What Happened Today In Music
September 11th
2020 - Toots Hibbert
Toots Hibbert, frontman of the legendary reggae band Toots and the Maytals, died age 77 after being taken to hospital with Covid-like symptoms. One of Jamaica’s most influential musicians, he helped popularise reggae in the 1960s with songs like 'Pressure Drop', 'Monkey Man' and 'Funky Kingston'. He even claimed to have coined the genre’s name, on 1968’s 'Do The Reggay'.
2019 - Daniel Johnston
American songwriter and artist Daniel Johnston died of a suspected heart attack at his home in Waller, Texas, at the age of 58. Kurt Cobain once described him as 'the best songwriter on earth' and famously wore one of Johnston's t-shirts to the 1992 MTV Awards. Other musicians who have covered Johnston's songs include Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, Sufjan Stevens and Yo La Tengo.
2015 - Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson’s hit 'Uptown Funk!' became the fifth biggest-selling single in British chart history with over two million UK sales and overtaking Paul McCartney & Wings’ 1977 chart-topper 'Mull Of Kintrye/Girls’ School'.
2014 - Bob Crewe
American songwriter, singer, manager, and record producer Bob Crewe died aged 83. Crewe wrote a string of Top 10 singles for the Four Seasons, including 'Big Girls Don't Cry', 'Walk Like a Man', and 'Rag Doll'. He also had hit recordings with Lesley Gore, Michael Jackson, Bobby Darin, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson, Patti LaBelle, Barry Manilow and others.
2006 - Classical Music
A study from the University of Leicester found that more than a quarter of classical music fans had tried cannabis. Researchers were trying to find out what people's taste in music revealed about their lifestyles. The UK study also revealed that blues buffs are the most likely to have received a driving penalty. Hip hop and dance music fans were more likely to have multiple sex partners and were among the biggest drug-takers surveyed. More than 2,500 people were interviewed for the study, which was published in the scientific journal Psychology of Music.
2004 - Fred Ebb
American lyricist Fred Ebb died of a heart attack at his home in New York City. Co-wrote, ‘New York, New York’ and ‘Chicago’ and worked with Liza Minnelli.
2003 - Tommy Chong
Tommy Chong, one-half of the comedy team of Cheech and Chong, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and fined $20,000 for selling drug paraphernalia over the Internet. The 65 year-old Chong pled guilty to the charges last May. He remained free until April, 2004, when he went to jail.
2001 - Gerard Way
Walking to work in New York (as an comic book illustrator) Gerard Way witnessed the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre. The day's events inspired him to start a band, which became My Chemical Romance with Way becoming their lead singer.
1996 - Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher walked out on the rest of Oasis half way through an American tour after a fight with his brother Liam in a hotel in Charlotte North Carolina. Noel flew back to London the following day.
1993 - Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey started a eight week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Dreamlover'. Also on the same day her fourth album 'Music Box' went to No.1 in the UK.
1988 - Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson appeared at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England on his Bad World Tour. Over 3,000 fans were treated by the St. John Ambulance service for passing out, hysteria and being crushed amongst the crowd of 125,000 fans, the largest concert of the 123-date world tour.
1987 - Peter Tosh
Founder member of The Wailers Peter Tosh was shot dead at his home in Kingston Jamaica by armed robbers.
1987 - Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel cleaned up at this year's MTV Awards, winning best video, best male video, best concept video, best special effects and five other awards for the track 'Sledgehammer'.
1987 - Level 42
Level 42's 'It's Over', became the first CD video single to go on sale in the UK. It contained twenty minutes of music and five minutes of video (which remained unseen until CDV players went on sale).
1982 - Chicago
Chicago started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hard To Say I'm Sorry', the group's second US No.1. Taken from the film 'Summer Lovers', a No.4 hit in the UK.
1982 - John Cougar
John "Cougar" Mellencamp became the only male artist to have two singles in the US Top Ten as well as the No.1 album. ‘Jack and Diane’ was No.4, while ‘Hurts So Good’ was at No.8. His album ‘American Fool’ was at No.1 for the first of nine weeks.
1977 - David Bowie
David Bowie recorded a guest appearance on 'Bing Crosby's 'Merrie Olde Christmas' TV show duetting with Crosby on 'Peace On Earth - Little Drummer Boy. The track became a UK No.3 hit five years later in 1982.
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1976 - KC and the Sunshine Band
KC and the Sunshine Band went to No.1 on the US singles chart with '(Shake Shake Shake), Shake Your Body', the group's third US No.1, a No.22 hit in the UK.
1971 - Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Go Away Little Girl'. The singers only US solo chart topper. The song had also been a No.1 for Steve Lawrence in 1963.
1971 - Jackson Five
The animated Jackson Five series premiered on ABC-TV in the US.
1970 - Jimi Hendrix
NME’s Keith Allston interviewed Jimi Hendrix in England. The interview turned out to be Hendrix's last; he died a mere seven days later. During the interview, Hendrix talked about a new musical phase, with planned collaborations with Miles Davis and Paul McCartney.
1968 - Larry Graham
Bassist from Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham was busted for cannabis possession as the band arrived in London to start a UK tour.
1967 - The Beatles
Filming began for The Beatles ‘Magical Mystery Tour’. There was no script, nor a very clear idea of exactly what was to be accomplished, not even a clear direction about where the bus was supposed to go. The ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ bus set off for the West Country in England stopping for the night in Teignmouth, Devon were hundreds of fans greeted The Beatles at their hotel.
1965 - The Beatles
The Beatles started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Help!, the group's sixth US chart topper.
1964 - Mick Jagger
The London Evening News reported that a 16 year-old Eltham Collage boy, introduced as Laurie Yarham, was everyone's idea of a winner in a Mick Jagger look-a-like competition. Laurie looked like Mick Jagger and seemed to know his every action and the audience at Greenwich Town Hall were delighted, until the winner turned out to be Mick's younger brother Chris Jagger.
1962 - The Beatles
After George Martin insisted that session drummer Andy White took Ringo Starr's place, The Beatles returned to EMI Studios in London for a third attempt at recording their first single. 'Love Me Do' was selected to be The Beatles' first A-side, with "P.S. I Love You" on the flip side (a reversal of the original plan). The single that was released on October 5th featured a version of ‘Love Me Do’ with Ringo on drums, but the album ‘Please Please Me’ included a version with Andy White on drums.
1956 - Rock Around the Clock
Police were called to break up a crowd of rowdy teenagers following the showing of the film Rock Around the Clock at the Trocadero Cinema in London, England. The following day, The Times printed a reader's letter that said: "The hypnotic rhythm and the wild gestures have a maddening effect on a rhythm loving age group and the result of its impact is the relaxing of all self control." The film was quickly banned in several English cities.
1952 - Ray Charles
Ahmet Ertegun began recording his newest signing, 21 year old Ray Charles at Atlantic Records on West 56th St in New York City. Ertegun had purchased the singers contract from the Swingtime label for $2,500.
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