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