What Happened Today In Music

May 25th

1961 - The Temperance Seven

The Temperance Seven were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'You're Driving Me Crazy', their only UK No.1 single. The song gave producer George Martin his first No.1.

1965 - Sonny Boy Williamson

Blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, Sonny Boy Williamson died in his sleep. Van Morrison, Aerosmith, The Who, The Animals, Yardbirds and Moody Blues all covered his songs. According to the Led Zeppelin biography Hammer of the Gods, touring the UK in the 60s, Sonny Boy set his hotel room on fire while trying to cook a rabbit in a coffee percolator.

1967 - Procol Harum

Procol Harum's 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' entered the UK chart for the first time, where it went on to become a No.1 hit. 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' became the most played song in the last 75 years in public places in the UK (as of 2009). The first video for the song was shot in the ruins of Witley Court in Worcestershire, England. Directed by Peter Clifton whose insertion of Vietnam War newsreel footage caused it to be banned from airplay on the Top Of The Pops TV show. The band subsequently made another video.

1967 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd appeared at the Gwent Constabulary ('A' Division) Spring Holiday Barn Dance, held at The Barn, Grosmont Wood Farm in Cross Ash, Wales, UK.

1968 - Simon and Garfunkel

Simon And Garfunkel scored their second US No.1 album with 'Bookends'. The album featured four US singles: 'A Hazy Shade of Winter', 'At the Zoo', 'Fakin' It' and 'Mrs Robinson'.

1969 - Fairport Convention

A benefit concert was held for Fairport Convention at The Roundhouse, London to raise money for the families of the band's drummer Martin Lamble, Richard Thompson's girlfriend and clothes designer Jeannie Franklyn who were all killed in an accident driving back from a gig. Also on the bill, Family, Pretty Things, Soft Machine and John Peel.

1969 - The Who and Led Zeppelin

The Who and Led Zeppelin appeared at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland, USA. This was the only time the two group's ever appeared together, with Zeppelin opening the show. On the tickets Led Zeppelin was spelt Lead Zeppelin. 

1973 - Carole King

Carole King played a concert in New York's Central Park, which attracted an audience of 100,000.

1974 - Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman became the first member of the group Yes to have a No.1 UK album when 'Journey To The Centre Of The Earth' went to the top of the charts.

1978 - Paul McGuinness

After seeing The Hype (soon to become U2) appearing at the Project Arts Centre, in Dublin, Paul McGuinness became their manager.

1985 - Dire Straits

Dire Straits scored their second UK No.1 album with 'Brothers In Arms', also No.1 in the US and 24 other countries. 'Brothers In Arms' was one of the first albums to be directed at the CD market, and was a full digital recording (DDD) at a time when most popular music was recorded on analog equipment. The album won two Grammy Awards at the 28th Grammy Awards, and also won Best British Album at the 1987 Brit Awards, and has gone on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide.

1992 - Khalil Roundtree

Khalil Roundtree, tour manager of Boyz II Men, was killed by gunfire after a scuffle in an elevator on the 26th floor of a hotel in Chicago; their assistant tour manager was also injured.

1995 - Mick Jagger

The earliest known recording of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, from 1961, was sold at Christies in London for £50,250 ($85,425).

1997 - Elvis Presley

A report showed that Elvis Presley was now the world's bestselling posthumous entertainer with worldwide sales of over one billion, over 480 active fan clubs and an estimated 250,000 UK fans who still buy his records. Ironically he had died owing $3 million (£1.76 million).

1997 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan was diagnosed as suffering from histoplasmosis pericarditis, a fungal infection of the lung, and was admitted to hospital he stayed until June 2nd. Having just turned 56, Dylan later admitted: 'I really thought I'd be seeing Elvis soon'. Treated by drugs and rest, Bob was back on the road only 10 weeks later, for 22 American and Canadian shows.

1998 - Coldplay

Coldplay released their first ever record, an EP called Safety, which featured 3 tracks; 'Bigger Stronger', 'No More Keeping My Feet on the Ground', and 'Such a Rush'. The EP was intended as a demo for record companies and is now such a rarity that it is known to fetch in excess of £2000 on eBay.

2001 - Noel Gallagher

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher won a damages settlement from The Daily Mirror after they claimed he lied in court during divorce proceedings with Meg Matthews. 

2003 - Jemini

Jemini, the UK entry for this year's Eurovision Song Contest, failed to get a single point, the first time a UK entry had ended up with nul points. The first nul pointers came in 1962, six years after the contest started, when four countries Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain all failed to register.

2004 - Madonna

Madonna cancelled three shows in Israel after terrorists threatened to kill her and her kids. A spokesperson said she was targeted because she symbolises the West and not because she practises the Jewish faith Kabbalah.

2005 - The Rolling Stones

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office in California announced that it was officially closing the stabbing case of Meredith Hunter, the 18-year-old American who was killed at the 1969 Rolling StonesAltamont Free Concert. Investigators, concluding a renewed two-year investigation, dismissed the theory that a second Hell's Angel took part in the stabbing.

2006 - Desmond Dekker

Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter Desmond Dekker died of a heart attack at his home in London, England. Had one of the first international Jamaican hits in 1968, with the 'Israelites'.

