What Happened Today In Music

August 12th

2021 - Nines

British rapper Nines admitted to a charge relating to a plot to import 28 kilograms of cannabis from Spain and Poland, and admitted a further charge of money laundering related to a £98,000 debt and the street value of the cannabis. He was remanded in custody. He was later sentenced to 28 months in HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs. He had served 18 months previously for possession of the same drug with intent to supply.

2015 - Elvis Presley

A second postage stamp was issued in the US bearing the image of Elvis Presley (the first was introduced in 1993). This one featured a black and white photograph by William Speer of Elvis in 1955 and was part of the Music Icon series that began in 2013.

2012 - London 2012 Olympics

The London 2012 Olympics ended with a spectacular musical closing ceremony. The three-hour show featured some of the biggest names of British music from decades past, including the Spice Girls, George Michael, The Who, Take That, Muse, Jessie J, Emeli Sande, Elbow, Madness, The Pet Shop Boys, One Direction, Ray Davies, Liam Gallagher, and Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen. 

2010 - Richie Hayward

Richie Hayward, drummer and co-founder of Little Feat, passed away at the age of 64 after contracting pneumonia as he battled liver cancer.

2009 - Les Paul

Guitarist Les Paul died in hospital in White Plains, New York at the age of 94 suffering from severe pneumonia. Paul is credited with developing one of the first solid-body electric guitars, which went on sale in 1952 and contributed to the birth of rock. He also developed other influential recording innovations such as multi-track recording and overdubbing. In the early 50s, Paul and his wife Mary Ford had a string of hits including 'Mockin' Bird Hill', 'How High the Moon', and 'Vaya Con Dios'.

2007 - Kate Nash

UK singer, songwriter Kate Nash went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut album 'Made Of Bricks.'

2006 - LeToya

Founding member of Destiny's Child, LeToya was No.1 on the US album chart with her debut solo album 'LeToya.' It was released six years after being dismissed from the group and staying away from the spotlight.

2003 - Lee Ryan

Lee Ryan from Blue was arrested whilst driving a Porsche around central London and was charged with drink driving. Ryan had spent the night knocking back drinks at Browns night-club in Covent Garden with his cousin and a record company executive. After annoying others in the club with rowdiness, and his cousin's throwing up in the VIP area, bouncers threw Lee out. Police pulled the star over just after 4am on Tower Bridge Road and breath tests showed him to be twice over the legal drinking limit.

1997 - Luther Allison

American Blues guitarist Luther Allison died of cancer age 57 in Madison, Wisconsin. He played with Howlin' Wolf's band and backed James Cotton.

1989 - Moscow Music Peace Festival

The two day Moscow Music Peace Festival was held at The Lenin Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Western Acts who appeared included Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Skid Row and The Scorpions. This was the first time that an audience had been allowed to stand up and dance at a stadium rock concert in the Soviet Union. Previous to this, all concerts had to be seated.

1986 - Prince

Prince started a run of five nights at Wembley Arena, London, his first UK shows for five years.

1985 - Kyu Sakamoto

Kyu Sakamoto was killed in a plane crash when JAL Flight 123, a 747, crashed and burned on a thickly wooded mountain about 60 miles northwest of Tokyo. He was 43. He had the 1963 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Sukiyaki', the first Japanese artist to hit the top of the US singles chart.

1984 - Lionel Richie

As The Olympic Games came to a close, Lionel Richie performed, 'All Night Long' live from Los Angeles to an estimated television audience of 2.6 billion people around the world.

1978 - Commodores

The Commodores started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Three Times A Lady', also No.1 in the UK and becoming Motown's biggest British selling single. Lionel Richie wrote the song about his love for his wife, mother and grandmother hence 'Once, Twice, Three Times a Lady.'

1977 - Sting

Henri Padovani guitarist with The Police quit the group after nine months leaving them a trio.

1973 - Joni Mitchell

The Eagles, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and the Santa Monica Flyers all appeared at the Corral Club in Topanga, California.

1972 - Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'School's Out'. The bands only UK No.1, which was also a No.7 hit on the US chart. Cooper has said he was inspired to write the song when answering the question, "What's the greatest three minutes of your life?". Cooper said: "There's two times during the year. One is Christmas morning, the next one is the last three minutes of the last day of school."

1971 - John Lennon

John Lennon & Yoko Ono donated £1,000 to the Clyde Shipbuilders Scottish Union fighting fund who were refusing to stop work at the Glasgow site after being made redundant.

