What Happened Today In Music

August 11th

2021 - Roy Gaines 

American guitarist, Roy Gaines died a day before his 84th birthday. He was a backing musician in sessions with the Everly Brothers, the Supremes, Bobby Darin, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight. Gaines co-wrote the song ‘No Use Crying’, which was recorded by both George Jones and Ray Charles.

2014 - 5 Seconds of Summer

5 Seconds of Summer were at No.1 on the US album chart with their debut studio album. The Australian rock band achieved the biggest first-week sales for a debut album by a group since Daughtry's self-titled album in 2006. 5 Seconds of Summer were also the first Australian act to achieve a US No.1 album with their debut album.

2011 - Go-Go's

American group the Go-Go's received the 2,444th star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. It was located where the legendary punk club The Masque used to stand. Go-Go's frequently played the club during their early years. The Go-Go's rose to fame during the early 1980s and were the first, and to date only, all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts. 

2008 - Karl Wiosna

Karl Wiosna from Graig, near Pontypridd in Wales had his stereo equipment and music collection destroyed after being served with a noise abatement notice, which he later admitted breaching. Environmental health officers were alerted by neighbours who complained about the unacceptable volume Wiosna was playing his Cher and U2 records. Two tape and record decks, a radio and CDs were seized and destroyed by the council, he was also fined £265.

2008 - Don Helms

Don Helms a steel guitarist best known as the steel guitar player of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys died aged 81. Helms was a featured musician on over 100 Hank Williams recordings and went on to play on many classic country hits, including Patsy Cline's 'Walking After Midnight,' Stonewall Jackson's 'Waterloo,' the Louvin Brothers' 'Cash on the Barrelhead,' Lefty Frizzell's 'Long Black Veil' and Loretta Lynn's 'Blue Kentucky Girl.'

2002 - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'The Rising', the singers fifth US No.1. Also No.1 in the UK.

2000 - Madonna

Madonna gave birth to a baby boy Rocco Ritchie at The Cedars-Sinai Hospital Beverly Hills.

1999 - Kiss

Kiss arrived on Hollywood Boulevard to unveil their star on The Walk Of Fame. The band had released over 30 albums and sold over 80 million records world-wide.

1989 - L.L. Cool J

Three members of L.L. Cool J crew were arrested and charged with raping a 15 year-old girl. The incident took place after a concert when the girl had won a backstage pass on a radio contest.

1984 - Ray Parker Jr

Ray Parker JR. started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the theme from the film 'Ghostbusters'. Parker who had been a session guitarist for Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye was accused of plagiarizing the melody from Huey Lewis and the News song 'I Want a New Drug', resulting in Lewis suing Parker, the pair settled out of court in 1985.

1979 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin played their last ever UK show when they appeared at Knebworth House, England. The set list included: The Song Remains The Same, Celebration Day, Black Dog, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Over The Hills And Far Away, Misty Mountain Hop, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Hot Dog, The Rain Song, White Summer/Black Mountainside, Kashmir, Trampled Under Foot, Sick Again, Achilles' Last Stand, In The Evening, Stairway To Heaven Rock And Roll, Whole Lotta Love and Communication Breakdown.

1969 - Jackson Five

350 special guests were invited to see Motown Records new signings The Jackson Five play at The Daisy Club in Beverly Hills, California.

1967 - Arthur Brown

Small Faces, The Move, Marmalade, Paul Jones, Pink Floyd, Amen Corner, Donovan, Zoot Money, Cream, Jeff Beck, John Mayall, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown all appeared at this years UK Reading festival. An advance 3 day ticket cost £2. Arthur Brown's trademark flaming helmet burnt out of control and organiser Harold Pendleton's father-in-law had to douse the flames with a pint of beer.

1966 - John Lennon

At a press conference held at The Astor Towers Hotel in Chicago, John Lennon apologised for his remarks that The Beatles were ‘more popular than Jesus'. Lennon told reporters "Look, I wasn’t saying The Beatles are better than God or Jesus, I said ‘Beatles’ because it’s easy for me to talk about The Beatles. I could have said ‘TV’ or ‘Cinema’, ‘Motorcars’ or anything popular and would have got away with it’’.