2007 - Wayne Fontana

Sixties pop star Wayne Fontana was remanded in custody after admitting pouring petrol over a bailiff's car and setting fire to it. The judge criticised the former lead singer of the Mindbenders, for arriving at Derby Crown court dressed as the Lady of Justice. He had to hand a sword and scales to guards but still wore a crown, cape and dark glasses, claiming "justice is blind".

2009 - Wilco

A former member of Wilco, who was suing the band over a royalties claim, died at his home in Illinois at the age of 45. Jay Bennett worked as a sound engineer and played instruments for the band between 1994 and 2001. Bennett filed his legal action against Wilco lead singer Jeff Tweedy at the beginning of May, claiming $50,000 (£33,160) for five albums he made with the group.

2013 - Marshall Lytle

American rock and roll bassist Marshall Lytle, died aged 79. He was best known for his work with the groups Bill Haley & His Comets and The Jodimars in the 1950s. He played upright slap bass on the iconic 1950s rock and roll records 'Crazy Man, Crazy', 'Shake, Rattle and Roll', and 'Rock Around the Clock'.

Born Today In Music

May 25th

1921 - Hal David

Hal David, American songwriter, pianist and arranger, who with Burt Bacharach wrote many classic songs including, 'Close To You', '24 Hours From Tulsa', 'Make It Easy On Yourself', 'Magic Moments', 'I Say A Little Prayer'. He won two Oscars for the film score to 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and for 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head'. David died from from complications from a stroke on 1st Sept 2012 aged 91.

1936 - Donnie Elbert

American soul singer and songwriter Donnie Elbert, who had a 1972 US No.22 & UK No.11 single with ‘I Can’t Help Myself, Sugar Pie Honey Bunch’ and a hit with 'A Little Piece of Leather'. He died on January 26th 1989.

1936 - Tom T. Hall

Tom T. Hall, country music singer-songwriter. Hall has written 11 No.1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including 'Harper Valley PTA' a hit for Jeannie C. Riley in 1968. He became known as 'The Storyteller,' due to his storytelling skills in his songwriting. He died on 20 August 2021 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. 

1942 - Brian Davison

Brian Davison, from English progressive rock band The Nice, who had the 1968 UK hit single an instrumental rearrangement of Leonard Bernstein's 'America'. He died on 15 April 2008.

1943 - John Palmer

English rock musician John Palmer from Family who scored the 1971 UK No.4 single 'In My Own Time' and the 1973 single 'My Friend The Sun'.

1947 - Mitchel Margo

Mitchel Margo, from American male doo-wop-style vocal group The Tokens who had the 1961 US No.1 & UK No.11 single with its cover of Solomon Linda's 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'.

1948 - Klaus Meine

Klaus Meine, from German rock band Scorpions. Their 1990 power ballad 'Wind Of Change' topped the European charts and was a No.4 hit in the US. The Scorpions hold the record for the best-selling single by a German artist and band.

1950 - Jean Millington

Jean Millington, from American all-female band Fanny who were active in the early 1970s. They were one of the first notable rock groups to be made up entirely of women.

1950 - Robert Steinhardt

Robert Steinhardt, from American rock band Kansas, who scored the 1978 US No.3 single 'Dust In The Wind', and the 1978 hit single 'Carry On Wayward Son'. which was the second-most-played track on US classic rock radio in 1995 and No.1 in 1997. He died from complications of acute pancreatitis age 71 on 17 July 2021. 

1951 - Chuck Ruff 

Chuck Ruff, American rock drummer well known for his work with Edgar Winter. he appeared on the 1973 US No. 1 instrumental 'Frankenstein'. He died after a long illness on 14 October 2011 age 60.

1955 - John Grimaldi

John Grimaldi, from English rock band Argent who had the 1972 UK No.5 single 'Hold Your Head Up' and the hit and 'God Gave Rock and Roll to You'.

1958 - Paul Weller

English singer, songwriter, musician Paul Weller, who with The Jam had the 1980 UK No.1 single 'Going Underground' plus 17 other UK Top 40 singles. With The Style Council the 1983 UK No.3 single 'Long Hot Summer', plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles. As a solo artist the 1995 UK No.7 single 'The Changing Man' and four UK No.1 albums. Weller has received four Brit Awards, winning the award for Best British Male twice, and the 2006 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

1959 - Rick Smith

Rick Smith, keyboards, from British electronic music group Underworld who had the 1996 UK No.2 single 'Born Slippy'.

1969 - Jody Porter

American musician Jody Porter, lead guitarist of Grammy Award-nominated power pop band Fountains of Wayne who had the 2003 Grammy-nominated single 'Stacy's Mom'. 

1975 - Lauryn Hill

American singer, songwriter, rapper Lauryn Hill, who with The Fugees had the 1996 UK No.1 single 'Killing Me Softly'. As a solo artists had the 1998 UK No.3 single 'Doo Wop, That Thing', and the 1998 US No.1 & UK No.2 album The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill.

1980 - Fray

Joe King, guitarist, vocals, from American rock band The Fray who scored the 2005 US Top 3 single ‘How to Save a Life’. The group's self-titled, second album, released in 2009, debuted at No.1 on the Billboard charts.