This Day In Music History

1955, Alma Cogan was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Dreamboat'. Cogan went on to score over 20 UK Top 40 singles. Nicknamed ‘The Girl With the Laugh In Her Voice’, she was the highest paid British female entertainer of her era.

1964, The Beatles appeared live on the ABC Television program "Lucky Stars (Summer Spin)", performing ‘A Hard Day's Night’, ‘Long Tall Sally’, ‘Things We Said Today’ and ‘You Can't Do That’. To avoid the crowd of fans waiting for them, The Beatles arrived at the Teddington Studio Centre by boat, traveling down the River Thames.

1969, 'Space Oddity' by David Bowie was released in the UK for the first time. It was timed to coincide with the Apollo moon landing but had to be re-released before it became a hit, later in the year in the UK (but not until 1973 in the US).

1970, 'Self Portrait' gave Bob Dylan his fifth UK No.1 album.

1970, The soundtrack album 'Woodstock' started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.

1970, Three Dog Night started a two-week run at No.1 in the US with their version of the Randy Newman song 'Mama Told Me Not To Come', a No.3 hit in the UK.

1981, Cliff Richard started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Love Songs', his fifth No.1 album.

1981, The Specials had their second and final UK No.1 single with 'Ghost Town'. Despite being a song about Coventry, the band chose to film the video of themselves driving a Vauxhall Cresta around some empty London streets.

1987, Heart started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Alone', it made No.3 in the UK.

1996, Jonathan Melvoin keyboard player with the Smashing Pumpkins died from a drug overdose in New York City aged 34. Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin who was with Melvoin tried but failed to revive him after Chamberlin was allegedly advised by 911 operators to put Melvoin's head in the shower. Several songs were inspired by his death, including Sarah McLachlan's hit single 'Angel.' He was the brother of Susannah and Wendy Melvoin of Prince and the Revolution. Melvoin had also been a member of The Dickies.

1999, Ricky Martin started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Livin' La Vida Loca'. A US No.1 for 5 weeks. The song was the first No.1 song to be recorded, edited, and mixed totally on a DAW (digital audio workstation).

1999, Limp Bizkit started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Significant Other’ the bands first US No.1.

2009, The Black Eyes Peas ‘I Gotta Feeling’ started a 14-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart ending the 12-week run of the band’s previous single ‘Boom Boom Pow’. It made the band only the fourth to replace themselves at No.1 in chart history, following The Beatles, Boyz II Men, and OutKast.

1951, Born on this day, Bonnie Pointer, singer, The Pointer Sisters, (1984 UK No.2 & US No.5 single 'Automatic').

1954, Born on this day, Benny DeFranco, The DeFranco Family, (1973 US No.3 single 'Heartbeat-It's A Lovebeat', biggest selling US single of 73. Based on The Osmonds, featured 10 year-old Tony DeFranco).

1957, Born on this day, Pete Murphy, vocals, Bauhaus, (1982 UK No.15 single 'Ziggy Stardust'). Solo.

1959, Born on this day, Richie Sambora, guitar, Bon Jovi, (1986 us No.1 album 'Slippery When Wet' plus 5 UK No.1 albums. 1987 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Livin' On A Prayer').

1959, Born on this day, Susanne Vega, US singer, songwriter, (1990 UK No.2 single 'Tom's Diner', with DNA).

1966, Born on this day, Mel Appleby, (Mel and Kim, 1987 UK No.1 single 'Respectable').

1975, Born on this day, Lil' Kim, US singer, (Kimberly Jones), 1997 UK No.11 single 'Not Tonight', 2001 US & UK No.1 single with Christina Aguilera, Mya and Pink, 'Lady Marmalade').

1975, Born on this day, Rick McMurray, drums, Ash, (1995 UK No.11 single 'Girl From Mars', 1996 UK No.1 album '1977').