ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

November 5th

1956 - The Nat King Cole Show

"The Nat King Cole Show" debuted on NBC-TV in America. The Cole program was the first of its kind hosted by an African-American.

1960 - Johnny Horton

Country & western singer Johnny Horton was killed in a car crash. He had the 1959 US No.1 & UK No.16 single 'The Battle Of New Orleans'. I have a strange memory of this song and people singing it when I was quite young. Radio? Maybe but cover versions seemed to signify too. I find no trace of them at the time however. I was 7 years old . . . . . . 

1966 - The Monkees

The Monkees were at the top of the Billboard singles chart with ‘Last Train To Clarksville’, the group’s first No. 1. Bobby Hart who co-wrote the song got the idea for the lyrics when he turned on the radio and heard the end of The Beatles' 'Paperback Writer'. He thought Paul McCartney was singing "Take the last train", and decided to use the line when he found out McCartney was actually singing 'Paperback Writer'.


1967 - Robin Gibb

Bee Gee Robin Gibb was a passenger on a train which crashed in South East London in England killing 49 people and injuring 78. Robin was treated for shock after the accident.

1977 - Sex Pistols

The manager of the Virgin record store in Nottingham, England was arrested for displaying a large poster advertising the new Sex Pistols album, 'Never Mind The Bollock's, Here's The Sex Pistols'. High street stores banned the album after police warned they could be fined under the 1898 indecent advertising act.

1982 - The Tube

Channel 4 TV's The Tube had its first showing. Presented by Paula Yates and Jools Holland, the show featured The Jam and an interview with Mick Jagger. The first live act on the show was local band Toy Dolls. The show ran until 1987 and was named after the plexiglass tunnel which led down into Studio Five at Tyne Tees TV, the place where all the stars from the 80’s subsequently appeared.

1983 - Billy Joel

Billy Joel was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Uptown Girl', which stayed at the top of the chars for five weeks. The song was initially written about his relationship with his then-girlfriend Elle Macpherson, but it ended up also becoming about his soon-to-be wife Christie Brinkley (both women being two of the most famous supermodels of the 1980s).
I'm sorry? Elle MacPherson AND Christie Brinkley? You can go off people you know!


1983 - Nicholas 'Topper' Headon

'Topper Headon' of The Clash was arrested for walking his dog while drunk on London's Fulham Road. . . . . who DOES that?!

1986 - Bobby Nunn

Bobby Nunn of The Coasters died of heart failure in Los Angeles. The Coasters scored the 1958 US No.1 single 'Yakety Yak', 1959 US No.2 and UK No.6 single 'Charlie Brown' as well as 'Young Blood' and 'Poison Ivy'.

1988 - Beach Boys

The Beach Boys went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Kokomo', it peaked at No.25 in the UK. The track had been featured in the film Cocktail.

1988 - Kylie Minogue

'The Locomotion', became the first song to reach the US Top 5 in three different versions, when Kylie Minogue's reached No.3 on the US chart. Written by American songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the song is notable for appearing in the American Top 5 three times – each time in a different decade: for Little Eva in 1962 and for Grand Funk Railroad in 1974.

1994 - Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow scored her first UK Top 10 single when 'All I Wanna Do' entered the charts at No.4. The US singer songwriter went on to become the first US female to score six UK hits off her debut album 'Tuesday Night Music Club'.

1998 - Morrissey

Former Smiths singer Morrissey lost an appeal ruling that all band profits should have been split equally and faced a backdated payout to former Smiths member Mike Joyce estimated at £1million. O'Rourke the remaining member settle for £83,000 as a contribution as he had struggled with his lifestyle and needed the money. Joyce was awarded £230,000 and a future upped percentage of profits

Drummer Mike Joyce

2003 - Bobby Hatfield

Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers was found dead in hotel room in Michigan 30 minutes before he was due on stage, aged 63. The autopsy report from the Kalamazoo County Medical Examiner gave the opinion that Hatfield suffered a sudden, unexpected death due to acute cocaine toxicity. The Righteous Brothers had the 1965 UK & US No.1 single 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', and the 1990 UK No.1 single 'Unchained Melody' first released in 1965.

2005 - Link Wray

Guitarist Link Wray died aged 76. Wray was credited with inventing 'fuzz' guitar after punching a hole in a speaker giving him a distorted guitar sound. Famous for his 1958 US No.16 single 'Rumble' which was banned on several radio stations, on the grounds that it glorified juvenile delinquency. A rare feat for a song with no lyrics.

2010 - Keith Richards

Keith Richards' autobiography Life was at No. 1 on the New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Bestseller list. The book by The Rolling Stones guitarist went on to be a million seller.

