ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

September 29th

1956 - Bill Haley

Bill Haley had five songs in the UK Top 30; 'Rockin Through The Rye', 'Saints Rock n' Roll', 'Rock Around the Clock', 'Razzle Dazzle', and 'See You Later Alligator'.

1961 - Bob Dylan

Robert Shelton, wrote a glowing review of Bob Dylan's support slot at Gerde's Folk City in the New York Times, calling him ‘One of the most distinctive stylists to play Manhattan in months’. On the same day Dylan played harmonica at a recording session produced by John Hammond.

1967 - The Beatles

Working at Abbey Road in London, The Beatles mixed the new John Lennon song ‘I Am the Walrus’, which included the sound of a radio being tuned through numerous stations, coming to rest on a BBC production of William Shakespeare's "King Lear". Lennon composed the song by combining three songs he had been working on. When he learned that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyse Beatles' lyrics, he added a verse of nonsense words.

1971 - Led Zeppelin

On the last night of their first ever Japanese tour Led Zeppelin appeared at Osaka Festival Hall. Near the end of the set the group played a medley of songs during an extended version of 'Whole Lotta Love', including 'Let That Boy Boogie', 'I Gotta Know', 'Twist and Shout', 'Fortune Teller', 'Good Times Bad Times' and 'You Shook Me'.

1976 - Jerry Lee Lewis

Enjoying his own birthday celebrations singer Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player Norman Owens in the chest. Lewis had been blasting holes in an office door. Owens survived but sued his boss.

1979 - The Police

The Police had their first UK No.1 single with 'Message In A Bottle' the group's third Top 20 hit. The song was released as the first single from Reggatta de Blanc and also topped the charts in Ireland and reached No.5 in Australia. Despite its popularity in the UK, the single only reached No.74 in the United States.

1984 - Prince

Prince and the Revolution started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let's Go Crazy', his second US No.1, and a No.7 hit in the UK. It was the opening track on both the album and the film Purple Rain.

1987 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd's thirteenth studio album A Momentary Lapse Of Reason was on the UK chart. The shoot for the album cover involved dragging 800 hospital beds onto Saunton Sands in Devon, but rain interrupted the session and they had to repeat the exercise two weeks later. A hang glider can be seen in the sky, a possible reference to the track 'Learning to Fly'. Photographer Robert Dowling won a gold award at the Association of Photographers' Awards for the image, which took about two weeks to create.

1990 - Maria McKee

Maria and Bryan

Maria McKee was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Show Me Heaven' the song featured in the Tom Cruise film 'Days Of Thunder'. Singer of Lone Justice Maria was the half-sister of Bryan MacClean of 'Love' (the writer of 'Alone Again Or', 'Old Man' and 'Orange Skies') who later became a born again Christian and Maria song with from time to time 

One of my favourite bands, LOVE with Brian on guitar

1999 - Manic Street Preachers

The Manic Street Preachers were given a bill for £28.000 after smashing up equipment during their show at Scotland's T In The Park festival.

2004 - Keith Moon

Keith Moon's five-piece drum kit, custom-made for The Who drummer in 1968, sold for £120,000 pounds ($215,772) in London to an American collector, setting a world auction record for a set of drums.

2004 - Michael Jackson

The Sun reported that Michael Jackson had a secret fourth child who was now 19. The story claimed that Norwegian Omar Bhatti was born after a one night stand and had stayed with Jackson at his Neverland home in California. Really? Since 20143 this has been denied now 

Omar sat with the remainder of the Jackson family at Michael's funeral

Omar Bhatti and Paris Jackson are said to be close

2012 - Lisa Marie Presley

The UK press reported that there really was a girl who works down the chip shop and swears she's Elvis' daughter, after Lisa Marie Presley was spotted serving up deep-fried treats on a mobile motor called Mr Chippy. The 44-year-old, offspring of Elvis and actress Priscilla, donned an apron and cooked battered cod for the locals. Kim Scales, who owned the business, said: "Lisa Marie likes to see how we live and experience British life. We were laughing because the customers didn't know who she was. She really enjoyed it." The singer, had moved to the quaint village of Rotherfield, East Sussex, two years ago from Los Angeles. The notion was that she wished to adopt a lower profile and ease back on her connections to Scientology so fled to England . . . . . . . Rotherfield being some 15 miles from Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead where their Headquarters in the UK are. Just saying . . . . 
Daily Mail article citing her attempt to escape the clutches of the LA based religion

"well-informed sources in the U.S. told me this week, because she is involved in an increasingly acrimonious attempt to escape the clutches of the American-based Church of Scientology"

which as I have hinted is ironic (ahem) 

it was originally thought that Lisa Marie had moved to Sussex to be close to the British Scientology HQ, Saint Hill Manor, near East Grinstead, which is just a few miles from her home.

