This day in music history

1956, Elvis Presley appeared on American TV's 'Stage Show' and performed 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Blue Suede Shoes.'

1969, The Monkees set a new record when their second album, 'More Of The Monkees' jumped from No.122 to the top of the US chart. The album then stayed in pole position for eighteen weeks.

1985, The Police won Outstanding Contribution to British music at the fourth annual Brit Awards held in London. Other winners included Prince for best International Act and Best Soundtrack for Purple Rain, British Single was Frankie Goes To Hollywood ‘Relax’, British Video was Duran Duran for ‘Wild Boys’, British Comedy Recording Neil ‘Hole In My Shoe’, British Album went to Sade for ‘Diamond Life’, British Male Solo Artist was won by Paul Young, British Female Solo Artist, Alison Moyet and Best British Group went to Wham!

1987, The Smiths were at No.1 in the UK indie charts with 'Shoplifters Of The World Unite.'

1989, New Order scored their first UK No.1 album with 'Technique.'

1989, Paula Abdul started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Straight Up', the first of three No.1's in 1989, a No.3 hit in the UK.

1992, Motley Crue fired their singer Vince Neil when he turned up for rehearsals, claiming that he had lost his passion for the band and was now more involved with racing cars.

2001, Dido started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'No Angel.'

2001, Outkast went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Mrs Jackson', a No.2 hit in the UK.

2003, The British Phonographic Industry reported its biggest sales decline in decades, with the biggest slump in a single year since the birth of the CD market in the early 1980s. Piracy, illegal duplication and distribution by international criminals of CD's were all blamed for the decrease.

2007, Mika went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his debut album 'Life In Cartoon Motion.'
2009, Ronettes singer Estelle Bennett died at her home in Englewood, N.J. She was 67. The 60's girl group best known for their work with producer Phil Spector had the 1963 hit ‘Be My Baby’ which epitomized the famed "wall of sound" technique.

1935, Born on this day, Gene Vincent, (born Eugene Craddock), US rock ‘n’ roll singer with His Blue Caps who had a 1956 US No.7 & UK No.16 single with ‘Be Bop A Lula’. He died on October 12th 1971.

1939, Born on this day, Gerry Goffin, (songwriter of over 20 US hits with Carol King, including The Shirelles 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow', The Drifters 'Up On The Roof', The Chiffons, 'One Fine Day', Herman's Hermits, 'I'm Into Something Good').

1953, Born on this day, Alan Rubin, The Blues Brothers, (1990 UK No.12 single 'Everybody Needs Somebody To Love').

1963, Born on this day, Sheryl Crow, US singer, songwriter, (1994 US No.2 & UK No.4 single 'All I Wanna Do', 1993 album 'Tuesday Night Music Club'). Worked as a backing singer on the Michael Jackson 'Bad' tour.

1977, Born on this day, Mike Shinoda, guitar, vocals, Linkin Park, (2002 US No.2 & UK No.4 single 'In The End', 2002 US No.2 & 2001 UK No.4 album 'Hybrid Theory').