Pages

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

This day in music history

1961, The Beatles appeared at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, for the very first time (as The Beatles), they would go on to make a total of 292 other appearances at the Club.

1963, Paul and Paula started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles charts with 'Hey Paula', it made No.8 in the UK.

1964, The Beatles made their US live debut on CBS-TV's 'The Ed Sullivan Show'; they performed five songs including their current No.1 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' watched by an estimated 73 million people. The show had received over 50,000 applications for the 728 seats in the TV studio.

1967, Canadian conductor Percy Faith died aged 67. He scored the 1953 hit 'Song from the Moulin Rouge' and 1960 US No.1 'Theme From A Summer Place', nine weeks at No.1, which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1961.

1974, The Love Unlimited Orchestra went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Love's Theme', it made No.10 in the UK.

1981, American singer Bill Haley was found dead, fully clothed on his bed at his home in Harlington, Texas from a heart attack, Haley had sold over 60 million records during his career. Scored the 1955 UK & US No.1 single 'Rock Around The Clock', and became known as the first Rock 'n' Roll star. Haley was blinded in his left eye as a child due to a botched operation and later adopted his distinctive spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from his blind eye.

1985, Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Know Him So Well.' The song was taken from the musical Chess, written by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson from Abba. It gave Benny and Bjorn their 10th No.1 as writers.

1985, Madonna started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Like A Virgin', a No.3 hit in the UK.

1987, Winners at this years Brit awards held in London included Peter Gabriel who won British Male Solo Artist, Kate Bush won British Female Solo Artist, Best British Group went to Five Star, British Album was Dire Straits 'Brothers In Arms', British Breakthrough Act was The Housemartins, International Solo Artist went to Paul Simon, The Bangles won Best International Group, Best British Video went to Peter Gabriel for 'Sledgehammer' and Best British Single was The Pet Shop Boys for 'West End Girls'.

1991, Jesus Jones went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their second LP 'Doubt.'

1998, Brit Award winners included All Saints best single and video with 'Never Never', The Verve, best group and album with 'Urban Hymns', best male artist was Finley Quaye, best female was Shola Ama and Stereophonics won the best newcomers.

2002, Billboard published the Top 5 selling albums in the world from 2001: Britney Spears’ 'Britney', $7m (£4.1m); Shaggy’s 'Hotshot', $7.2m £4.24m); Destiny’s Child’s 'Survivor', $7.8m (£4.6m); Linkin Park’s 'Hybrid', $8.5m (£5m) and Dido’s 'No Angel', $8.6m (£5.06m) sales.

2005, Winners at this years Brit Awards included The Streets who won Best British male solo artist, Joss Stone won British female solo artist, Best British Album went to Keane for ‘Hopes and Fears’, Franz Ferdinand won Best British Group and Best Rock Act, McFly won Best Pop Act, Scissor Sisters won Best International group and the Best Album award the Brits 25 best song award went to Robbie Williams for ‘Angels’ and Sir Bob Geldof won the Outstanding Contribution To Music award.

2009, Ringo Starr became the 2,401st person to be added to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame during a ceremony that marked the 50th anniversary of the attraction. The Beatles as a group were given a star in 1998.

1939, Born on this day, Barry Mann, US singer, songwriter. Wrote many early 60's pop hits including 'Saturday Night At The Movies', 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling', 'Walking In The Rain'. Also had the 1961 US No.7 solo single 'Who Put The Bomp, In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp.'

1940, Born on this day, Brian Bennett, Drums, The Shadows, (1963 UK No.1 single 'Foot Tapper' plus 28 other UK Top 40 singles. Plus hits with Cliff Richard).

1942, Born on this day, Carole King, US singer, songwriter, wrote many songs with Gerry Goffin, (1962 UK No.3 & US No.22 single, 'It Might As Well Rain Until September'. Her 1970 US No.1 album 'Tapestry' has sold over 15 million copies. Became a Grammy award winner in 71.

1960, Born on this day, Holly Johnson, vocals, Big In Japan, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, (1984 UK No.1 & US No. 10 single 'Relax' and six other UK Top 40 singles). Solo, (1989 UK No.4 'Love Train' & 1989 UK No.1 album 'Blast').

1963, Born on this day, Dave Rotheray, guitar, The Beautiful South, (1990 UK No.1 single 'A Little Time' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles).

No comments:

Post a Comment