2012 - UK Singles Chart

To mark the 60th anniversary of the UK singles chart the Official Charts Company published a chart which lists all the 123 songs that have sold more than a million copies since it began in 1952. Elton John was at No.1 with Candle In The Wind, No.2 was Band Aid with Do They Know It's Christmas? followed by Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody on 2.36million copies.

2013 - Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga split from Troy Carter, who had managed her since 2007. Carter was credited with masterminding some of Gaga’s success, including her massive social media audience. She had 60 million Facebook fans and was amongst the top figures on Twitter with 40 million followers.

2014 - Jack Bruce

Cream

The funeral for Jack Bruce was held in London, attended by Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and noted musicians Phil Manzanera, Gary Brooker, Vernon Reid and Nitin Sawhney among others. Dozens assembled at the Golders Green Crematorium paying a last tribute singing "Morning Has Broken", "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Theme for an Imaginary Western". The Scottish-born bass player and singer had died last month as a result of liver disease.

Re-union

Eric and Ginger

BIRTHDAYS

1974 - Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams, singer, songwriter, (2001 UK No.53 single 'New York, New York'). He was in a group called Whiskeytown, then went solo. His backing band is the Cardinals.

1971 - Jonny Greenwood

Jonny Greenwood, guitar, keyboards, Radiohead. Their 1993 debut single 'Creep' was initially unsuccessful, but it became a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, 'Pablo Honey'. Their 1997 album OK Computer appeared in many 1997 critics' lists and listener polls for best album of the year. Greenwood has begun a companion career writing film music orf great note.

1959 - Bryan Adams

Bryan Adams, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist, photographer, philanthropist and activist and thoroughly all round nice guy it would seem. Unpretentious and self effacing he is nearly multitalented. His first UK single 'Run To You', was a 1985 UK No.11. His 1991 UK & US No.1 single '(Everything I Do)', I Do It For You', spent a record breaking 16 weeks UK No.1, plus he has scored over 15 other UK Top 40 singles and 3 UK No.1 albums. Adams has garnered many awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations, and 15 Grammy Award nominations. 

1947 - Peter Noone

Peter Noone, singer with English beat rock band, Herman's Hermits who scored the 1964 UK No.1 single 'I'm Into Something Good' (cover of Earl-Jean's) and the 1965 US No.1 single 'Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter'. Noone clashed with Grham Nash on television and did not come off best as his reactionary and right wing beliefs held him up to ridicule during the documentary 'Inside Pop -- The Rock Revolution' a CBS News special, broadcast in April 1967. The show was hosted by Leonard Bernstein ...

1946 - Gram Parsons

Gram Parsons, US singer, songwriter. Member of The International Submarine Band, The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers. Released the 1973 solo album 'Grievous Angel.' Died on 19th September 1973 from a heroin overdose aged 26. There was controversy when his body was stolen and partially cremated out in the desert by associates Kaufman and Martin who were arrested for stealing the body when capers at Joshue Tree reported their nurning something suspicious in the desert near Joshua Tree where there is a memorial still to this day. The two had to pay for his burial in New Orleans

Gram Parson Mysterious Death and Burial - Rolling Stone magazine

1941 - Art Garfunkel

Art Garfunkel, singer, actor. With Paul Simon as Simon and Garfunkel they scored the No.1 hits 'The Sound of Silence', 'Bridge over Troubled Water' and 'Mrs. Robinson'. The 1970 album Bridge Over Trouble Water spent 307 weeks on the UK chart. He scored the solo, 1979 UK No.1 single 'Bright Eyes'.  In his acting work he starred in some fine movies from Catch 22, Carnal Knowledge Bad Timing and later 'Boxing Helena' with Jennifer Lynch

1931 - Ike Turner

Ike Turner, singer, (1966 UK No.3 single with Tina Turner, 'River Deep Mountain High', 1971 US No.4 single 'Proud Mary'). Turner died on 12th Dec 2007. Amongst nerds in the know it is now largely accepted that Turner played on possibly the first Rock 'n' Roll record of all time in Jackie Brenston's Rocket 88 (a reference to the piano - it having 88 keys although claims are made for it referencing the Oldsmobile 88 released in '49 I think it's about both and there is the additional double entendre aspect see Ry Cooder 'Every Woman I Know (Crazy About an Automobile'). It wasn't in itself unique and was inspired by the earlier R'n'B classic from Pete Johnson's "Rocket 88 Boogie" Parts 1 and 2. It was acknowledged as such however in 1991 as the first rock and roll record but Ike was in prison for cocaine offences and could not accept the award. The Ike Turner version is more a R'n'B shuffle blues still and only when Bill Haley did a version could it be said to be Rock 'N' Roll. There is dispute as ever with all these things and I begrudgingly accept Tina beater Turner played on it now but as to whether it is the 'first' we will continue to argue about. 

oh well . . . . . . . 

with thanks to On This Day in Music