ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

1957 - Lonnie Donegan

Lonnie Donegan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Gamblin' Man / Putting On The Style', the singers second UK No.1. It was the last UK No.1 to be released as a 78rpm as well as a 7' vinyl record. I still have the 78 of this and recall it well, playing it on the windup gramophone {ask your grandparents} the first significant pop song I recall having a marked effect upon me. I was four.

1966 - The Beatles

The Beatles had their tenth consecutive UK No.1 single with 'Paperback Writer' / 'Rain.' The track is marked by the boosted bass guitar sound throughout, partly in response to John Lennon demanding to know why the bass on a certain Wilson Pickett record far exceeded the bass on any Beatles records. It was also cut louder than any other Beatles record, due to a new piece of equipment used in the mastering process. I LOVED this single and still do . . . . a pop classic, quiet unlike any piece of music then or since. 'Rain' was part of the reason I loved the rain, I recall feeling sad it was raining feeling maudlin and taking a sturdy coat and going out splashing in the puddles. Not long after I would have started my paper round and loved that it dragged me out in all weathers really early in the morning, snow, sleet or rain. 

1973 - George Harrison

George Harrison started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Living In The Material World', his second US No.1. His third studio solo album was the follow-up to 1970s acclaimed All Things Must Pass and his massive charity project, The Concert For Bangladesh

1976 - Paul McCartney and Wings

Paul McCartney and Wings played the last date on their Wings Over America tour at the Forum in Los Angeles.

2003 - Diana Ross

Diana Ross appeared in court and testified that she was coerced and felt intimidated into taking a breath test that showed her blood alcohol level was 0.2 (well over the 0.08 limit). The singer said, "If I didn’t take the breath tests, I was either going to go to the hospital or to jail". After the hearing, Ross asked the judge if it would be possible to have court paperwork processed using her married name of Diana Naess. The City Magistrate said he thought it was "a little late" for that now.

2004 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan was awarded an honorary degree by the University of St. Andrews Scotland's oldest University and made a "Doctor of Music."

Bob's Highland home

Only the second degree he has acknowledged 

2009 - Chris Brown

Chris Brown pleaded guilty to one count of assault on his former girlfriend, Rihanna. The 19 year-old R&B singer was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to do six months community service. Brown had faced charges of assaulting Rihanna, 21, during a row in February. The last-minute plea deal came before a hearing at a Los Angeles court at which Rihanna was due to give evidence. The Los Angeles County Superior Court judge also ordered Brown and Rihanna to stay at least 50 yards from each other, except at entertainment industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

Brown and Rihanna

2016 - Ralph Stanley

American bluegrass artist Ralph Stanley who was known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing, died aged 89. With his brother Carter, he helped popularise the bluegrass genre. Stanley won new fans when his work featured in the Coen brothers film O Brother, Where Art Thou?

BIRTHDAYS

1975 - KT Tunstall

Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, who had the 2005, UK No.3 album, Eye To The Telescope. Her hit 'Suddenly I See' won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song in 2006 and was used as a campaign song of the US presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton in 2008.

1966 - Mark Chadwick

Mark Chadwick, guitarist, singer with English folk rock band The Levellers who had the 1995 UK No.12 single 'Just The One'.

1941 - Robert Hunter

Robert Hunter, American lyricist, singer-songwriter and poet, best known for his work with the Grateful Dead and for collaborating with singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. An early friend of Jerry Garcia, they played together in bluegrass bands (such as the Tub Thumpers).

1940 - Adam Faith

British teen idol, singer, actor and financial journalist Adam Faith, who had the 1959 UK No.1 single 'What Do You Want', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles. Acting roles include the TV series Love Hurts. Faith died of a heart attack on March 8th 2003.

Everybody loved Adam Faith and even when he acted and became 'Budgie'!

theme by Ray Davies [yes THAT Ray Davies!]

1940 - Stuart Sutcliffe

Stuart Sutcliffe, original bassist of The Beatles for eighteen months (January 1960 - June 1961). Sutcliffe was living in Hamburg, Germany at the time of his death, he died of a brain haemorrhage in an ambulance on the way to hospital on April 10th 1962, aged 22.

1929 - June Carter

American singer, songwriter, actress June Carter Cash, wife of Johnny Cash and part of the legendary folk roots dynasty The Carter Family performing with the family from the age of 10. She had hits with Johnny, like 'Ring Of Fire', 'Jackson', 'If I Were A Carpenter' and won five Grammy Awards, Carter Cash also won the 2000 Grammy Award, for Best Traditional Folk Album, for her 1999 album Press On. The album was a top-15 success on the Americana chart. Carter Cash's last album, Wildwood Flower, was released posthumously in 2003.  She died 15th May 2003 aged 73, Johnny died less than four months later.

with thanks to On This Day In Music