What Happened Today In Music

July 1st

1956 - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley appeared on NBC- TV's 'The Steve Allen Show' and performed 'Hound Dog', to a live Hound Dog. US TV critic John Crosby panned Elvis' performance, calling him an 'unspeakable, untalented and vulgar young entertainer.'

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles recorded their next single ‘She Loves You’ / ‘I'll Get You’, at EMI Studios, London, completing the two songs in less than four hours. Released in August this year, ‘She Loves You’ went on to become The Beatles' first million-selling single.

1967 - The Beatles

The Beatles started a 15 week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the group's 10th US No.1 album. Recorded over a 129-day period beginning in December 1966, the album widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, includes songs such as 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' and 'A Day in the Life'.

1968 - The Band

The Band released their debut album Music From Big Pink. The album, which features their first hit single 'The Weight', was recorded in studios in New York and Los Angeles in 1968, and followed the group's backing of Bob Dylan on his 1966 tour (as The Hawks).

1969 - John Lennon

John Lennon Yoko Ono and family were involved in a car accident in Golspie, Scotland. Both John and Yoko needed hospital treatment. Lennon later had the car crushed into a cube and exhibited it on his lawn at Tittenhurst Park.

1972 - Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Song Sung Blue', his second US No.1. A No.14 hit in the UK.

1972 - Slade

Slade were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Take Me Bak 'Ome', the group's second No.1. The song was produced by the bands manager Chas Chandler.

1973 - Alex Harvey

Slade and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band appeared at Earl's Court London, tickets cost £1.00-£2.00. Special 'Slade' trains were running form Brighton, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester to take fans to the show.

1975 - 10CC

10cc were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I'm Not In Love'. Known for its innovative and distinctive backing track, composed mostly of the band's multitracked vocals, it became the second of the group's three No.1 singles in the UK and reached No.2 on the US chart. 

1981 - Rushton Moreve

Rushton Moreve bassist with Steppenwolf, was killed in motorcycle accident in Santa Barbara, California, aged 32. He co-wrote their hit 'Magic Carpet Ride' with lead singer John Kay; Steppenwolf also had the 1968 US No.2 single 'Born To Be Wild'. Moreve left the band in late 1968 when he refused to fly back to California at that time, fearing it would sink into the Pacific Ocean after an imminent earthquake.

1983 - Bon Jovi

A New Jersey-based quintet calling themselves Bon Jovi signed to Phonogram's Mercury records, although they had also been considering the name Johnny Electric. The group have since sold over 130 million records worldwide, and performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans.

1995 - DJ Wolfman Jack

DJ Wolfman Jack died of a heart attack. He was the master of ceremonies for the rock 'n' roll generation of the '60s on radio, and later on television during the '70s.

1999 - Guy Mitchell

American singer Guy Mitchell, (born Albert George Cernik) died aged 72 at Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas. He had the 1957 UK & US No.1 single 'Singing The Blues' plus over 10 other UK Top 40 singles. Mitchell also appeared as George Romack in the 1961 NBC western detective series Whispering Smith.

1999 - Dennis Brown

Jamaican reggae singer Dennis Brown died aged 42, the official cause of his death was a collapsed lung. During his career, he recorded more than 75 albums and had the 1979 UK No.14 single 'Money In My Pocket.' Bob Marley cited Brown as his favourite singer, naming him ‘The Crown Prince of Reggae."

2000 - Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spinning Around', the singers fifth No.1 was co-written by Paula Abdul, (it was originally intended for Abdul's "comeback" album). 'Spinning Around' gave Minogue the honor of being one of three artists (the others being Madonna and U2) to have a No.1 in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

2001 - Ron Wood

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood was commissioned to paint a group portrait of diners who are regulars at the West End London restaurant The Ivy. Elton John and Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant were two pop stars to be included in the portrait.

2002 - Paul McCartney

Six postage stamps designed by Paul McCartney went on sale in The Isle Of Man. With proceeds from their sale going to the Adopt-A- Minefield charity.

2004 - Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell began serving 10 nights in jail along with two years of probation for a November 2003 drink-driving, hit-and-run collision. The 68 year old entertainer was also sentenced to 75 hours of community service and fined $900.

2005 - Renaldo Benson

Four Tops singer Renaldo "Obie" Benson died aged 69 in a Detroit hospital from lung cancer. He was diagnosed after having a leg amputated due to circulation problems. The Four Tops sold over 50 million records and had hits including 'Reach Out (I'll be There)' and 'I Can't Help Myself.' Benson also co-wrote 'What's Going On' which became a No.2 hit for Marvin Gaye.

2005 - Luther Vandross

American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer Luther Vandross died at the age of 54 at the JFK Medical Centre in New Jersey, two years after suffering a major stroke. His 'Never Too Much', was a No.1 R&B hit, worked with Diana Ross, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey and David Bowie. Vandross had won four Grammys for his final album ‘Dance With My Father.’

2008 - Whitesnake

Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley, died at the age of 60 from cancer of the oesophagus. Galley also played with Trapeze, Glenn Hughes, Cozy Powell and the Blue Jays.

2009 - Michael Jackson

The week after Michael Jackson's death, the singer dominated the Top Ten of Billboard's album chart. Leading the pack was Number Ones, followed by The Essential Michael Jackson at No.2, Thriller was No.3 and Off The Wall was No.4. The Jackson 5's Ultimate Collection held the No.5 spot, Bad was No.6, Dangerous was No.7, Greatest Hits - HIStory - Vol. 1 came in at No.8 and Michael's Ultimate Collection occupied the No.9 position. Collectively, Jackson's solo albums sold 415,000 copies for the week, 58% of which were digital downloads. The week before his death, his titles sold a combined 10,000 units.

