hits, making them the only group to score more than 10 new hits in one year.

1960 - Steve Clark

Steve Clark, guitarist with Def Leppard, who had a 1987 UK No.6 single with ‘Animal’, a 1987 worldwide No.1 album with Hysteria and a 1988 US No.1 single with ‘Love Bites’. Clark died on January 8th 1991, aged 30 after a night of heavy alcohol consumption combined with prescription drugs.

1964 - Simon Matthews

Simon Matthews, drummer 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'.

1968 - Paul Clifford

Paul Clifford, bassist from British alternative rock band The Wonder Stuff who had the 1991 UK No.1 single with their version of the Tommy Roe hit 'Dizzy' (with Vic Reeves).

1968 - Stan Frazier

Stan Frazier, from American rock band Sugar Ray who had the 1999 UK No. 10 single 'Every Morning'.

1985 - Taio Cruz

Taio Cruz, English singer-songwriter, producer. 2009 UK No.1 single 'Break Your Heart.'