Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence

Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band which formed in 1980, in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan (lead vocals), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, vocals, chief songwriter after 1981), Andy Fletcher (keyboards) and Vince Clarke (keyboards, chief songwriter 1980–81).

Vince Clarke left the band after the release of their 1981 debut album, Speak & Spell, and was replaced by Alan Wilder (keyboards, drums) with Gore taking over songwriting. Wilder left the band in 1995 and since then Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher have continued as a trio.

Depeche Mode have had forty-eight songs in the UK Singles Chart and #1 albums in UK, US and throughout Europe. According to EMI, Depeche Mode have sold over 100 million albums and singles worldwide, making them the most successful electronic band in music history. Q magazine call Depeche Mode "The most popular electronic band the world has ever known".

One of the most influential groups over the last 30 years, Depeche Mode have inspired generations of new musicians while consolidating their considerable reputation. In the process they have played to audiences in excess of 30 million.
Depeche Mode influenced many of today's popular recording artists, in part due to their recording techniques and innovative use of sampling.

"Enjoy the Silence" is Depeche Mode's twenty-fourth UK single, released on 5 February 1990, and the second single from the then upcoming album Violator.
As it is one of Depeche Mode's most well-known songs to date, it has been recorded as a cover version by many other artists, including Breaking Benjamin, Keane, Tori Amos, Lacuna Coil, Nada Surf, scala, Entwine, Failure, It Dies Today, Evergreen Terrace, Tanghetto, The Academy Is... with Cobra Starship, Anberlin, HIM, Matthew Good, Bell X1, Apoptygma Berzerk, and No Use for a Name. Today, many people consider this as Depeche Mode's signature song.

The single is Gold certificated in the US and Germany. The song won Best British Single at the 1991 BRIT Awards.

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This day in music history

1960, The Nerk Twins appeared at The Fox And Hounds in Caversham, Berkshire. The Nerk Twins being John Lennon and Paul McCartney staying at Paul's aunt's pub.

1963, The Rolling Stones appeared at The Station Hotel, Richmond, Surrey, England.

1964, Peter and Gordon were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Lennon & McCartney song 'A World Without Love.' The Duo's only UK No.1.

1969, The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Get Back' the group's 16th UK No.1.

1971, The Rolling Stones released their classic album, 'Sticky Fingers' in the UK. The album made No.1 in the UK and the US and was the bands first release on Atlantic records. The cover a pair of jeans with a working zip was designed by Andy Warhol who was paid £15,000 for the art work.

1976, The Ramones released their eponymous debut album. On the same day The Sex Pistols played The Nashville Rooms, London supporting The 101'ers who featured Clash vocalist Joe Strummer.

1977, Adam And The Ants made their debut at the Roxy Club, London.

1977, Joan Jett supported by Blondie appeared at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles.

1983, David Bowie started a three week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the Nile Rodgers produced 'Let's Dance', featuring the title track which made No. 1 on the US and UK singles chart and 'China Girl.'

1983, Dexy's Midnight Runners went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Come On Eileen' the group's only US No.1.

1988, Iron Maiden went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son', their second No.1 LP.

1988, Roy Orbison celebrated his 52nd birthday at a Bruce Springsteen concert, during which the audience sang happy birthday to him.

1988, Whitney Houston smashed a chart record held by The Beatles and The Bee Gees when 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go', became her seventh consecutive US No.1, a No.14 hit in the UK.

1989, Kylie Minogue was seen on British TV for the first time in the Australian soap opera 'The Henderson Kids.'

1991, Founder member of The New York Dolls Johnny Thunders (John Anthony Genzale, Jr), died of a drug overdose. He renamed himself Johnny Thunders, after a comic book of the same name. The influential New York Dolls formed in 1972 and made just two albums. A teenage Morrissey acted as president of the UK branch of the New York Dolls fan club. Formed The Heartbreakers with Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan, and Television bassist Richard Hell.

