ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

July 3rd

1967 - The Monkees

A private party was held at the Speakeasy Club in London, England for The Monkees. Guests included: The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, Eric Clapton, Lulu and all the members from Manfred Mann, The Who and Procol Harum.

Mickey and Paul

Mike Nesmith and Ringo

Davy with Lulu in the garden

1968 - Crosby, Stills and Nash

At an impromptu gathering at Joni Mitchell's house in Lookout Mountain, Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash played together for the very first time. The trio went on to form Crosby, Stills and Nash. 

At some point, Crosby and Stills began playing one of Stills' songs, "You Don't Have to Cry." When they were done, Nash, blown away by the tune, asked them to play it again. And again.
"On that third time, I'd learned the words, the melody -- I knew what I was gonna do," Nash recalled. "Whatever sound Crosby, Stills & Nash has was born in 30 seconds. That's how long it took us to harmonize that way, so much so that we burst out laughing in the middle of the song. Because the Springfield and the Byrds and the Hollies were good harmony bands. We knew what we were doing. We'd been making records in harmony for years. But this was different." "It was scary," Crosby said in Zimmer's book.
"But once we new what we had, you could not pry us apart with a crowbar. We knew we'd lucked onto something special, man. We could hear it plain as day.

1968 - Equals

The Equals were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Baby Come Back'. The group's only UK No.1. The song was first released in 1966 but did not chart. The song was covered by and became a No.1 hit for Pato Banton in 1994, (with Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40).

1969 - Brian Jones

Brian Jones drowned while under the influence of drugs and alcohol after taking a midnight swim in his pool, aged 27. His body was found at the bottom of the pool by his Swedish girlfriend Anna Wohlin. The coroner's report stated "Death by misadventure", and noted his liver and heart were heavily enlarged by drug and alcohol abuse. Jones was one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones and in the early 60’s used the name "Elmo Lewis."

"Elmo Lewis"

Cotchford Farm

1971 - Jim Morrison

American singer, songwriter and poet, Jim Morrison of The Doors was found dead in a bathtub in Paris, France, the cause of death was given as a heart attack. He wrote some of the group's biggest hits, including ‘The End’, ‘Love Me Two Times’, and ‘Love Her Madly.’ although their biggest hit 'Light My Fire' was written by guitarist Robby Krieger  On the 25th anniversary of his death an estimated 15,000 fans gathered at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France to pay their respects.

(See seperate videos for some of my favourite Doors songs)

1972 - Fred McDowell

Blues singer, guitarist Mississippi Fred McDowell died of cancer aged 68. The Rolling Stones covered his 'You Got To Move' on their Sticky Fingers album. He coached Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar technique.

1973 - David Bowie the end of Ziggy Stardust

After 182 Ziggy Stardust concert performances, David Bowie announced he was about to retire from live performing, although it eventually transpires that the stage persona is being retired and not Bowie himself. Only his guitarist Mick Ronson knew about the announcement, which came as a complete shock not only to the audience but the rest of Bowie's band and crew.

1982 - Captain Sensible

After a record breaking jump from No.33 on the UK singles charts, The Damned's guitarist Captain Sensible started a two week run at No.1 with his version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein song 'Happy Talk' from the 1949 musical South Pacific.

2002 - Bobby Valentino

A session violinist serenaded a High Court judge during a copyright battle worth an estimated £100,000. The case was over the rights to The Bluebells version of 'Young At Heart.' Bobby Valentino won his case as joint owner of the song.

2004 - David Crosby

David Crosby was fined $5,000 (£2,745) by a US court after admitting attempted criminal possession of a weapon. It followed his arrest in New York in March when a gun, knife and marijuana were found in his luggage.

2007 - Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty escaped jail after a judge decided to defer sentencing him for drugs offences on condition he went into rehab. Doherty pleaded guilty to possessing crack cocaine and heroin at West London Magistrates' Court. He was warned by Judge Davinder Lachhar that he would go into custody if he failed to take up a place he was offered on a detox programme.

2008 - Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue received an OBE for services to music from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace, England. Earlier this year, she was also presented with the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government for her "contribution to the enrichment of French culture".

1960 - Vince Clarke

English synthpop musician and songwriter Vince Clarke, who with Depeche Mode had the 1981 UK No.8 single 'Just Can't Get Enough'. With Yazoo the 1982 UK No.2 single 'Only You', and with Erasure, the 1992 UK No.1 single 'Abba-Esque EP'. Clarke was also a member of The Assembly.

1955 - Neil Clark

Neil Clark, guitarist from British pop band Lloyd Cole And The Commotions who had the 1985 UK hit single 'Brand New Friend'. Between 1984 and 1989, the band scored four Top 20 albums and five Top 40 singles in the UK.

1952 - Andy Fraser

Andy Fraser, bass player with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Joined Free when he was aged 16. (1970 UK No.2 & US No.4 single ‘All Right Now').  Robert Palmer and Joe Cocker amongst others have all covered songs written by Fraser. He died on 16 March 2015 at his home in California having suffered from Kaposi's Sarcoma and the affects of Aids. Andy was tormented and had a terrible time adjusting to his true personality which is well documented elsewhere but he was a truly creative person and talented songwriter bass player and musician.

1930 - Tommy Tedesco

Tommy Tedesco, American session guitarist. Described by Guitar Player magazine as the most recorded guitarist in history recording with The Beach Boys, Everly Brothers, The Supremes, The Monkees, The Association, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Sam Cooke, Cher, and Nancy and Frank Sinatra. He died on 10th Nov 1997.