What Happened Today In Music

April 26th

1964 - The Beatles

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the Dave Clark Five headlined the NME poll winner's concert at Wembley Empire Pool, London. 

1966 - Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me', the singers only UK No.1. When recording the track, Springfield was not satisfied with her vocal until she had recorded forty-seven takes.

1969 - Led Zeppelin

During the band's second North American tour Led Zeppelinplayed the second of two nights at The Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco in California. It was during this show that 'Whole Lotta Love' was played live for the first time.

1976 - Paul McCartney

'Wings At The Speed Of Sound' went to No.1 on the US album chart. Paul McCartney's fifth No.1 album after The Beatlesbecame his most successful American chart album, spending seven unconsecutive weeks at No.1. The album featured the hits 'Let 'Em In' and 'Silly Love Songs'.

1980 - Blondie

Blondie were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Call Me', the group's fourth UK No.1, featured in the Richard Gere movie 'American Gigolo', the track was also a No.1 in the US where it became the band's biggest selling single. Producer Giorgio Moroder originally asked Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac to help compose and perform a song for the soundtrack, but she declined.

1982 - Rod Stewart

Out on a day's shopping, Rod Stewart was robbed by a gunman of his $50,000 Porsche on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

1984 - The Beatles

Mike McCartney unveiled the £40,000 statue of The Beatles by John Doubleday at the new £8 million Cavern Walks shopping centre in Liverpool, England. John's first wife, Cynthia, was also in attendance.

1988 - Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger appeared in White Plains, New York, Federal Court in the copyright infringement case brought by reggae singer Patrick Alley, who claimed the Mick Jagger solo track 'Just Another Night' was a plagiarism of his own song of the same name. Alley was claiming $7m in profits from the track. During the case Sly Dunbar played drums to the court to show how the beats were different in each song and Mick sang and played demos of his song to show the court the development of the track. At the end of the week-long trial, Jagger won the case.

1990 - Nirvana

Nirvana appeared at the Pyramid Club in New York City. The bands label Sub Pop filmed the show and the performance of 'In Bloom' was later used as a promo clip.

1994 - Grace Slick

Grace Slick pleaded guilty to pointing a shotgun at police in her California home. She claimed she was under stress because her home had burned down the previous year. She was later sentenced to 200 hours of community service and told to attend four Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a week for three months.

1995 - Courtney Love

Courtney Love reportedly turned down an offer of $1m from Playboy to pose nude for the magazine.

1997 - Ernest Stewart

Ernest Stewart, keyboard player with KC and the Sunshine Band, died of an asthma attack. (1975 US No.1 single 'That's The Way, I Like It', 1983 UK No.1 single 'Give It Up').

2001 - Destiny's Child

Destiny's Child were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Survivor', Janet Jackson was at No.1 on the US chart with 'All For You' and Shaggy and Ricardo RikRok Ducent had the Australian No.1 single with 'It Wasn't Me'

2008 - Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse spent the night in custody after being arrested on suspicion of assault. Police said Winehouse had been "in no fit state" to be questioned when she arrived at the London station and she was kept in the cells. The 24-year-old was to be questioned about an incident said to have occurred 3 days earlier after a 38-year-old man claimed he was assaulted.

2009 - Tinchy Stryder

Tinchy Stryder feat N-dubz started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Number 1', the first time ever that a single called 'Number 1' has made it to the top of the UK charts.

2013 - George Jones

US country singer George Jones who had a string of No.1 songs between the 1950s and 1990s, died aged 81. Nicknamed Possum, his signature song was He Stopped Loving Her Today, a track about love and death. He was married to Tammy Wynettebetween 1969 and 1975 and the pair recorded several songs together in the 1970s.

2016 - Bernie Clifton

A list of tracks by a death metal band was accidentally printed on the back of a new album by UK comedian Bernie Clifton. The 80-year-old (who is famous for riding a yellow ostrich), said he was "fuming and furious" about the error, which saw songs by the group Abhorrent Decimation printed on his new CD.

2019 - Phil McCormack

Molly Hatchet singer Phil McCormack died age 58. He’d fronted the Southern rock band since 1996 after having performed with them previously, taking over from Danny Joe Brown.

Born Today In Music

April 26th

1938 - Duane Eddy

American guitarist Duane Eddy, who had a string of hit records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, produced by Lee Hazlewood, which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" sound, including 'Rebel Rouser', 'Peter Gunn', and 'Because They're Young'.

1938 - Maurice Williams

Maurice Williams, from American doo-wop singer who had the 1960 US No.1 & 1961 UK No.14 single 'Stay' with The Zodiacs. The song was also a hit for Jackson Browne and The Hollies.