1936, Born on this day, Roy Orbison, singer, songwriter, who had a 1964 UK & US No.1 single with ‘Pretty Woman’ plus over 20 US & 30 UK Top 40 singles. With the Traveling Wilburys he had a 1988 UK No.21 single with ‘Handle With Care’. Orbison died on December 6th 1988.

1939, Born on this day, Ray Peterson, US singer, (1960 US No.7 single 'Tell Laura I Love Her').

1955, Born on this day, Ray Burns, (Captain Sensible), The Damned, (1983 UK No.3 single 'Eloise') solo (1982 UK No.1 single 'Happy Talk').

1960, Born on this day, Steve Clark, guitarist with Def Leppard, who had a 1987 UK No.6 single with ‘Animal’, a 1987 worldwide No.1 album with Hysteria and a 1988 US No.1 single with ‘Love Bites’. Clark died on January 8th 1991, aged 30 after a night of heavy alcohol consumption combined with prescription drugs.

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Bruce Springsteen - My Hometown

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949), nicknamed "The Boss", is an American singer-songwriter,widely known for his brand of Heartland rock, poetic lyrics, and Americana sentiments centered on his native New Jersey.

Bruce Springsteen draws on many musical influences from the reservoir of traditional American popular music, folk, blues and country. From the beginning, rock and roll has been the dominant influence.

Often described as cinematographic in their scope, Springsteen's lyrics frequently explore highly personal themes such as individual commitment, dissatisfaction and dismay with life in a context of every day situations.It has been recognized that there was a shift in his lyrical approach starting with the album "Darkness on the Edge of Town", in which he focused on the emotional struggles of working class life.
Springsteen's recordings have included both commercially accessible rock albums and more sombre folk-oriented works. His most successful studio albums, Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A., showcase a talent for finding grandeur in the struggles of daily American life.

He has sold more than 65 million albums in the United States and 120 million worldwide and he has earned numerous awards for his work, including 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award.

Born in the U.S.A. is the seventh studio album by Springsteen, released on June 4, 1984. A popular and commercial triumph, it found Springsteen marking a departure in his sound. While the predecessor, the dark and acoustic Nebraska featured songs of pessimism and isolation, Born in the U.S.A.'s lyrics expressed signs of hope in the daily fight of the standard American in following the American Dream, a new feeling complemented by synthesized arrangements and a pop-flavored, radio-oriented sound that helped Springsteen to extend his popularity and appeal to mainstream audiences.

"Born in the U.S.A." was the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States (and also Springsteen's most successful album ever). The album produced a record-tying string of seven Top 10 singles (the most for an album in history tied with Michael Jackson's Thriller and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814) and also a worldwide concert tour (the two-year Born in the U.S.A. Tour) that was a success.

"My Hometown" is a single by Bruce Springsteen off his Born in the U.S.A. album, that was the record-tying seventh and last top 10 single to come from it, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It also topped the U.S. adult contemporary chart, making the song Springsteen's only #1 song on this chart to date. The song is a synthesizer-based, low-tempo number that features Springsteen on vocals.

The song’s lyrics begin with the speaker’s memories of his father instilling pride in the family’s hometown. While it first appears that the song will be a nostalgic look at the speaker’s childhood, the song then goes on to describe the racial violence and economic depression that the speaker witnessed as an adolescent and middle-aged man. The song concludes with the speaker’s reluctant proclamation that he plans to move his family out of the town.

Some of the song's images reference the recent history of Springsteen's own hometown of Freehold Borough, New Jersey, in particular the racial strife in 1960s New Jersey and economic tensions from the same times.

The music video for "My Hometown" was a straightforward video filming of a performance of the song at a Springsteen and E Street Band concert late in the Born in the U.S.A. Tour, eschewing fast-paced cutting for slower montages of Springsteen and various band members. Despite its lack of visual excitement, it still managed substantial MTV airplay.

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Paul Simon – Graceland

Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles charts, "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", and "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

In 1970, at the height of their popularity, the duo split, and Simon began a successful solo career, recording three highly-acclaimed albums over the next five years. In 1986, he released Graceland, an album inspired by South African township music that helped fuel the anti-apartheid movement. Besides music, Simon wrote and starred in the film One Trick Pony in 1980 and co-wrote the Broadway musical The Capeman in 1998.

