ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

February 20th

1959 - Jimi Hendrix

16 year old Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut when he played a show at the Temple De Hirsch Sinai synagogue in Seattle. There appears to be no official recording of this gig but suffice to say the legend began and his 'unorthodox' style apparently caused Jimi to be sacked half way through the set!

8 years later . . . . . 

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles drove through the night from Liverpool to London to appear on the live lunchtime BBC radio program "Parade of the Pops." Performing 'Love Me Do' and 'Please Please Me', the appearance lasted just over 4 minutes. They then drove another 180 mile trip back north for their performance that night at the Swimming Baths, Doncaster, Yorkshire.

1970 - John Lennon

The single 'Instant Karma!' by The Plastic Ono Band was released in the US. John Lennon had written, recorded and mixed the track all in one day on the 27th January 1970.

1972 - Chicory Tip

Chicory Tip were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Son Of My Father.' Interesting mostly because it was written by Giorgio Moroder, and it was the first UK number one single to prominently feature a synthesiser, in this case a Moog.

1976 - Kiss

All four members of Kiss had their footprints implanted on the pavement outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

1977 - Stevie Wonder

Winners at this years Grammy Awards included Stevie Wonder for Best album with 'Songs In The Key Of Life', and Best Vocal performance for 'I Wish.' Best album went to Chicago for 'Chicago X' and Best new artist went to the Starland Vocal Band.


1980 - Bon Scott

AC/DC singer Bon Scott was pronounced dead on arrival at a London hospital after a heavy night's drinking. Scott was found in the passenger seat of a friend's parked car. The official coroner's report stated that he had "drunk himself to death", after suffocating on his own vomit.

sadly it seems Bon was an alcoholic

1988 - Kylie Minogue

almost unrecognisably young!'88

Kylie Minogue was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Should Be So Lucky.' Minogue had become a household name playing Charlene Ramsey in Australian soap Neighbours. After every major UK record company turned down the track, producer Pete Waterman released the single on his own PWL label. Kylie has gone on to score over 30 hit singles.


1991 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the 33rd annual Grammy' Awards. 


2003 - Robbie Williams

Winners at this years Bit Awards included Robbie Williams for British solo artist, Ms Dynamite won British female artist, Best British album went to Coldplay for A Rush Of Blood, Best British group went to Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers won International Group, Blue won Best Pop Act and Liberty X won Best single for 'Just A Little.'

2004 - Brian Wilson

Brian with collaborator Van Dykae Parks behind the scenes at the Royal Albert Hall

Brian Wilson kicked off an 11-date UK tour at London's Royal Festival Hall. The shows saw Wilson performing the full suite of songs from his unreleased masterpiece 'Smile' Wilson's 'teenage symphony to God'.



2007 - Britney Spears

The US hair salon where pop star Britney Spears shaved her head set up a website to auction her hair for more than $1m (£512,500). The website, buybritneyshair.com, claimed to have been set up by salon owner Esther Tognozzi included photos of the hair, saying it was "absolutely authentic". As well as the hair, the winning bidder would also get the hair clippers Spears used, a blue lighter she left at the salon and the can of Red Bull she was drinking at the time. Meanwhile, Spears has been spotted in Hollywood sporting a short blonde wig. Shame! It's called mental health and you are profiteering from someone's struggles . . . . . . shame on you

not how most enter rehab . . . . 

2008 - The Rolling Stones

A 1976 Rolling Stones album bought for £2 at a car boot sale sold for £4,000 at an auction. The 'Black and Blue' LP was signed by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Paul and Linda McCartney and George Harrison as well as members of the Rolling Stones. The seller obtained the album after haggling the cost down from £3.

2008 - The Brit Awards

Winners at this year's Brit Awards in London, included Take That who won the trophies for best British live act and British single, The Arctic Monkeys won best British group and album - both for the second year in a row and Foo Fighters won best international group and album. Kate Nash won best British female and Mark Ronson was named best British male. Kylie Minogue won best international female and Mika was named best British breakthrough act. Sir Paul McCartney performed a medley of hits, including 'Live and Let Die', ‘Hey Jude’ and 'Lady Madonna' after he was honoured with an outstanding contribution award. The show was presented by Sharon Osbourne.