2015 - The Beatles

The original contract signed by The Beatles and manager Brian Epstein sold at Sotheby's for £365,000, ($548.000). The 1962 document was said to be one of the most important contracts in popular music, marking the beginning of the band's journey to international fame.

2018 - Otis Rush 

American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Otis Rush died from complications of a stroke aged 84. His distinctive guitar style featured a slow-burning sound and long bent notes. His first single, ‘I Can't Quit You Baby’, in 1956 reached No.6 on the Billboard R&B chart. Two of his other best-known songs, are ‘Double Trouble’ and ‘All Your Love (I Miss Loving).’

and how I first heard it . . . . .

the master blues historian and institution John Mayall and the legendary Peter Green

BIRTHDAYS

1994 - Halsey

American singer and songwriter Ashley Nicolette Frangipane known professionally as Halsey. Halsey achieved success with the release of 'Closer' (2016), a collaboration with The Chainsmokers. The song topped the charts in over 10 countries including the US and UK. Okay so now we're posting people born in the Nineties! I like it and she is AWFUL easy on the eye . . . . . . 

1981 - Suzanne Shaw

English actress, singer and television personality Suzanne Shaw who with Hear'Say had the 2001 UK No.1 single, 'Pure and Simple'.

Hear Say with Shaw on the left

Shaw became a regular in the lads mags like FHM here

1968 - Matt & Luke Goss

Twin brothers Matt and Luke Goss from English pop band Bros who had the 1988 UK No.1 single 'I Owe You Nothing' plus 10 other UK Top 40 singles. Come into recent fame again after an hysterical documentary film After the Screaming Stops charting their relationship and their dysfunctional interactions and often unintentionally hilarious exchanges a sort of cross between Spinal Tap meets  Smash Hits!

1967 - Brett Anderson

Brett Anderson, singer, songwriter from English alternative rock band Suede, who had the 1994 UK No.3 single 'Stay Together'. After Suede disbanded in 2003, he briefly fronted The Tears, and has released four solo albums. Amyl Nitrate the poundland of substance abuse . . . . . . . 

1939 - Tommy Boyce

Tommy Boyce, singer, songwriter. 1968 US No 8 single with Bobby Hart, 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite'. Wrote 'Last Train To Clarksville', 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' and 'Scooby-Doo Where Are You.' Sold over 40m records. Boyce committed suicide on 23rd November 1994.

1935 - Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis, US singer, keyboards, (1958 UK No.1 & US No.1 single 'Great Balls Of Fire', 1957 multi million seller 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On').

It took me a while to discover his country songs but boy when I did . . . . . . some classic cuts and remember . . . . . .No-one cuts the killer!

1930 - Billy Strange

American singer, songwriter, guitarist Billy Strange who was a session musician with the famed Wrecking Crew. He appeared on hit songs for Elvis Presley, including 'A Little Less Conversation', Nancy and Frank Sinatra's 'Somethin' Stupid' and worked with The Ventures, Willie Nelson, The Everly Brothers, Wanda Jackson, The Beach Boys, Randy Newman, and Nat King Cole, among others. He died on February 22, 2012, aged 81. Just the best name in modern music history EVER! 

He rarely sang and I really don't know why. His guitar sound was and sounds incredibly old fashioned now but he was on more singles and cuts from albums than almost any other player at the time

Enjoy!

1907 - Gene Autry

Gene Autry, America's singing cowboy. During his career Autry scored 25 successive Top 10 Country hits. He died on 2nd October 1998 aged 91. I loved all that early 'cowboy schtick and played endless games of 'Cowboys and Indians' always curriously identifying with Jay silver heals over the lone ranger but all of played to a soundtrack of Gene Autry in the background

this led me to the Louvin Brothers, The Singing Brakeman: Jimmie Rodgers and Wayne Raney and my ultimate favourites the Delmore Brothers taking that red ball to Natchez, yessuh!

Night all and Happy Trails

Thanks to On This Day In Music