This day in music history

1976, 33 year-old Keith Relf, former lead singer for The Yardbirds, was electrocuted while tuning a guitar which was not properly earthed. The accident happened in his West London home where he was found by his eight year old son, still holding the plugged-in electric guitar. The Yardbirds had the hits 'For Your Love', 'Heart Full of Soul', and 'Shapes of Things'.

1977, Leo Sayer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager song 'When I Need You', the singers second US No.1, also No.1 in the UK.

1983, Spandau Ballet scored their first and only UK No.1 album with 'True.' The title track from the album spent four weeks at No.1 on the UK singles charts and reached No.2 in the US. Other singles from the album included 'Gold' (a No.2 UK hit and a Top 30 hit in the U.S.), 'Lifeline', and 'Communication'.

1988, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Anything For You', a No.10 hit in the UK.

1988, Led Zeppelin reunited for the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary party at Madison Square Garden, New York, appearing with Jason Bonham the son of John Bonham on drums. Other acts performing included Foreigner, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Genesis, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Wilson Pickett and Ben E. King.

1993, During an auction at Christies in London the acoustic guitar that Elvis Presley used to make his first recordings in 1954, ‘That's All Right Mama’ and ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’ sold for £130,285, ($152,000). And four 'Super Hero', Costumes worn by the group Kiss sold for £20,000, ($35,385).

2000, Tom Jones was at 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.

2006, Red Hot Chili Peppers started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Stadium Arcadium’ the bands ninth studio album, also a US No.1.

1936, Born on this day, Bobby Darin, (1959 US & UK No.1 single 'Mack The Knife', plus 20 other US Top 40 hits). He died on 20th December 1973.

1943, Born on this day, Jack Bruce, bass, vocals, Graham Bond Organization, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann, Cream, (1967 UK No.11 single 'I Feel Free',
1968 US No.5 single 'Sunshine Of Your Love'). West, Bruce and Laing.

1946, Born on this day, Gene Cornish, The Young Rascals, (1967 US No.1 and UK No.8 single 'Groovin').

1946, Born on this day, Lek LecKenby, guitar, Herman's Hermits, (1964 UK No.1 single 'I'm Into Something Good', 1965 US No.1 single 'Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter'). He died on 4th June 1994.

1952, Born on this day, David Byrne, guitar, vocals, Talking Heads, (1983 US No.9 single 'Burning Down The House', 1985 UK No.6 single 'Road To Nowhere'), Solo (2002 UK No. 2 single with X-Press, 'Lazy').

1953, Born on this day, John Rutsey, drummer and founding member of Rush. Died May 11, 2008.

1962, Born on this day, C.C. Deville, Poison, (1988 US No.1 & 1989 UK No.13 single 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn').

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