1968 - Led Zeppelin

Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonhamplayed together for the first time when they rehearsed at a studio in Gerrard Street in London's West End. The first song they played was a version of 'The Train Kept A-Rollin.' They also played 'Smokestack Lightning' and a version of 'I'm Confused' (soon to become 'Dazed And Confused'). The first live dates they played were as The Yardbirds, and it was not until the following month when they started to use the name Led Zeppelin. 

1967 - Scott McKenzie

Scott McKenzie was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)’. Written by John Phillips, the song was produced and released to promote the Monterey Pop Festival held in June of this year. 

1966 - The Beatles

The Beatles performed two shows at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois. This was the first stop on what would turn out to be The Beatles' final US tour. Support acts were the Remains, Bobby Hebb, Cyrkle, and the Ronettes.

1964 - The Beatles

The Beatles first film A Hard Day's Night opened in 500 American cinemas to rave reviews. The film was a financial and critical success. Time magazine rated it as one of the all-time great 100 films.

1963 - Searchers

Merseybeat band the Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman penned ‘Sweets for My Sweet’ which was originally recorded by The Drifters.

1960 - The Beatles

Pete Best auditioned to become The Silver Beatles' drummer and was asked to travel to Hamburg in Germany for the bands next set of dates. Before leaving for Hamburg, The Silver Beatles changed their name to simply, "The Beatles".

Born Today In Music

August 12th

1969 - Tanita Tikaram

British pop/folk singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram. Her debut album, Ancient Heart, produced by Rod Argent and Peter Van Hooke, was released in 1988 when she was 19 years old. The album's first two singles, 'Good Tradition' and 'Twist In My Sobriety', became top 10 hits around Europe and the album sold around 4 million copies worldwide.

1968 - Paul Tucker

Paul Tucker, Keyboards, Lighthouse Family, (1996 UK No.4 single 'Lifted' plus 9 other UK Top 40 singles).

1963 - Sir Mix-A-Lot

Sir Mix-A-Lot, US rapper, (1992 US No.1 single 'Baby Got Back', a No.56 hit in the UK).

1962 - Bragi Olaffson

Bragi Olaffson, bass, The Sugarcubes, (1992 UK No.17 single 'Hit').

1961 - Roy Hay

Roy Hay guitar, vocals, Culture Club, (1983 UK No.1 & 1984 US No.1 single 'Karma Chameleon' plus seven other UK top 10 singles').

1958 - Jurgen Dehmel

Jurgen Dehmel, from German group Nena who had the 1984 UK No.1 & US No.2 single '99 Red Balloons'. The track made them UK One Hit Wonder. 

1954 - Pat Metheny

Pat Metheny, jazz rock guitarist, worked with David Bowie and Gary Burton. Recorded film soundtrack albums

1953 - Jerry Speiser

Jerry Speiser, Men At Work, (1983 UK & US No.1 single 'Down Under').

1951 - August Darnell

August Darnell, singer, Kid Creole And The Coconuts, (1982 UK No.2 single 'Annie I'm Not Your Daddy').

1950 - Ronald David Mael

Ronald David Mael, Sparks, (1974 UK No.2 single 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us').

1949 - Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler British songwriter, guitarist, singer with Dire Straits who had the 1985 US No.1 single 'Money For Nothing', the 1986 UK No.2 single 'Walk Of Life', and the 1985 world-wide No.1 album Brothers In Arms. Knopfler has recorded and performed with many prominent musicians, including Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Bryan Ferry, Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Sting, and James Taylor.

1941 - Craig Douglas

English pop singer Craig Douglas, who had the 1959 UK No.1 single whith his version of the Sam Cooke hit 'Only Sixteen 'plus nine other UK Top 40 hits.

1937 - Roy Gaines

American guitarist, Roy Gaines. 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. He died a day before his 84th birthday on 11 August 2021. 

1929 - Buck Owens

Buck Owens, American singer and guitarist, who scored twenty number-one hits on the Billboard country music charts, and pioneered what has come to be called the Bakersfield sound’a reference to Bakersfield, California. Died March 25th 2006.

1927 - Porter Wagoner

Porter Wagoner, Country singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. In 1967, he introduced a then little known Dolly Parton on his long-running television show. Also known as Mr. Grand Ole Opry, Wagoner has scored over 80 US Country singles from 1954–1983. He died from lung cancer on October 28, 2007.

1920 - Percy Mayfield

American rhythm and blues singer Percy Mayfield, known for the songs 'Please Send Me Someone to Love' and 'Hit the Road Jack', the latter being a song popularized by Ray Charles, (Charles recorded at least 15 of his songs). He died on 11 August 1984 age 63.