ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

November 23rd

1956 - Elvis Presley

Elvis and his friends

Sheet metal worker Louis Balint was arrested after punching Elvis Presley at a Hotel in Toledo. Balint claimed that his wife's love for Elvis had caused his marriage to break up. He was fined $19.60 but ended up being jailed because he was unable to pay the fine.

Elvis and Nick Adams

Why would anyone need a hoax story planted in the press to make them appear more macho? . . . . . . . Curious!

1962 - The Beatles

The Beatles travelled to St. James' Church Hall, London, for a ten-minute audition with BBC Television. The audition came about when Beatles fan, David Smith of Preston, Lancashire wrote to the BBC asking for The Beatles to be featured on BBC television. Assuming that Smith was The Beatles' manager, the BBC wrote back to him, offering The Beatles an audition. Smith brought his letter to NEMS Enterprises, and Clive Epstein (Brian's brother) arranged for audition to take place. Four days later, Brian Epstein received a polite "thumbs-down" letter from the BBC. Ha ha ha . . . not the only one with egg on their faces turning them down!

1974 - Billy Swan

One Hit Wonder Billy Swan started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Can Help'. The song was a hit throughout most of Europe and also reached No.1 in Australia. It was so successful in Norway that it charted for 37 weeks on the Norwegian charts making it the 4th best-performing single of all time in that country.

1974 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones scored their fifth US No.1 album with 'It's Only Rock 'N Roll'. The album which was the last Stones album for guitarist Mick Taylor peaked at No.2 in the UK.

1975 - Queen

Queen started a nine-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Bohemian Rhapsody. The promotional video that accompanied the song is generally acknowledged as being the first pop video and only cost £5,000 to produce. When the band wanted to release the single various record executives suggested to them that, at 5 minutes and 55 seconds, it was too long and would never be a hit.

1976 - Jerry Lee Lewis

Ten hours after his last arrest, Jerry Lee Lewis was nicked again after brandishing a Derringer pistol outside Elvis Presley's Graceland's home in Memphis, demanding to see the 'King'. When police arrived they found Lewis sat in his car with the loaded Derringer pistol resting on his knee.

1979 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd released 'Another Prick In The Wall (Part 2)' which rapidly topped the charts in the UK, followed by the US and a further 9 countries. Featuring children from Islington Green School in North London, close to Floyd's Britannia Row Studios, it was the group’s first UK single since Point Me At The Sky in 1968, and their first chart hit since See Emily Play in 1967.


1979 - Anita Pallenberg

Keith Richard's girlfriend Anita Pallenburg was cleared by a court of shooting a man found dead at her home. A 17-year-old, Scott Cantrell, had shot himself in the head with a gun owned by Keith Richards, while in Pallenberg's bed, at the South Salem, New York house shared by Richards and Pallenberg. Cantrell had been employed as a part-time groundskeeper at the estate and was involved in a sexual relationship with Pallenberg and it was said earlier they had been playing (sic) Russian roulette 

1985 - Joe Turner

American blues artist Big Joe Turner died of a heart attack aged 75. Wrote 'Shake Rattle and Roll', (a hit for Bill Haley and His Comets) and 'Sweet Sixteen.'


1991 - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson had his fourth UK No.1 single with 'Black or White' which featured Slash on guitar. Also a No.1 hit in the US.

possibly one of the few songs by Jackson I actually enjoyed . . . . . . 


1992 - Roy Acuff

American country music singer Roy Acuff died aged 89. Known as the "King of Country Music," he was the first living artist elected to the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Acuff started his career in 1932 working for Dr. Hauer's medicine show, hired as one of its entertainers to draw a crowd to whom Hauer could sell medicines.

1994 - Tommy Boyce

Tommy Boyce, singer, songwriter, committed suicide. (1968 US No. 8 single with Bobby Hart, 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite', also wrote 'Last Train To Clarksville', 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' and 'Scooby- Doo Where Are You.' Sold over 40m records.
A fourth Monkees song




1995 - Junior Walker

American soul singer and saxophonist Junior Walker died of cancer aged 64. Had the 1966 US & UK Top 20 single 'How Sweet It Is', and the 1969 US No.4 single 'What Does It Take, To Win Your Love'. Walker also played sax on Foreigner's 1981 hit ‘Urgent.’