Through his solo and collaborative work, Simon has earned 13 Grammys, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2001, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2006 was selected as one of the "100 People Who Shaped the World" by Time magazine. Among many other honors, Simon was named the first recipient of the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2007.

Graceland is the seventh studio album by Paul Simon, released in August 1986. It was a hit, topping the UK Album Chart, and reaching number three on the US Billboard 200. The album won the 1986 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, while the title song won the 1987 Grammy for Record of the Year. In 2007, the album was added to the United States National Recording Registry, along with another 24 significant recordings that year.

Graceland features an eclectic mixture of musical styles including pop, a cappella, isicathamiya, rock, and mbaqanga. Much of the album was recorded in South Africa, and it features many South African musicians and groups. Simon faced accusations that he had broken the cultural boycott imposed by the rest of the world against the apartheid regime in South Africa, which was in its final years at the time. This view was not supported by the United Nations Anti-Apartheid Committee, as the album showcased the talents of the black South African musicians while offering no support to the South African government. The worldwide success of the album introduced some of the musicians to global audiences of their own. Simon included American 'roots' influences with tracks featuring Zydeco and Tex-Mex musicians.

Graceland" is the title song of the album Graceland. The song features vocals by The Everly Brothers. The lyrics deal with the singer's thoughts during a road trip to Graceland after the failure of his marriage to actress and author Carrie Fisher. In the Graceland Classic Albums video, Simon states that he considers "Graceland" the best song he has ever written.It was the lowest-charting song on any of the world music charts that has won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year until the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss US non-charting song Please Read the Letter won the same award in 2009.

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Michael Jackson - Thriller

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, dancer, singer-songwriter, musician. Referred to as the King of Pop, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The eighth child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971.

In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool, and the popularity of these videos helped to bring the relatively new television channel MTV to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made him a staple on MTV in the 1990s.

Through stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style have influenced numerous hip hop, pop, contemporary R&B, and rock artists.

Jackson's 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time. His other records, including Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and History (1995), also rank among the world's best-selling. Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Some of his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards (as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award); 26 American Music Awards (more than any other artist, including the "Artist of the Century"); 13 number-one singles in the United States in his solo career (more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era); and the estimated sale of over 750 million records worldwide. Jackson won hundreds of awards, which have made him the most-awarded recording artists in the history of music.

He was also a notable humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and raising hundreds of millions of dollars for beneficial causes and supporting more than 39 charities. Aspects of Jackson's personal life, including his changing appearance, personal relationships, and behavior, have generated controversy.

While preparing for his concert series This Is It, Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after suffering from cardiac arrest. Before his death, Jackson had mistakenly been administered drugs including propofol and lorazepam. The Los Angeles County Coroner declared his death a homicide, and his personal physician pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter. Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief, and as many as one billion people around the world reportedly watched his public memorial service on live television. In March 2010, Sony Music Entertainment signed a US$250 million deal with Jackson's estate to retain distribution rights to his recordings until 2017, and to release seven posthumous albums over the decade following his death.

"Thriller" is a song recorded and composed by Rod Temperton. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album Thriller. It was released on January 23, 1984 by Epic Records. It was produced by Quincy Jones. The song, which has a voice-over rap from actor Vincent Price, had originally been titled "Starlight".
"Thriller" received positive reviews from critics, though the song was outshone by its music video.

"Thriller" became Jackson's seventh top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart from the album, while reaching the top of the charts in France and Belgium and the top ten in other countries.

"Thriller" was adapted into a highly successful music video, known independently as "Michael Jackson's Thriller". At fourteen minutes the video is substantially longer than the song, which ties together a narrative featuring Jackson and actress Ola Ray in a setting heavily inspired by horror films of the 1950s. In the video's most iconic scene, Jackson leads other actors costumed as zombies in a choreographed dance routine. Though it garnered some criticism for its occult theme and violent imagery, the video was immediately popular and received high critical acclaim, being nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards in 1984 and winning three. In 2009 it was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, the first music video ever selected.