2010 - The Barbican
An event was staged at The Barbican in London where 40 zebra finches made music by landing on guitars and cymbals. The flock of finches would land on Gibson Les Paul guitars, which were plugged into amplifiers and land on upturned cymbals being used as bird feeders to make random sounds. A video clip of the installation, on YouTube had been watched more than 520,000 times. Hmmm . . . . . 

yes but is it ART?

BIRTHDAYS

1988 - Rihanna

Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty), Barbadian R&B singer who had 2007 world-wide No.1 single 'Umbrella' featuring Jay-Z. 'Umbrella' became the longest running UK No.1 in the 21st Century. The song debuted at No.1 on the chart based on digital sales alone. Rihanna has sold more than 20 million albums and 60 million singles which makes her one of the best selling artists of all time. She is the youngest solo artist in Billboard charts history to achieve eleven number-one singles. She is of course terribly pretty and seemingly enjoying her status and appears feisty and challenging. Which we like,  . . . . musically? Not quite so much . . . 

the only thing I would say is that (and I know I sound like a sad old man here . . . . . because I am one) and I know when modelling the sultry look is always fashionable but I do wish she would smile more . . . so beautiful when she smiles!

1985 - Volkova Olegovna

Volkova Olegovna, singer, with Russian music duo Tatu who had the 2003 UK No.1 single 'All The Things She Said' written by Sergio Galoyan, Trevor Horn, Martin Kierszenbaum, Valery Polienko and Elena Kiper, while production was by Hor which also topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland and other European countries. The duo represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song 'Ne Ver', Ne Boysia', finishing third. This the act that was accused of over sexualising and the music video caused considerable controversy in several nations because it depicted themes of underage lesbianism. Several organisations protested against the video and wanted the video banned, while some music stations removed the scenes featuring the girls kissing.

1972 - Neil Primrose

Neil Primrose, drummer with Scottish rock band Travis. Their 1999 UK album The Man Who spent nine weeks at No.1 on the UK Charts and one-hundred and thirty-four weeks in the top 100 of the chart. Travis had and 1999 UK No.10 single 'Why Does It Always Rain On Me', plus over 10 other UK Top 40 singles. Any excuse . . . . . . . 

1967 - Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain guitarist, singer, songwriter with Nirvana who had the 1991 hit 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. Their 1991 album 'Nevermind' spent over two years on the UK chart. During the last years of his life, Cobain struggled with heroin addiction, illness and depression. Cobain committed suicide on April 5th 1994. Cobain has been remembered as one of the most iconic rock musicians in the history of alternative music.

1966 - Ian Brown

Ian Brown, lead singer of the alternative rock band the Stone Roses who had the 1989 UK No.8 single 'Fool's Gold', taken from their 1989 self title album Brown had the the 1998 solo UK No.5 single 'My Star'. Brown is also known for a cameo role in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 

1953 - Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy, (Kristy Wallace), guitar, The Cramps. Wallace was married to Cramps singer Lux Interior who died in Glendale, California on February 4, 2009.

1951 - Randy California

Randy California, guitarist, singer with Spirit, who had the 1969 US No.25 single 'I Got A Line On You', and the 1981 UK No.40 album 'Potato Land'. He died on 2nd January 1997 when rescuing his 12 year-old son after he was sucked into a riptide in surf off Hawaii.

1950 - Walter Becker

Walter Becker, bass, guitar, vocals, songwriter with American group Steely Dan who had the 1973 US No.11 single 'Reeling In The Years' and nine other US Top 30 hits. Steely Dan's 'Two Against Nature' won a Grammy in 2001 for Album of the year. Becker has produced records for Rickie Lee Jones, China Crisis and Michael Franks. Becker died on 3 September 2017 aged 67.

1945 - Alan Hull

Alan Hull, guitarist, singer, songwriter with English group Lindisfarne who had the 1970s hit singles 'Meet Me on the Corner', 'Lady Eleanor and 'Run For Home'. Their album Fog on the Tyne became the biggest selling UK album in 1972. Hull also worked as a solo artist. He died of a heart attack on 17 November 1996.

1941 - Buffy Sainte- Marie

  Buffy by - Drpeterstockdale 

Buffy Sainte-Marie, Canadian singer, songwriter who had the 1971 UK No.7 single 'Soldier Blue'. She wrote 'Up Where We Belong' the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.7 for Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes. I first came across Buffy Saint-Marie's work through Donovan covering her 'Universal Soldier' and remained a fan ever since

indebted as always to This Day In Music . . .