ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

October 4th

1961 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan played a showcase at New York's Carnegie Chapter Hall to 53 people.

1962 - The Tornadoes

The Tornadoes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the instrumental, 'Telstar', (named after a communication satellite). The track went on to be the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart also reaching No.1. I think this is my bid for first single ever bought. It certainly had a profound effect upon me and I still have the single which I am pretty sure I have posted a vid of before but  . . . . . . I don't care!

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles made their first appearance on the UK ITV pop show 'Ready Steady Go!'

1968 - Led Zeppelin

On the first night of a UK club tour Led Zeppelin (billed as The 'New' Yardbirds featuring Jimmy Page) appeared at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, supported by Terry Reid's Fantasia, and a band called Junco Partners, tickets cost 10/6. The Mayfair was a regular venue for up and coming acts, Pink Floyd Mott the Hoople, Def Leppard and AC/DC had all appeared at the club which was demolished in 2000.

1969 - Creedance Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival started a four week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Green River', the group's first US chart topper.

1969 - THE BEATLES - Abbey Road

The Beatles Abbey Road album went to No.1 on the UK chart. The final studio recordings from the group supposedly contained clues adding to the ‘Paul Is Dead’ phenomenon: Paul is barefoot and the car number plate ‘LMW 281F’ supposedly referred to the fact that McCartney would be 28 years old if he was still alive. ‘LMW’ was said to stand for ‘Linda McCartney Weeps.’ And the four Beatles, represent; the priest (John, dressed in white), the Undertaker (Ringo in a black suit), the Corpse (Paul, in a suit but barefoot), and the Gravedigger (George, in jeans and a denim work shirt). Oh dear, oh very dearie me!

1970 - Janis Joplin

US singer Janis Joplin was found dead at the Landmark Hotel Hollywood after an accidental heroin overdose. Joplin had the posthumous 1971 US No.1 single 'Me And Bobby McGee', and the 1971 US No.1 album 'Pearl'. She was known as "The Queen of Psychedelic Soul" and as "Pearl" to her friends, Joplin remains one of the top-selling musicians in the United States, with over 15.5 million albums sold in the USA.

The Landmark Hotel as was

1975 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Wish You Were Here. The album featured a tribute to ex band member Syd Barrett, 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond'. Also No.1 in the US. For one of the shots on the album's cover, two stuntmen were used, Danny Rogers and Ronnie Rondell, who was dressed in a fire-retardant suit covered by a business suit. Initially the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, and the flames were forced into Rondell's face, burning his moustache. The two stuntmen changed positions, and the image was later reversed.

1978 - Tammy Wynette

Country singer Tammy Wynette was abducted, beaten and held in her car for two hours by a kidnapper wearing a ski mask. He held a gun on her and forced her to drive 90 miles from Nashville, Tennessee. She was later released and the kidnapper escaped.

Tammy with daughter Geargette comforting her after the alleged assault

1980 - Melody Maker's Readers Poll 1980

Winners in the Melody Makers readers poll included, Kate Bush who won Best female singer, Peter Gabriel won Best male singer, Best guitarist went to Ritchie Blackmore, Phil Collins won Best drummer, Genesis won Band of the year, Best single went to Pink Floyd for 'Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)' and Saxon won brightest hope.

1980 - Queen

Queen started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Another One Bites The Dust.'

1982 - The Smiths

The Smiths made their live debut at the Ritz in Manchester, England, supporting Blue Rondo A La Turk.

1999 - Jimi Hendrix

It was reported that the sister of Jimi Hendrix was planning to exhume her brothers body and move it to a pay-to view mausoleum. Other plans for the new site included a chance for fans to buy one of burial plots around the guitarist's new resting-place.

Leon, Janie, Al and Jimi Hendrix

2005 - Mike Gibbins

Mike Gibbins drummer with Badfinger died in his sleep at his Florida home aged 56. Badfinger had the 1970 UK No.4 & US No.7 single 'Come And Get It'. He had also been a member of The Iveys during the 60’s.