2009 - Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff Richard was ordered to demolish a £30,000 conservatory at his home in Surrey after the local council ruled that the conservatory should never have been built. The planning committee said the building contravened policy on green belt areas because it added more than 30% extra floor space.

2013 - Tom Scholz

Boston guitarist Tom Scholz was ordered to pay $132,000 in court fees to the Boston Herald after he unsuccessfully sued the newspaper. The Herald had suggested that Scholz was responsible for the 2007 suicide of Boston lead singer Brad Delp, but a Superior Court judge ruled that the paper could not be held liable for defaming Scholz because it's impossible to know what caused Delp to kill himself.

2017 - Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran returned to No.1 for the forth time with his third studio album ÷ (pronounced ‘divide’). The album also topped the charts in 14 other countries and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

2020 - Max Crook

American musician Max Crook died age 83. A pioneer of electronic music he was the featured soloist on Del Shannon’s 1961 hit 'Runaway', which he co-wrote and on which he played his own invention, the Musitron. Crook also recorded a series of instrumentals, credited as Maximilian.

Born Today In Music

July 1st

1915 - Willie Dixon

Willie Dixon, blues singer, guitarist, 'the poet laureate of the blues'. Credited with writing more than 500 songs by the end of his life. Wrote classic songs: 'Hoochie Coochie Man', 'I'm Ready', 'You Shook Me', 'I Can't Quit You Baby', 'Little Red Rooster.' Major influence on The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Dixon died on 29th January 1992.

1928 - Bobby Day

Bobby Day, US singer, had the 1958 hit ‘Rockin Robin’, one half of the duo, Bob And Earl (recorded ‘Harlem Shuffle’ in 1963). Day died on July 27, 1990.

1935 - James Cotton

American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter James Cotton. He worked in Howlin' Wolf's band in the early 1950s. In 1955, he was recruited by Muddy Waters to come to Chicago and join his band. In 2006, Cotton was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. He died from pneumonia aged 81 on 16 March 2017.

1939 - Delaney Bramlett

Delaney Bramlett, Delaney & Bonnie, (1971 US No.13 single 'Never Ending Song Of Love', worked with Eric Clapton during the early 70s). Died on 27th Dec 2008.

1945 - Deborah Harry

Deborah Harry, American singer, songwriter, and actress with Blondie who scored five UK No.1 singles including the 1979 UK & US No.1 single 'Heart Of Glass' and the 1978 world-wide No.1 album Parallel Lines. As a solo artists she scored the 1986 UK No. 8 single 'French Kissing In The USA'. A former Playboy Bunny, her acting career spans over thirty film roles and numerous television appearances.

1946 - June Montiero

June Montiero, singer, The Toys, 1965 US No. 2 & UK No.5 single 'A Lover's Concerto').

1948 - John Ford

John Ford, with English folk rock group The Strawbs who scored the 1973 UK No.2 single with 'Part Of The Union'. Formed Hudson Ford who had the 1973 UK No.8 single 'Pick Up The Pieces'.

1949 - John Farnham

John Farnham, Australian singer, songwriter, (1987 UK No.6 single 'You're The Voice').

1951 - Fred Schneider

Fred Schneider, singer with the American new wave band The B-52's. Best known for their 1978 debut single 'Rock Lobster and the 1990 UK No.2 & US No.3 single 'Love Shack'.

1952 - Leon Chancler

Leon Chancler, drummer, percussionist. Worked with Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Michael Jackson's ('Billie Jean'), Donna Summer, Carlos Santana, The Crusaders, Frank Sinatra, Weather Report, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock and John Lee Hooker. Chancler died in Los Angeles, California on February 3, 2018 of prostate cancer, at the age of 65.

1952 - Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd, actor, 'Elwood Blues, The Blues Brothers, (1990 UK No.12 single 'Everybody Needs Somebody To Love').

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1956 - Phil Solem

Phil Solem, singer, songwriter, from American pop rock duo The Rembrandts, who had the 1990 US Top 20 hit ‘Just the Way It Is, Baby’, and the 1995, UK No. 3 single ‘I’ll Be There For You’, Theme from Friends.

1959 - Edem Ephraim

Edem Ephraim, singer, from German-based English dance-pop duo The London Boys who had the UK No.2 single 'London Nights'. He was killed in a car crash with London Boy partner Dennis Fuller on 21st January 1989.

1960 - Evelyn Champagne King

Evelyn Champagne King, US soul singer, (1982 UK No.7 single 'Love Come Down').

1960 - Ted Key

Ted Key from English alternative rock band The Housemartins. The group's a cappella cover version of 'Caravan of Love' (originally by Isley-Jasper-Isley) was a UK No.1 single in December 1986.

1963 - Roddy Bottum

Roddy Bottum, keyboards, from American rock band, Faith No More who had the 1993 UK No.3 and US No.4 hit single with their version of The Commodores 'I'm Easy'. They had the best-selling albums The Real Thing (1989) and Angel Dust (1992).

1964 - Pol Burton

Pol Burton, drummer with English group Transvision Vamp who had the 1989 UK No.3 single 'Baby I Don't Care'.

1971 - Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott, singer, (1998 UK No.1 single with Melanie B, 'I Want You Back').

1971 - Adam MacDougall

Adam MacDougall, keyboardist with The Black Crowes. Previously, he was a member of The Ben Taylor Band and Furslide, and he has also toured with Macy Gray and Patti Rothberg.