1940 - Giorgio Moroder

Italian singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer Giorgio Moroder who had the 1979 US No.33 & UK No. 48 single, 'Chase' from the film Midnight Express. He produced all of Donna Summer's world- wide 1976 hits including 'Love To Love You Baby', and the 1984 UK No.3 single with Phil Oakey, 'Together In Electric Dreams.' He also created a score of songs for performers including David Bowie, Kylie Minogue, Irene Cara and Janet Jackson.

1942 - Bobby Rydell

American singer Bobby Rydell who had the 1960 US No.2 & UK No.7 single 'Wild One', plus 17 other US Top 40 hits.

1943 - Gary Wright

American singer, songwriter Gary Wright who was a member of Spooky Tooth. He had the 1976 solo US No.2 single 'Dream Weaver'. The song was inspired by Autobiography of a Yogi, which was given to him by George Harrison. Wright also played on Harrison's 1970 All Things Must Pass triple album.

1945 - Mike Finnigan

American keyboard player and vocalist Mike Finnigan, his speciality being the B3 Hammond Organ. Finnigan has worked with many artists including, Jimi Hendrix (Electric Ladyland), Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills & Nash, Peter Frampton, Cher, Ringo Starr, Leonard Cohen, Tower of Power and Rod Stewart.

1945 - Tony Murray

Tony Murray, with English garage rock band The Troggs, who had the 1966 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Wild Thing' and the hits 'With a Girl Like You' and 'Love Is All Around'.

1951 - Nick Garvey

Nick Garvey, guitarist and singer from British pub rock band The Motors who had the 1978 UK No.4 single 'Airport'.

1952 - Neol Davies

Neol Davies from 2 Tone ska revival band Selecter who had the 1979 UK No.8 single 'On My Radio'.

1960 - Roger Taylor

Roger Taylor, drummer with Duran Duran who scored the 1983 UK No.1 single 'Is There Something I Should Know' plus 25 other UK Top 40 singles, and the 1984 US No.1 single 'The Reflex'. Also a member of Arcadia who had the 1985 UK No.7 single 'Election Day' and The Power Station.

1961 - Chris Mars

Chris Mars, drummer from American rock band The Replacements, who released the 1984 album Let It Be. Initially a punk rock band, they are considered pioneers of alternative rock.

1967 - Darrin Mooney

English session drummer Darrin Mooney who has worked with Gary Moore, Primal Scream, Colin Blunstone, Cliff Richard, Dionne Warwick and David Holmes.

1970 - Ruth Anne

Ruth Anne, English singer with Olive who scored the 1997 UK No.1 single 'You're Not Alone'.

1970 - T- Boz

Tionne Watkins, T- Boz, singer with American girl group TLC. They scored nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four No.1 singles, 'Creep', 'Waterfalls', 'No Scrubs', and 'Unpretty'. Their 1999 US No.1 album Fanmail spent 57 weeks on the UK chart. Having sold over 65 million records worldwide, TLC is the best-selling American girl group.

1971 - Jay DeMarcus

Jay DeMarcus, (real name: Stanley Wayne DeMarcus Jr.), bassist with American country band Rascal Flatts who scored the 2004 US country No.2 single ‘I Melt’, and the 2006 US No.1 album ‘Me And My Gang’.

1975 - Joey Jordison

Joey Jordison, drummer with American heavy metal band Slipknot. Their 2008 fourth album All Hope Is Gone gave them their first US No.1. Jordison played in Slipknot since their formation in 1995 until his departure from the band in December 2013. He was also the guitarist in the American horror punk band Murderdolls. He died on 26 July 2021 at the age of 46. 

1976 - Jose Pasillas

Jose Antonio Pasillas II, drummer, from American rock band Incubus, who had the 2001 US No.9 & UK No.40 single, 'Drive', and the 2004 US No.2 and UK No.6 album A Crow Left of the Murder’, and the 2006 US No.1 album Light Grenades. Worldwide, Incubus has sold over 23 million albums.

1981 - Ms Dynamite

Ms Dynamite, (Niomi McLean Daley), English rapper, singer, songwriter. She is the recipient of the Mercury Music Prize, two Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards.

1982 - Jonathan Lee

Jonathan Lee, from English pop group S Club 7 who had the 1999 UK No.1 single 'Bring It All Back'. Their 2000 UK No.1 album 7 spent over a year on the UK chart. The group was formed in 1998 and quickly rose to fame by starring in their own BBC television series, Miami 7.