ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

September 21st

1968 - Deep Purple

Deep Purple made No.4 on the US singles chart with their debut single 'Hush', also a hit for Kula Shaker in 1997. 

1968 - Jeannie C Riley

Jeannie C Riley went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Harper Valley PTA'. Jeannie won a Grammy for the best female country singer of 68.

1968 - The Beatles

Madame Tussaud's Waxworks in London gave The Beatles their fifth image change of clothes and hair in four years.

1970 - Freda Payne

Freda Payne was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Band Of Gold', the singers only UK No.1 which spent six weeks at the top of the chart.


1971 - The Old Grey Whistle Test

The first edition of the new BBC TV music show 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' was aired. Presented by Richard Williams, the show included; film clips of Jimi Hendrix from Monterey Festival playing 'Wild Thing', Bob Dylan playing 'Maggies Farm', plus America and Lesley Duncan 'live' in the studio. The influential show went on to enjoy a run from 1971 to 1987. According to presenter Bob Harris, the programme derived its name from a Tin Pan Alley phrase from years before. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys—doormen in grey suits. The songs they could remember and whistle, having heard it just once or twice, had passed the old grey whistle test.

1974 - Barry White

Barry White went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Baby', the singers first and only US solo chart topper. It made No.8 in the UK.

1974 - Carl Douglas

Carl Douglas was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Kung Fu Fighting.' The song was recorded in 10 minutes, had started out as a B-side and went on to sell over 10 million and made Douglas a One Hit Wonder. 

1980 - Bob Marley

During a North American tour, Bob Marley collapsed while jogging in New York's Central Park. After hospital tests he was diagnosed as having cancer. Marley played his last ever concert two nights later at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1981 - Adam And The Ants

Adam And The Ants were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their second chart topper 'Prince Charming'.


1985 - Madonna

Madonna scored her first UK No.1 album with 'Like A Virgin', ten months after its release. The album spent a total 152 weeks on the UK chart.

well not VERY like a virgin hey?
like a back Street New York slapper hey Madge!?

1985 - Dire Straits

With the help Of heavy MTV exposure 'Money For Nothing' gave Dire Straits their first US No.1 single.

1986 - Michael Jackson

The National Inquirer Magazine featured a picture of Michael Jackson in an oxygen chamber with a story claiming that Jackson had a bizarre plan to live until he was 150 years old. From more recent sources it is suggested that th story was leaked by Michael himself

1987 - Jaco Pastorius

American jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius died from injuries sustained in a fight. Pastorius was trying to enter the Midnight Bottle Club in Wilton Manors, Florida, (where he'd been banned), and became involved in a fight with a bouncer, Pastorius fell into a coma and was put on life support. In 2006, Pastorius was voted "The Greatest Bass Player Who Has Ever Lived" by readers in Bass Guitar magazine. Was a member of Weather Report and worked with various acts including Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock.

1991 - Status Quo

Status Quo put themselves in the Guinness Book Of Records by appearing four venues in one day, Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham and London, performing all four in a 12-hour period.


1992 - Radiohead

Parlophone Records released 'Creep' by Radiohead. as their debut single. The single didn't chart but featured in the majority of critics lists at the end of the year and later appeared on their first album, Pablo Honey.

1996 - Fugees

The Fugees scored their second UK No.1 single with 'Ready Or Not'. The chorus in the song is based on 'Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)' by The Delfonics. The Fugees previous single 'Killing Me Softly,' was so successful that the track was 'deleted' and no longer supplied to retailers whilst the track was still in the Top 20 to make way for the next single 'Ready or Not'.


2002 - Pink

Pink went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Just Like A Pill', the American singers first UK No.1.


2007 - Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg was sentenced to three years probation and 160 hours of community service after pleading guilty to carrying a collapsible baton. The rapper was arrested in September 2006 after the baton was found in his bag at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. In April 2007 he was given five years probation and 800 hours community service after pleading no contest to gun and drug charges in a Californian court.

2009 - John ‘Bootsie’ Wilson

American singer John ‘Bootsie’ Wilson from The Silhouettes died. The doo wop/R&B groups single 'Get A Job' was a No.1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and pop singles chart in 1958. The doo-wop revival group Sha Na Na derived their name from the song's lyrics. 'Get A Job' is included in the soundtracks of the film American Graffiti, Trading Places and Stand By Me. The Silhouettes performed in the 1986 movie Joey.



2011 - The Beatles

A contract revealing that The Beatles refused to perform in front of a segregated audience at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California on August 31st, 1965, sold for $23,033 at an auction in Los Angeles. In addition to the desegregation clause, the contract guaranteed the band $40,000 and at least 150 police officers to provide security at the show.

2015 - Ben Cauley: The Bar Kays

Trumpeter Ben Cauley, a member of the Stax Records group The Bar-Kays and the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed Otis Redding died at the age of 67. The Bar-Kays appeared as the backing band on numerous recordings for Stax artists such as Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, The Staple Singers and Sam and Dave.

BIRTHDAYS

1972 - Liam Gallagher

English singer and songwriter Liam Gallagher from Oasis.  Their 1994 UK No.1 album Definitely Maybe became the fastest selling UK debut album ever.  Gallagher was later the singer of Beady Eye, before performing as a solo artist after the dissolution of both previous bands. Featuring in off centre stage at this years Glastonbury he voice is shot and he look a fat dad dancing which is of course what he is. . . . . . . . (leave it to the professional Liam, The Stones, Bob Dylan and so on you just can't really cut it anymore)

1959 - Corinne Drewery

British singer Corinne Drewery with Swing Out Sister who scored the 1986 UK No.4 single 'Breakout'.

1934 - Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen, Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen is a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honor. He wrote 'Hallelujah' which was first released on Cohen's studio album Various Positions in 1984 which was covered ad rearranged by John Cale, this version formed the basis for a later cover by Jeff Buckley and many later covers. Cohen died on 7th Nov 2016 at the age of 82 at his home in Los Angeles.

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postscript

thanks to This Day In Music