ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

December 22nd

1962 - Joe Meek

The Tornadoes started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Telstar'. Produced and written by Joe Meek it was the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in July 1962. Bought 'Telstar' when it came out

1962 - Bob Dylan

During his first visit to the UK Bob Dylan performed at the Singers Club in London, the singer songwriter's second UK gig.

Site of the Singers Club, Gray's Inn Road WC1

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles appeared at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool. This appearance was the second concert-only preview of their ‘The Beatles' Christmas Show’, which would open in London in two days. 

1967 - Jimi Hendrix

The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, The Who, Keith West and Tomorrow, The Animals, 1984 (featuring future Queen guitarist Brian May) and Soft Machine all appeared at The Olympia, London at an all night festival 'Christmas On Earth Continued'. The DJ was John Peel plus the venue featured a paddling pool, light shows and a movie theatre, tickets £1.

1973 - Elton John

Elton John started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', it also had a eight week run at No.1 on the US chart. The album contains the Marilyn Monroe tribute, 'Candle in the Wind', as well as three successful singles: 'Bennie and the Jets', 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', and 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting'.

1980 - Stiff Records

Stiff Records released an album in the UK called ‘The Wit and Wisdom of Ronald Reagan.’ The entire disc contained 40 minutes of silence. If it ain't stiff . . . . . . . . ?!

1984 - Madonna

Madonna started a six-week run at No.1 in the US charts with 'Like A Virgin', her first US No.1. Produced by Nile Rodgers, family groups sought to ban the song as they believed that the song promoted sex without marriage.

1987 - Nikki Sixx

Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue was pronounced 'dead on arrival' in an ambulance when his heart stopped beating for two minutes. Sixx was given two shots of adrenaline in his chest to revive him. Fellow band members were prematurely informed of his death.

1991 - James Brown

James Brown launched an unsuccessful lawsuit for $3 million against the producers of the movie The Commitments. ″It’s a fantastic movie and they did a fantastic job ... But I thought they just took advantage of a very humble and unknowledgeable man,″ Brown told The Washington Post 
″I was being taken, and the things that I would want to sell in the future I would not be able to sell if I continually let this kind of thing happen,″ Brown added.
The movie about an Irish soul band uses Brown’s performance of ″Please, Please Please″ from the 1965 ″T.A.M.I. Show.″
Brown’s music and persona appear ″throughout the film, without his permission or consent,″ says the suit by James Brown Enterprises

2000 - Madonna

Madonna married film director Guy Ritchie at Skibo Castle, Scotland. Celebrities attending the wedding included Jon Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Sting and fashion designers Donatella Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier and Stellla McCartney. The couple divorced in Nov 2008.

a rare smile from the groom and only after they divorced can we see Guy smiling relaxed and happy

2002 - Joe Strummer

Former Clash singer and guitarist Joe Strummer (John Graham Mellor) died of a suspected heart attack aged 50. Scored the 1979 UK No. 11 single 'London Calling', 1982 US No. 8 single 'Rock The Casbah, 1991 UK No.1 single 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go', first released 1982, plus 15 other UK Top 40 singles.  Strummer was also a member of the The Mescaleros.

2005 - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson was the most-searched name during 2005 according to Google, the singer topped a list of searches with people looking for pictures from her infamous ‘wardrobe malfunction’ at the 2004 Super Bowl when she exposed her right breast.. 

2008 - John Lennon

A cassette tape of a "drunk" John Lennon recording a cover version of a rock 'n' roll song sold at auction in Los Angeles for $30,000 (£20,200). The six-minute recording, made in autumn 1973, is of Lennon performing Lloyd Price's Just Because. "Debauched lyrics" improvised by "a drunk Lennon" include "just a little cocaine will set me right", and, "I wanna take all them new singers, Carol and the other one with the nipples, I wanna take 'em and hold 'em tight."

2009 - Michael Jackson

The FBI released 333 pages of documents compiled about Michael Jackson between 1992 to 2005. The files revealed that they made several investigations into death threats against him made by obsessed fans, alleged inappropriate involvement between Jackson and an underage male, as well as fears that he may have become the target for terrorists.

2010 - Abbey Road Zebra Crossing

The Abbey Road zebra crossing in north London, made famous after appearing on a Beatles album cover was given Grade II listed status. The crossing, the first of its kind to be listed, was being recognised for its "cultural and historical importance" following advice from English Heritage. The Beatles were photographed on Abbey Road in Ian Macmillan's iconic cover shot for the 1969 album Abbey Road.

2014 - Joe Cocker

Joe Cocker died of lung cancer in Crawford, Colorado aged 70. The Sheffield-born singer was known for his gritty voice, spasmodic body movement in performance and definitive versions of popular songs of varying genre. Cocker had a career lasting more than 40 years, with hits including his cover of The Beatles' 'With A Little Help From My Friends', 'You Are So Beautiful' and 'Up Where We Belong'. He was made an OBE in 2011. In the early Sixties Cocker was performing as Vance Arnold. The name was a combination of Vince Everett, Elvis Presley's character in Jailhouse Rock (which Cocker misheard as Vance); and country singer Eddy Arnold.

2016 - Beyonce

Beyonce's politically charged visual album Lemonade was the music critics' favourite album of the year. The record, which tackles themes of black empowerment and female identity, topped a "poll of polls" compiled by the BBC. It beat David Bowie's elegiac swansong Blackstar, which was released two days before his death in January.

BIRTHDAYS

1993 - Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor, American singer-songwriter who scored the 2014 world wide hit hit 'All About That Bass'. The song topped the national charts of 58 countries.

1972 - Vanessa Paradis

Vanessa Paradis, French singer, actress, (1988 UK No.3 single with 'Joe Le Taxi').

1957 - Ricky Ross

Scottish musician Ricky Ross, lead singer, songwriter, guitar, piano, with Deacon Blue who had the 1988 UK No.8 single 'Real Gone Kid', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles. Ross married fellow Deacon Blue singer Lorraine McIntosh on 12 May 1990. He currently presents Another Country with Ricky Ross on BBC Radio Scotland.

1949 - Maurice Gibb

Robin and Maurice Gibb, The Bee Gees singers, songwriters, producers, Robin was the eldest by 1 hour. (1967 UK No.1 single 'Massachusetts', 1978 UK & US No.1 single 'Night Fever', over 30 UK Top 40 hits and 9 US No.1's over 4 decades). Maurice died on 12th January 2003 of a heart attack. Robin died of cancer aged 62 on 20 May 2012.

1939 - James Gurley

James Gurley, guitarist with Big Brother and the Holding Company who with Janis Joplin had the 1971 US No.1 single 'Me And Bobby McGee', and the 1971 US No.1 album Pearl. Gurley died on December 20, 2009, from a heart attack two days before his 70th birthday.