2007 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones set a new record for the top grossing tour of all time with their A Bigger Bang tour. The tour which ran from late 2005 to August 2007, earned the band £247m, ($437m) with The Stones playing to over 3.5 million people at 113 shows. 

2007 - Phil Spector

Producer Phil Spector was set to be retried for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson following the collapse of the first trial in Sept of this year. The first trial ended with the jury deadlocked 10-2 favouring conviction. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler set another hearing for the case on 23 October.

2014 - Paul Revere

Paul Revere, organist and leader of Paul Revere And The Raiders died following a battle with cancer. Between 1961 and 1971, the band placed 15 songs on Billboard's Top 40, including the US Top 10 hits 'Kicks', 'Hungry', 'Good Thing' and 'Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?'

BIRTHDAYS

1959 - Chris Lowe

Chris Lowe, keyboards, Pet Shop Boys, (1986 UK & US No.1 single 'West End Girls', plus three other UK No.1 singles and over 20 other UK Top 40 singles).

with Joss Ackland

1957 - Barbara Kooyman

Barbara Kooyman, Timbuk 3, (1987 UK No.21 single 'The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades').

ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

October 3rd

1967 - Woody Guthrie

American singer, songwriter Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie (July 14, 1912 -- October 3, 1967) died after suffering from Huntington's Chorea disease. Guthrie was a major influence on Bob Dylan and American folk music. The 70s film 'Bound For Glory' is based on his life. His best-known song is 'This Land Is Your Land', which is regularly sung in American schools.

1968 - The Beatles

Working at Trident Studios in London, The Beatles recorded the new George Harrison song ‘Savoy Truffle’. George, Paul, and Ringo recorded just one take of the basic track (drums, bass, and lead guitar). The song was inspired by Eric Clapton's love of chocolates, particularly Mackintosh's Good News.

1978 - Aerosmith

The members of Aerosmith bailed thirty fans out of jail after they were arrested for smoking pot during an Aerosmith concert at Fort Wayne Coliseum. 

1987 - M/A/R/S

M/A/R/S were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Pump Up The Volume.' The first British-made house hit heavily sampled other recordings which resulted in litigation.

1991 - Stevie Ray Vaughan

Texas governor Ann Richards proclaimed October 3, Stevie Ray Vaughan, (Stevie Ray Vaughan's birthday), to be "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day". An annual motorcycle ride and concert in Central Texas benefits the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund.

1992 - Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O’Connor ripped up a photograph of Pope John Paul II, on the US TV show 'Saturday Night Live', as a protest over sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. The incident happened as Sinead ended her live performance and out of nowhere, produced a photograph of Pope John Paul II, which she ripped into pieces. There was stunned silence in the studio and the station went to a commercial. NBC was fined $2.5 million dollars by the Federal Communications Commission. Sinead has gone on to experience precarious mental health in recent years and difficulty in her private life with members of her immediate family. Wherever she is currently we wish her well . . . . . 

1999 - Tom Jones

Tom Jones went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Reload', making the singer the oldest artist to score a UK No.1 album with new material. The album featured the collaboration with Mousse T, 'Sexbomb', which reached No.3 on the UK Singles Chart, and was later used in an episode of The Simpsons.

2000 - John Lennon

John Lennon's assassin Mark Chapman was denied parole after serving 20 years in prison. Chapman was interviewed for 50 minutes by parole board members who concluded that releasing Chapman would 'deprecate the seriousness of the crime.'

2004 - Joss Stone

UK singer Joss Stone scored her first UK No.1 album with her second release Mind Body & Soul. Stone became the youngest female singer to top the UK Albums Chart, a record previously held by Avril Lavigne.