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This day in music history

1957, Elvis Presley had his custom built ‘Music Gates’ installed at Gracelands. The gates were designed by Abe Saucer and custom built by John Dillars Jr, of Memphis Doors inc.

1965, The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Ticket To Ride.' Taken from the film Help! it was the group's seventh UK No.1.

1966, 'Wild Thing' by The Troggs (who were originally called The Troglodytes) was released in the U.S. on both the Atco and Fontana labels. The song went on to reach No.1. Fronted by Reg Presley, 'Wild Thing' became a major influence on garage rock and punk rock.

1966, Two dozen local group's appeared at a “battle of the bands” gig in Matawan Keyport Roller Drome in New Jersey. All acts performed three songs each. The Rogues won first place, second was Sonny & The Starfires, and third place went to The Castiles, (with Bruce Springsteen on vocals). The three winners were given an opportunity to perform at the Roller Drome the following week as part of a major concert headlined by The Crystals.

1972, Deep Purple scored their second UK No.1 album with 'Machine Head.'

1977, The Jam released their first single 'In The City', which peaked at No. 40 in the UK charts. They achieved 17 other Top 40 hits including four UK No.1s.

1978, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd made their first ever appearance as The Blues Brothers when they appeared on US TV's 'Saturday Night Live'.

1989, Madonna started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Like A Prayer', the singers seventh US No.1, also a No.1 in the UK.

2003, Songwriter Felice Bryant died of cancer. Wrote many hits with her husband Boudleaux including; The Everly Brothers, 'Bye Bye Love', 'All I Have To Do Is Dream', 'Wake Up Little Susie' and 'Raining In My Heart' a hit for Buddy Holly. Other acts to record their song include Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Tony Bennett, Simon & Garfunkel, Sarah Vaughan, Grateful Dead, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Dean Martin, Ruth Brown, Cher, R.E.M. and Ray Charles.

2008, It was revealed that 60’s singer Tommy Steele took Elvis Presley on a secret tour of London in 1958 after Presley struck up a friendship with Steele. When the rock legend flew into London for a day, Steele apparently took him round the city, showing him famous landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament. For more than 50 years, Presley fans had believed the only time Elvis ever set foot in the UK was during a stop-over at Prestwick Airport in Scotland in March 1960.

1922, Born on this day, Jazz musician and bandleader Charles Mingus, died 5th January 1979 aged 56. His final project was collaboration with Joni Mitchell 'Mingus.'

1936, Born on this day, Glen Campbell, country singer, songwriter, actor, TV presenter. As a session musician in the 1960s he worked with Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, The Monkees, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Velvet Underground, Frankie Laine, The Association, Jan & Dean and The Mamas & the Papas. He was a touring member of The Beach Boys, filling in for an ailing Brian Wilson in 1964 and 1965. His guitar playing can be heard on ‘Strangers in the Night’ by Frank Sinatra, ‘You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'‘ by The Righteous Brothers and ‘I'm a Believer’ by The Monkees.

1944, Born on this day, Drummer Howard Wyeth, Worked with Bob Dylan, Don McLean, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell. He died of a heart attack 27th March 1996.

1950, Born on this day, Peter Frampton, guitar, vocals, The Herd, (1968 UK No.5 single 'I Don't Want Our Loving To Die'), Humble Pie, (1969 UK No.4 single 'Natural Born Bugie') & solo, (1976 UK No.10 single 'Show Me The Way'). Worked with David Bowie, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson.

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Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. First staged on Broadway in 1971, it highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus.

The opera is based very loosely on the Gospels' account of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the Crucifixion. The resurrection is not included.

The work's depiction offers a free interpretation of the psychology of Jesus and the other characters. A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas, who is depicted as a tragic figure who is dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus steers his disciples. Twentieth-century attitudes and sensibilities as well as contemporary slang pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events. Stage and film productions accordingly feature many intentional anachronisms.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 American film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera of the same name, based on the conflict between Judas and Jesus in the last weeks before the crucifixion of Jesus.

