What Happened Today In Music

July 27th

2019 - Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse's ex boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil made legal claim for a £1million cut of the tragic singer’s fortune. Fielder-Civil told Amy’s family his lawyers said he had a valid claim because he was with her for six years during which she released some of her best-selling material. The family replied by saying he's spent a lot of their marriage in prison, bringing nothing but pain to everyone and to give him another penny would be too much.

2016 - Michael Jackson

Three of Michael Jackson's nephews, Taj, TJ and Taryll Jackson, filed a $100 million libel lawsuit against Radar Online over stories published last June that alleged they were sexually abused by their uncle and accepted gifts to cover it up. Radaronline.com is a website that focuses on celebrity news, fashion and pop culture.

2012 - The Beatles

The Beatles returned to the Top 40 of the Billboard albums chart with the iTunes-exclusive compilation Tomorrow Never Knows. The set included 14 classic songs by the band and marked the first time The Beatles released an album exclusively to iTunes that had never been previously issued.

2002 - Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey checked herself into an undisclosed hospital suffering from "extreme exhaustion." The singer cancelled all public appearances, including her headlining appearance at MTV's 20th birthday party. Her record company denied tabloid reports that Carey tried to commit suicide, saying she did have cuts on her body, but the injuries were unintentional after breaking some dishes and glasses.

2001 - Leon Wilkeson

Leon Wilkeson bass player with Lynyrd Skynyrd was found dead in a hotel room in Florida aged 49. Skynyrd scored the 1974 US No. 8 single, 'Sweet Home Alabama' and the 1982 UK No.21 single 'Freebird'. Member of the Rossington-Collins Band.

1996 - Spice Girls

The Spice Girls scored their first No.1 UK single with 'Wannabe'. Seven weeks at No.1, the song won Best British-Written Single at the 1997 Ivor Novello Awards and Best Single at the 1997 Brit Awards. The Girl Power song became the best-selling single by a female group selling over six million copies worldwide.

1992 - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson sued the British paper The Daily Mirror over photos and an article that said he was left a "scar face" from numerous plastic surgeries. The suit was later settled out of court.

1991 - Bryan Adams

Jesus Jones went to No. 2 on the US chart with 'Right Here, Right Now', unable to shift Bryan Adams '(Everything I Do), I Do It for You', from a seven week stay at the No.1 position.

1986 - Queen

Queen became the first western act since Louis Armstrong in 1964 to perform in Easten Europe when they played at Budapest's Nepstadion, Hungary, the gig was filmed and released as 'Queen Magic in Budapest'.

1985 - Paul Young

Paul Young went to No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of the Daryl Hall song 'Every Time You Go Away'.

1985 - Eurythmics

The Eurythmics were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)', the duo's only UK No.1 single. The song featured a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder.

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1976 - Tina Turner

Tina Turner filed for divorce from her husband Ike, ending their violent 16-year marriage and successful musical partnership.

1976 - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen sued his manager Mike Appel for fraud and breach of trust. The case dragged on for over a year, halting Springsteen's career. An out of court settlement was reached the following year.

1974 - John Denver

John Denver started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Annie's Song', the singers second US No.1. The song was a tribute to his wife and was written in 10 minutes while he was on a ski lift.

1974 - Wings

Wings started a seven-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with Band On The Run. Although sales were modest initially, its commercial performance was aided by two hit singles 'Jet' and 'Band on the Run', such that it became the top-selling studio album of 1974 in the UK and Australia; in addition to revitalising McCartney's critical standing. It remains McCartney's most successful album and the most celebrated of his post-Beatles works.

1968 - Cass Elliot

Cass Elliot released her first solo single following the break up of The Mamas and Papas. ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’ had been around since 1931 and had been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine and many others. Cass' version would be the most successful when it peaked at No. 12 on the US chart, and No.11 in the UK.

