This day in music history

1957, Elvis Presley bought the Graceland mansion from Mrs Ruth Brown-Moore for $102,500. (£60,295). The 23 room, 10,000 square foot home, on 13.8 acres of land, would be expanded to 17,552 square feet of living space before the king moved in a few weeks later. The original building had at one time been a place of worship, used by the Graceland Christian Church and was named after the builder's daughter, Grace Toof.


1958, The Champs started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Tequila', a No.5 hit in the UK.

1962, The Shadows started an eight week run at No. 1 in the UK with the single 'Wonderful Land' the bands third No.1.

1966, The Walker Brothers had their second UK No.1 with the single 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore', (originally recorded by Frankie Valli).

1968, The Bee Gees made their US television debut when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.

1979, Gloria Gaynor started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Will Survive.' The song was originally released as the B-side to a song first recorded by The Righteous Brothers called 'Substitute.'

1979, The Bee Gees went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Spirits Having Flown.'

1997, US singer Jermaine Stewart died of cancer. (1986 UK No.2 single 'We Don't Have To...Take Our Clothes Off'). Also worked with Shalamar, The Temptations and Boy George.

2002, Nickelback started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Silver Side Up.'

2002, The Soundtrack album ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart.

2008, Ola Brunkert, the former drummer with the Swedish group Abba, was found dead with his throat cut at his home in Majorca, Spain. Brunkert died after he hit his head against a glass door in the dining room at his home. He was found dead in his garden after trying to seek help. The 62 year old musician had played on every Abba album and had toured with the group.

1919, Born on this day, Nat King Cole, singer, (1955 US No.2 single 'A Blossom Fell', 1957 UK No.2 single 'When I Fall In Love' plus over 20 other US & UK Top 40 singles). Father of singer Natalie Cole. Cole died of lung cancer on February 15th 1965.

1941, Born on this day, Clarence Collins, Little Anthony and The Imperials, (1958 US No.4 single 'Tears On My Pillow'), song gave Kylie Minogue a UK No.1 in 1990.

1941, Born on this day, Paul Kantner, guitar, Jefferson Airplane, (1967 US No.18 single 'White Rabbit').

1944, Born on this day, John Sebastian, The Lovin Spoonful, (1966 UK No.2 single 'Daydream', and 1966 US No.1 single 'Summer in The City'), solo (1976 US No.1 single 'Welcome Back').

1944, Born on this day, Pat Mcauley, Them, (1965 UK No.2 & US No.24 single 'Here Comes The Night').

1951, Born on this day, Scott Gorham, guitar, Thin Lizzy, (1973 UK No.6 single 'Whisky In The Jar', 1976 US No.12 single 'The Boys Are Back In Town').

1967, Born on this day, Billy Corgan, vocals, guitar, Smashing Pumpkins, (1995 US No.1 album 'Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness', 1996 UK No.7 & US No.36 single 'Tonight Tonight').

1972, Born on this day, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Hole, (1995 UK No.16 & US No.58 single 'Doll Parts').

1973, Born on this day, Caroline Corr, drums, vocals, The Corrs, (1998 UK No.3 single 'What Can I Do'. 'Talk On Corners' was the best selling UK album of 1998 spending 142 weeks on the UK chart).

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