I bought this and Roadrunner and Come See About Me when they came out . . . . . . who couldn't?!


2001 - O.C. Smith

Singer O.C. Smith died aged 65. Famous for his 1968 US No.1 single 'Little Green Apples' and 1968 UK No.2 single 'The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp'. Smith became pastor and founder of The City Of Angels Church in Los Angeles, California.


2002 - Otis Redding

Otis Redding's widow and his former manager filed a lawsuit against the author of a biography written in 2001 about the R&B legend, claiming the book was filled with lies. The lawsuit, filed in Atlanta's Fulton County, sought $15 million in damages and claimed that the book detailed rumors about the singer's drug use, extramarital affairs and divorce, causing "harm to the plaintiffs." It also cites rumors that Otis' manager plotted with the Mafia to kill Otis by causing the plane to crash in order to claim $1 million in life insurance.

2015 - Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift dominated the American Music Awards, winning three prizes, including album of the year and song of the year. One Direction were named favourite group and artist of the year, for the second year in a row and Ariana Grande was the surprise winner of best female, beating Taylor Swift.

2016 - Joe Esposito

Joe Esposito, a close friend and aide of Elvis Presley died at the age of 78. Esposito was Presley's professional assistant and a member of his inner circle, known as the "Memphis Mafia". He was one of two best men at the star's wedding to Priscilla in 1967 and a pallbearer at his funeral in 1977.

BIRTHDAYS

1992 - Miley Ray Cyrus

Instagram at the MTV awards

Miley Ray Cyrus, (born Destiny Hope Cyrus), American actress, singer and songwriter. Miley Stewart -Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel series, Hannah Montana. Scored the 2006 US No.1 album ‘Hannah Montana’, and the 2013 US No.1 hit 'Wrecking Ball'. I'm not too sure about Miley, paid no attention to her as Hannah and a kid not much post twerking scandal during the Pharrel Williams' Robin Thicke 'Blurred Lines'. She has self identified as pansexual and has a philanthropic streak founding  Happy Hippie Foundation and is proponent of marijuana which at the very least makes her of interest and there is clearly a brain at work here, she can also sing the heck out of most songs from her Godmother's songs (check Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' cover) to her most recent appearance at Glastonbury earlier this year. 
Girl can SING!

growing up . . . previously she looked like she could do with a good wash but youngsters grow I guess

1978 - Tommy Marth

American saxophone player Tommy Marth who worked with The Killers. On April 23, 2012, Marth's body was discovered in his Las Vegas, Nevada home with a gunshot wound to the head. The Clark County Coroner subsequently ruled that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted and the cause of death was suicide.

1954 - Bruce Hornsby

Bruce Hornsby, is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. He draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, gospel, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions. Hornsby has worked with his touring band Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers and his bluegrass project with Ricky Skaggs and has worked as a session and guest musician. His early band The Range had the massive hit 'The Way It is'. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1990 to March 1992, playing over 100 shows during that period. (1986 US No.1 & UK No.15 single 'The Way It Is').

He plays the piano like I do in my head!

1949 - Marcia Griffiths

Marcia Griffiths, singer, also called the "Queen of Reggae". With Bob Andy as a duo (Bob and Marcia), she had the 1970 UK hit with 'Young, Gifted and Black'. Earlier on she worked with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires and sang back u with a variety of reggae stars including Bob Marley which is how between 1974 and 1981, she was a member of the I Threes, a trio of backing singers, which supported Bob Marley & the Wailers. Griffiths was featured on the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals, which won the Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Trey Anastasio, Gwen Stefani / No Doubt, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Manu Chao, The Roots, Ryan Adams, Keith Richards, Toots Hibbert, Paul Douglas, Jackie Jackson, Ken Boothe, and The Skatalites

The I-Threes (Marcia on the right)

1939 - Betty Everett

Betty Everett, soul singer, (1964 US No. 6 single 'The Shoop Shoop Song, It's In His Kiss', 1965 UK No. 29 single 'Getting Mighty Crowded'). She died on 19th August 2001 aged 61.

with acknowledgements to This Day In Music