1963 - The Beatles

During a UK tour The Beatles played the last night of a six night run at The Odeon Cinema, Weston-super-Mare. The Beatlesspent the day with photographer Dezo Hoffman, who took photos and 8mm movies of The Beatles at their hotel, on the beach dressed in Victorian bathing suits, and go-karting.

1958 - Rock & Roll

Fan's of rock & roll music were warned that tuning into music on the car radio could cost you more money. Researchers from the Esso gas company said the rhythm of rock & roll could cause the driver to be foot heavy on the pedal, making them waste fuel.

Born Today In Music

July 27th

1974 - Pete Yorn

Pete Yorn, American singer-songwriter, guitarist and drummer who first gained recognition after his debut 2001 record, Musicforthemorningafter.

1967 - Juliana Hatfield

Juliana Hatfield American musician and singer-songwriter from the Boston area formerly of the indie rock bands Blake Babies, Some Girls, and The Lemonheads.

1964 - Rex Brown

Rex Brown, bassist with American heavy metal band, Pantera, who had the 1994 UK hit single 'I'm Broken'. Pantera released four albums during the 1980s.

1962 - Karl Mueller

Karl Mueller, bassist with American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, who had the 1993 US No.5 and UK No.7 single 'Runaway Train'.

1960 - Conway Savage

Australian rock musician Conway Savage, from Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds who have released over 15 studio albums including the 2013 Australian No.1 Push the Sky Away. From 1993, he had a solo career and released three albums. Savage underwent medical treatment for a brain tumour in 2017. He died, aged 58, on 2 September 2018.

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1953 - Suzi Carr

Suzi Carr (Will To Power,) singer, who had the 1989 UK No.6 single 'Baby I Love Your Way / Freebird'.

1951 - Tris Imboden

American rock and jazz drummer Tris Imboden. His studio session work has included recordings with Neil Diamond, Kenny Loggins, Firefall, Richard Marx, Steve Vai, Roger Daltrey, Chicago and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

1950 - Michael Vaughn

Michael Vaughn, from Paper Lace who scored the 1974 UK No.1 single 'Billy Don't Be A Hero', and the 1974 US No.1 single 'The Night Chicago Died'.

1949 - Maureen McGovern

Maureen McGovern, singer, (1973 US No.1 single 'The Morning After').

1949 - Rory MacDonald

Rory MacDonald, bass, vocals, Runrig, (1995 UK No.18 single 'An Ubhal As Airde, The Highest Apple').

1947 - Shelly Clark 

Shelly Clark, American singer, dancer and actress, best known as a founding member of the 1970s R&B girls group, Honey Cone who had the 1971 US No. 1 single, 'Want Ads'. 

1944 - Bobbie Gentry

Bobbie Gentry, US singer, songwriter, notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material. Gentry rose to international fame with her intriguing Southern Gothic narrative 'Ode to Billie Joe' in 1967. The track spent four weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold over three million copies all over the world. Her album Fancy brought her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

1943 - Al Ramsey

Al Ramsey, bassist from American 1960s era pop and rock group Gary Lewis and the Playboys who scored the 1965 US No.1 single 'This Diamond Ring' and 11 other US Top 40 hits. He died on 27 November 1985 aged 42, 

1941 - Andrew McMaster

Scottish songwriter Andrew McMaster from British pub rock band The Motors who had the the 1978 UK No.4 single 'Airport'.

1933 - Nick Reynolds

Nick Reynolds, The Kingston Trio, (1958 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'Tom Dooley' plus nine other US Top 40 hits).

1930 - Andy White

Scottish session drummer Andy White. He was affectionately christened ‘the fifth Beatle' as he was best known for replacing Ringo Starr on drums on the The Beatles' first single, ‘Love Me Do’. White was featured on the American 7inch single release of the song, which also appeared on the band's debut British album, Please Please Me. He also played on ‘P.S. I Love You’, which was the B-side of ‘Love Me Do’. White also worked with Chuck Berry, Billy Fury, Herman's Hermits and Tom Jones. He died on 9 November 2015 died aged 85.