The film was directed by Norman Jewison. Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson were nominated for two Golden Globe Awards in 1974 for their portrayals of Jesus and Judas, respectively.

Although it attracted criticism from some religious groups, the film was generally well received and was the eighth highest-grossing film of that year.

A second film adaptation was released in 2000, starring Glenn Carter as Jesus, Jérôme Pradon as Judas, Renee Castle as Mary Magdalene and Rik Mayall as Herod. The film was directed by Gale Edwards and Nick Morris, and won an Emmy in 2001 for Best Performing Arts film. The style of the film is more like the stage version than the location-based 1973 adaptation, and used many of the ideas from the tour from around that time. Several members of the film's cast, including Carter, later went on to the Broadway production after shooting the film.

" The above text is a mashup from Wikipedia."

Superstar (Carl Anderson )

"Superstar" is the title song from the film. It is sung by the spirit of Judas Iscariot, where he questions why Jesus chose to arrive in the manner that he did and if what happened to him was truly part of a divine plan.

Although it may be considered accusatory, it is dominated by the repetitive apologies of Judas for questioning ("Don't you get me wrong", "I only want to know"). Along with "I Don't Know How to Love Him", it is the most well-known song from this production.

It was released as a single in 1970, before the album was completed. Sung by Murray Head with the Trindad Singers, it reached #78 on first release. Murray Head reached #14 in the U.S. with a single version in 1971.

" The above text is a mashup from Wikipedia."

I Don't Know How to Love Him (Yvonne Elliman)

"I Don't Know How to Love Him" is a torch ballad sung by the character of Mary Magdalene who in Jesus Christ Superstar is presented as bearing an unrequited love for the title character.

I Don't Know How to Love Him is among the highest profile songs to originate in a late twentieth century stage musical.

Elliman performed "I Don't Know How to Love Him" when she played the Mary Magdalene role first in the Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar which opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre 12 October 1971, and then in the movie version.

Her version of "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from the movie soundtrack gave Elliman a hit in in Italy (#21) in 1974. Latterly Elliman has performed "I Don't Know How to Love Him" when she's revisited her Mary Magdalene role firstly at a Jesus Christ Superstar concert by the University Of Texas at El Paso Dinner Theatre staged 14 April 2003, and then for a live-in-concert one-night only performance of Jesus Christ Superstar on 13 August 2006 at the Ricardo Montalban Theater in Los Angeles.

" The above text is a mashup from Wikipedia."

Everything's Alright (Yvonne Elliman)

In ‘Everything's Alright’, Mary Magdalene--along with the wives of the married apostles--comforts Jesus, while Judas and Jesus contend about the use of expensive ointment.

The song is musically notable for its 5/4 time signature, similar to Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" (bah bap b' bah doot doo).

Yvonne Elliman, who played Mary Magdalene on the original cast album of Jesus Christ Superstar and in the Broadway and film versions, released a single of "Everything's Alright" in 1971, which reached #92 on the Billboard pop charts.

" The above text is a mashup from Wikipedia."

In Heaven On Their Minds (Carl Anderson)

In Heaven On Their Minds Judas talking about how he has doubts about the rise of Christianity, believing that Jesus is just a man and not actually God.

He is not portrayed as an evil man, but just a man unsure of what position Jesus' whole "King of the Jews" thing would leave the Jews in, in the long run.


An interesting part of the lyrics is the following :

"Listen Jesus, do you care for your race? Don't you see we must keep in our place?
We are occupied Have you forgotten how put down we are? I am frightened by the crowd
For we are getting much too loud. And they'll crush us if we go too far"

" The above text is a mashup from Wikipedia."

This day in music history

1962, Elvis Presley started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Good Luck Charm', his fifth US No.1 of the 60's. Also an UK No.1 hit.

1969, Janis Joplin appeared at The Royal Albert Hall, London, (her first London appearance). The opening act was Yes.

1973, Alice Cooper went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Billion Dollar Babies.' Also a No.1 album in the UK.

