This day in music history

1954, US record labels started to supply radio stations with 45rpm discs for the first time, replacing the 78 records.

1963, The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron" peaked at No.3 on the US singles chart. Produced by Phil Spector, who used a multi-track recording system to build the song layer upon layer to achieve a result that become known as a "wall of sound". Backing musicians include Glen Campbell on guitar, Leon Russell on piano, Hal Blain on drums and Nino Tempo on sax.

1967, Procol Harum were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale', the group's only UK No.1. In 2004 the song was named the most played record of the past 70 years. More than 900 recorded versions by other artists are known.

1967, The Beatles 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' went to No.1 in the UK. Costing £25,000 ($42,500) to produce the album was recorded over 700 hours of studio time. It was also the first album to print the lyrics on the sleeve. The album spent 27 weeks at No.1 on the UK chart.

1969, Founder member of The Rolling Stones Brian Jones announced that he was leaving the group, saying that he no longer saw 'eye to eye' with the rest of the band.

1974, Bill Wyman became the first Rolling Stone to release a solo album with 'Monkey Grip', (it peaked at No.39 in the UK and No.99 in the US).

1974, David Bowie started a four-week run at the top of the UK charts with his third No.1 album 'Diamond Dogs'.

1974, Dolly Parton was at No.1 on the US country chart with 'I Will Always Love You'. The Parton penned song later became a worldwide hit for Whitney Houston in 1992.

1974, Keyboard player Rick Wakeman announced that he was leaving Yes.

1974, Paul McCartney and Wings went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Band On The Run', his third solo US No.1, a No.3 hit in the UK.

1985, Tears For Fears started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World', the group's first US No.1.

1985, The Style Council scored their only UK No.1 album with 'Our Favourite Shop'.

1996, The Fugees scored their first UK No.1 single with their version of the Roberta Flack 1973 hit 'Killing Me Softly'. The song composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel in 1971 was inspired by Lori Lieberman's poem 'Killing Me Softly with His Blues', written having seen a performance by US singer, songwriter Don McLean.

2003, Evanescence started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Bring Me To Life.' The song won a Grammy Award in 2004 for the Best Hard Rock performance.

2003, Stereophonics scored their second UK No.1 album with ‘You Gotta Go There To Come Back.’

2003, Led Zeppelin were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘How The West Was Won’, the bands seventh US No.1 album.

2008, Paul Weller went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his ninth solo album ’22 Dreams.’

2008, Rolling Stone magazine published a list of the Top 50 guitar songs of all time. No.5 was ‘Brown Sugar’ by The Rolling Stones, No.4 , ‘You Really Got Me’ By The Kinks, No.3, ‘Crossroads’, by Cream, No.2 ‘Purple Haze’, by Jimi Hendrix and No.1 ‘Johnny B Goode’, Chuck Berry.

1940, Born on this day, Nancy Sinatra, US singer, actress, (1966 UK & US No.1 single 'These Boots Are Made For Walking'). With her father Frank she became the only father and daughter team ever to score a UK No.1 single with the 1967 hit 'Somethin' Stupid'.

1940, Born on this day, Sherman Garnes, Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers, (1956 UK No.1 and US No.6 single 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'). Garnes died February 26th 1977.

1944, Born on this day, Boz Scaggs, US singer, member of The Marksmen with Steve Miller, The Wigs, solo, (1976 US No.3 single 'Lowdown', 1977 US No.11 and UK No.13 single 'Lido Shuffle').

1947, Born on this day, Mick Box, guitar, Uriah Heep, (1975 UK No.7 album 'Return To Fantasy').

1953, Born on this day, Bonnie Tyler, singer, (1983 UK & US No.1 single 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart').

1953, Born on this day, Jeff Rich, drums, Status Quo, (1977 UK No.3 single 'Rockin' All Over The World', plus over 50 other UK Top 75 singles).

1960, Born on this day, Mick Hucknall, singer, songwriter, Simply Red, (1986 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Holding Back The Years', 1995 UK No.1 single 'Fairground' and 1991 UK No.8 single 'Stars', world-wide No.1 1991 album 'Stars').

1962, Born on this day, Nick Rhodes, keyboards, Duran Duran, (1983 UK No.1 single 'Is There Something I Should Know', plus 25 other UK Top 40 singles, 1984 US No.1 single 'The Reflex'), Arcadia, (1985 UK No.7 single 'Election Day').

1965, Born on this day, Rob Pilatus, vocals, Milli Vanilli, (1989 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Girl I'm Gonna Miss You'). He died of a drug and alcohol overdose on April 2nd 1998.

1977, Born on this day, Kayne West, US rapper, producer, worked with Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, and Ludacris. Solo, (2005 US No.1 single 'Gold Digger', 2005 US No.1 album 'Late Registration', 2007 World-wide No.1 album 'Graduation'