2011 - Queen

According to new scientific research, Queen's 'We Are The Champions' was found to be the catchiest song ever written. Musicologist Dr Alisun Pawley from the University of London, England, conducted research into what makes a song memorable and compiled a list of the ten "catchiest" songs of all time. During the research, they discovered that sing-along songs contained four key elements: long and detailed musical phrases, multiple pitch changes in a song's 'hook', male vocalists, and higher male voices making a noticeable vocal effort. Y.M.C.A. by the Village People, Sum 41's Fat Lip, and Europe's The Final Countdown were also in the list.

2013 - Michael Jackson

Paris and Katherine Jackson

The family of Michael Jackson lost a negligence case against concert promoters AEG Live over the death of the 50-year-old pop star. A jury concluded the doctor looking after Jackson ahead of his concert tour was not unfit for his job - and so AEG had not been negligent in hiring him. Jackson died in 2009 after taking an overdose of a surgical anaesthetic, Propofol, amongst other prescribed drugs.

BIRTHDAYS

1978 - Jake Shears

Jake Shears, (Jason Sellards), vocals, Scissor Sisters, (2004 UK No.1 self-titled album, 2004 UK No. 12 single ‘Laura’).




1969 - Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani, vocalist with No Doubt, (1997 UK No.1 single with ‘Don’t Speak’ and a 1997 No.1 US album 'Tragic Kingdom'). As a solo artist (2005 US No.1 single 'Hollaback Girl’ from the 2004 worldwide 2004 Top 5 album 'Love, Angel, Music, Baby').

I mean it IS all about the music . . . . . . . ahem

1966 - Dan Miller

Dan Miller, guitarist, from American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, who scored the 1990 UK No.6 single, 'Birdhouse In Your Soul'. The band has won two Grammy Awards, one in 2002 for their song 'Boss of Me, and in 2009 for 'Here Come the 123s'.

1962 - Tommy Lee

Tommy Lee, drummer and founding member of Motley Crue, who had the 1988 UK No.23 single 'You're All I Need' and the 1989 US No.1 & UK No.4 album Dr Feelgood. Lee also founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects. He has been married to model Elaine Starchuk and actresses Heather Locklear and Pamela Anderson with whom he made a sex tape which proved to be one of the most viewed such things and one of the earliest shared throughout the Internet.

What's worn under the gaberdine Tommy . . . "Nothing, it's all in perfect working order! Bahdum Tish!

1954 - Stevie Ray Vaughan

American musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was one of the most influential guitarists in the revival of blues in the 1980s. Vaughan was killed in a helicopter crash on August 27th 1990 age 35. His family successfully sued the operators of the company for allowing an unqualified pilot to fly in fog and were awarded $2 million (£1.2 million). Vaughan played guitar on David Bowie's Let's Dance album.

1947 - Ben Cauley

American trumpet player, Ben Cauley, vocalist, songwriter, and founding member of the Stax recording group, The Bar-Kays. He was the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that claimed the lives of soul singer Otis Redding and four members of the Bar-Kays. Cauley died on 21st Sept 2015.

1946 - PP Arnold

American soul singer, PP Arnold who was a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She scored several hits including the original version of the Cat Stevens song 'The First Cut Is the Deepest' and later released singles produced by Barry Gibb. As a session singer Arnold worked with The Small Faces and Eric Clapton 

1941 - Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker, US singer, (Ernest Evans), 1960 US No.1 & UK No.14 single 'The Twist', 1962 UK No.2 single 'Let's Twist Again'). 'The Twist' is the only song to go to number 1 on the US singles charts twice. Once in 1960 and again in 1962.

1938 - Eddie Cochran

Eddie Cochran, singer, (1958 US No. 8 single 'Summertime Blues', 1960 UK No.1 single 'Three Steps To Heaven'). Cochran was killed in a car crash on 17th April 1960 aged 21 while on tour in the United Kingdom. Songwriter Sharon Sheeley and singer Gene Vincent who were also in the car both survived the crash.

thanks to On This Day In Music