This day in music history

1955, Bo Diddley has his first recording session at Universal Recording Studio in Chicago, where he layed down ‘Bo Diddley’, which went on th top the US R&B chart by the following June.

1960, after completing his national service and flying back to America, Elvis Presley stepped on British soil for the first and only time in his life when the plane carrying him stopped for refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Scotland.

1961, The Everly Brothers had their third UK No.1 single with 'Walk Right Back' a song written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets.

1963, The Four Seasons became the first group to have 3 consecutive No.1's in the US when 'Walk Like A man', started a three week run at the top, a No.12 in hit the UK.

1974, at this year’s Grammys Stevie Wonder won four awards: Album of the year for 'Innervisions', Best R&B song and Best vocal for ‘Superstition’ and Pop vocal performance for ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life’.

1974, Terry Jacks started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Seasons In The Sun', also No.1 in the UK. The song (written in French by Belgian, Jacques Brel), had English lyrics by poet Rod McKuen.

1977, The Jam played the first of a five-week Wednesday night run at The Red Cow, Hammersmith, London. The group had just signed a four-year recording contract with Polydor records.

1983, a new digital audio system, a five-inch compact disc containing up to 1 hour of music was launched by Sony, Philips and Polygram.

1985, The Smiths were at No.1 on the UK indie charts with 'How Soon Is Now.' Soho had a No.8 UK hit with 'Hippy Chick.' a song based on a guitar sample from the song.

1985, Wham! started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Make It Big', which eventually went on the sell over 5 million copies in the US.

1991, 21 years after it's first release 'All Right Now', by Free made No.2 in the UK singles chart after being re-issued to coincide with its use in a Wrigleys Chewing gum TV ad.

1991, French singer Serge Gainsbourg died of a heart attack. Famous for his 1969 UK No.1 duet with Jane Birkin on 'Je t'aime... Moi non plus.' During his career, he wrote the soundtracks for more than 40 films.

1991, Madonna's 'Rescue Me', entered the US hot 100 at No.15, making her the highest- debuting female artist in rock history. The record had been held by Joy Llayne whose 1957 single 'Your Wild Heart', entered the chart at No. 30.

1991, Mariah Carey started an 11-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with her debut 'Mariah Carey.'

1996, Oasis scored their second UK No.1 single when 'Don't Look Back In Anger' went to No.1. From the bands 'What's The Story Morning Glory' album it was the first Oasis single to feature Noel on lead vocals instead of his brother, Liam Gallagher.

1997, Mansun went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut album 'Attack Of The Grey Lantern.'

1999, Dusty Springfield died after a long battle against cancer, aged 59. The British singer had her first UK hit single in 1963 with ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, which reached No.4, the 1966 UK No.1 & US No.4 single with 'You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles.

2002, the NME published the winners from this years Carling Awards: Band of the year went to The Strokes, Album of the year, The Strokes for 'Is This It', Best live act was U2, Single of the year went to Ash for 'Burn Baby Burn' and Best solo artist was won by Ian Brown.

2003, 50 Cent started a nine week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'In Da Club.'

2003, Norah Jones started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut album ‘Come Away With Me.’ The album spent over a year on the chart and was also a US No.1.

2003, singer, songwriter Hank Ballard died from throat cancer. Wrote and recorded ‘The Twist,’ but it was only released on the B-side of a record. One year later, Chubby Checker debuted his own version of ‘The Twist’ on Dick Clark's Philadelphia television show. It topped the charts and launched a dance craze that prompted the creation of other Twist songs, including ‘Twist and Shout’ by the Isley Brothers and ‘Twistin' the Night Away’ by Sam Cooke.

2007, Jimi Hendrix was crowned the 'wildest guitar hero' of all-time in a poll of music fans for Classic Rock magazine. Hendrix beat Keith Richards into second place, with Stevie Ray Vaughan in third. Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page made it to number four, followed by Dimebag Darrell, who played for several heavy metal bands including Pantera and Damageplan.

2008, Canadian guitarist, singer, Jeff Healey, died of cancer. Healey lost his sight to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes when he was eight months old, resulting in his eyes being surgically removed. After living cancer-free for 38 years, he developed sarcoma in his legs. Despite surgery for this, the sarcoma spread to his lungs and ultimately was the cause of his death. Healey released over 12 albums, presented a long running radio show and worked with many artists including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, BB King, ZZ Top, Steve Lukather, Eric Clapton and Ian Gillan.

2008, Three months after its initial release, the deluxe edition of Amy Winehouse's Grammy Award-winning album 'Back to Black' went to No.1 on the UK album chart.

1938, Born on this day, Lawrence Payton, vocals, The Four Tops, (1965 US No.1 single with ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ and a 1967 UK No.6 single with ‘Standing In The Shadows of Love’). Payton died on June 20th 1997.

1943, Born on this day, Lou Reed, Velvet Underground, (1968 'White Light, White Heat'), solo, (1973 UK No.10 & US No.16 single 'Walk On The Wildside', 1997 UK No.1 charity single 'Perfect Day').

1943, Born on this day, Tony Meehan, drummer, The Shadows, (1963 UK No.1 single 'Foot Tapper' plus 28 other UK Top 40 singles). Meehan died on 28/11/05 aged 62 from head injuries sustained in a fall.

1948, Born on this day, Rory Gallagher, Irish blues guitarist, who had a 1970 UK No.18 album with 'On The Boards/Taste'. Gallagher died on June 14th 1995.

1950, Born on this day, Karen Carpenter, vocals, drums, The Carpenters. (1973 UK No.2 single 'Yesterday Once More' plus 3 US No.1's including 1975 US No.1single 'Please Mr Postman'. 1974 UK & US No.1 album 'The Singles 1969-1973 spent 125 weeks on the UK chart). She died on February 4th 1983 of anorexia nervosa.

1955, Born on this day, Jay Osmond, The Osmonds, (1971 US No.1 single 'One Bad Apple', 1974 UK No.1 single 'Love Me For A Reason' plus 9 other US & UK Top 40 singles).

1956, Born on this day, Mark Evans, bass, AC/DC. He quit in 1977 after becoming tired of touring.

1962, Born on this day, Jon Bon Jovi, vocals, solo, (1990 UK No.13 single 'Blaze Of Glory'), Bon Jovi, vocals, (1987 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Livin' On A Prayer',
1986 US & UK No.1 album 'Slippery When Wet', plus nine other UK Top 10 albums).

1977, Born on this day, Chris Martin, piano, guitar, vocals, Coldplay, (2000 UK No.4 single 'Yellow', 2000 UK No.1 album 'Parachutes' and the 2005 worldwide No.1 album ‘X&Y').