1964 - The Beatles

The Beatles started recording their fourth album ('Beatles For Sale', not yet titled), at EMI studios in London, England.

1964 - The High Numbers

The High Numbers, (later to become The Who), played at The Railway Hotel in Harrow, England. Just before the band were due on stage, Roger Daltry's father-in law came into the venue and dragged the singer outside and hit him. The band started their set and Daltry appeared back on stage after the fight.

1962 - Neil Sedaka

Neil Sedaka started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do', his first US No.1 as an artist. It reached No.7 on the UK chart.

1956 - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley's double sided hit 'Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog was released. The single went to No.1 on the US chart, where it stayed for 11 weeks - a record that would not be broken until 1992's Boyz II Men hit 'End of the Road'.

Born Today In Music

August 11th

1981 - Sandi Thom

Sandi Thom, Scottish singer /songwriter, 2006 UK and Australian No.1 single ‘I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (with Flowers in My Hair)’

1978 - Chris Kelly

Chris Kelly, Kris Kross, (1992 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Jump'. The duo of Chris Smith and Chris Kelly were 12 and 13 when they recorded the song. Kelly died on 1st May 2013 in an Atlanta hospital at the age of 34.

1976 - Ben Gibbard

Ben Gibbard, singer with American band Death Cab for Cutie, 2008 US No.1 album ‘Narrow Stairs.’

1970 - Andy Bell

Andy Bell, guitarist, singer with Ride who had the 1992 UK No.9 single 'Leave Them All Behind'. Also a member of Hurricane No.1. Bell joined Oasis in 1999.

1968 - Charlie Sexton

American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Charlie Sexton known for the 1985 hit 'Beat's So Lonely' and for being the guitarist for Bob Dylan's backing band from 1999. Sexton has contributed songs to various film soundtracks, including True Romance and Air America, made a cameo fronting a bar band in Thelma & Louise and played the role of Jimmy in the 2014 film Boyhood.

1964 - Hamish Seelochan

Hamish Seelochan, The Pasadenas, (1992 UK No.4 single 'I'm Doing Fine Now').

1960 - Paul Gendler

Paul Gendler, Modern Romance (1982 UK No.4 single 'Best Years Of Our Lives').

1959 - Alan Frew

Alan Frew, Glass Tiger, (1986 UK No.29 single 'Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone').

1954 - Bryan Bassett

Bryan Bassett, guitar, vocals, from American group Wild Cherry known for their 1976 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Play That Funky Music'.

1954 - Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson, UK singer, songwriter, who had the 1980 UK No.5 single 'It's Different For Girls' and 1982 US No.6 and UK No.7 single 'Steppin Out'.

1950 - Erik Braunn

Erik Braunn, guitarist from American rock band Iron Butterflywho had the 1968 US No.14 single 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida'. The band's seminal 1968 album In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is among the world's 40 best-selling albums, selling more than 30 million copies. He died on 25th July 2003 aged 52.

1949 - Eric Carmen

Eric Carmen, American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist, who with the The Raspberries had the 1972 US No.5 single 'Go All The Way' and the 1976 solo US No.2 single, 'All By Myself', plus other hits with 'She Did It', 'Hungry Eyes', and 'Make Me Lose Control. 

1948 - Bill Hurd

Bill Hurd, from English pop band The Rubettes who had the 1974 UK No.1 single 'Sugar Baby Love'.

1943 - Kenneth Gamble

Kenneth Gamble, who as part of the American songwriting and production team with Leon A. Huff is credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as Philly sound) of the 1970s. In addition to forming their own label, Philadelphia International Records, Gamble and Huff have written and produced 175 gold and platinum records.

1943 - Denis Payton

Denis Payton, sax, from English pop rock band, Dave Clark Five, who scored the 1964 UK No.1 single 'Glad All Over', and the 1965 US No.1 single 'Over And Over' , plus over 15 other UK top 40 singles. Payton died on 17th December 2006.

1943 - Jim Kale

Jim Kale bassist from Canadian rock band Guess Who who had the 1970 US No.1 & UK No.19 single 'American Woman'.

1942 - Mike Hugg

Mike Hugg, drummer and founding member of the 1960s group Manfred Man who had the 1964 UK & US No.1 single 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy'. He was later a member of Manfred Mann Chapter Three.