1978, UK folk singer Sandy Denny died aged 31. While on holiday with her parents in Cornwall, England, Denny was injured in a fall down a staircase. A month after the fall she collapsed at a friend's home; four days later she died in Hospital, her death was ruled to be the result of a traumatic mid-brain hemorrhage. She was a member of Fairport Convention and a solo artist. Her 1967 song 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes', was covered by Judy Collins. Denny sang on the Led Zeppelin track 'Battle Of Evermore' on the bands fourth album, (the only guest vocalist on a Led Zeppelin album).

1982, Clash frontman Joe Strummer disappeared for three weeks, which resulted in the group cancelling a tour. The singer was found living rough in Paris, France.

1984, Phil Collins started a three week run at No.1 in the US singles chart with the theme from 'Against All Odds'. It was Phil's first US No.1, a No. 2 in the UK.

1984, The film soundtrack to 'Footloose' went to No.1 on the US album chart.

1990, Fleetwood Mac scored their fourth UK No.1 album with 'Behind The Mask.'

1990, Paul McCartney played in front of 184,000 fans at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Jnaeiro, creating a new world record for the largest crowd attending a rock concert.

1990, Sinead O'Connor started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with her version of the Prince song 'Nothing Compares To You'. The track was also a No.1 hit in 18 other countries. The video was shot in Paris, and consists almost solely of a closeup on O'Connor's face as she sings the lyrics. Towards the end of the video, two tears roll down her face. The clip won Best Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards – the first video by a female artist to win in this category.

2000, Neal Matthews of The Jordanaires died of a heart attack. Sang on Presley's 'Don't Be Cruel' and 'Hound Dog.' Also worked with Ricky Nelson, Patsy Cline, Red Foley, Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, George Jones, Marie Osmond, Tom Jones and Merle Haggard.

2002, Oasis went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hindu Times', the bands sixth UK No.1 and the first single to be released from their fifth album Heathen Chemistry.

1947, Born on this day, James Osterberg, (Iggy Pop), The Stooges, solo, 1986 UK No.10 single 'Real Wild Child').

1947, Born on this day, Alan Wagner, The Foundations, (1967 UK No.1 single 'Baby Now That I've Found You'. 1969 US No.3 single 'Build Me Up A Buttercup'.)

1948, Born on this day, Paul Davis, singer, (1982 US No.6 single '65 Love Affair').

1959, Born on this day, Michael Timmins, guitar, Cowboy Junkies, (1989 album 'The Trinity Session').

1959, Born on this day, Robert Smith, guitar, vocals, The Cure, (1989 US No.2 single 'Love Song', 1992 UK No.6 single 'Friday I'm In Love', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles).

For more musical feats & facts, you can visit thisdayinmusic.com

Diana Ross - Do You Know Where You’re Going To

Diana Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway.

She received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her role as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), for which she won a Golden Globe award. She won 8 awards American Music Awards, garnered twelve Grammy Award nominations, and won a Tony Award for her one-woman show, An Evening with Diana Ross, in 1977.

In 1976, Billboard magazine named her the "Female Entertainer of the Century." In 1993, the Guinness Book of World Records declared Diana Ross the most successful female music artist in history due to her success in the United States and United Kingdom for having more hits than any female artist in the charts with a career total of 18 number one records in the United States. Diana Ross has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Ross is one of the few recording artists to have two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—one as a solo artist and the other as a member of The Supremes. In December 2007, she received a John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Honors Award.

Mahogany is a 1975 film, directed by Motown founder Berry Gordy (taking over after British director Tony Richardson was dismissed from the film), Mahogany stars Diana Ross as Tracy Chambers, a poor African-American woman who rises to become a popular fashion designer in Rome.

The film includes a Ross-sung theme song, "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)", which became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. It held the number-one spot for one week (January 18–January 24, 1976). "Theme from Mahogany", written by Michael Masser and Gerald Goffin and produced by Masser, was the best-reviewed element of Mahogany and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song was later covered by Mariah Carey in 1998 and Sony Music labelmate Jennifer Lopez the following year.

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Barbra Streisand - Evergreen

Barbra Joan Streisand (born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award.

She is one of the most commercially and critically successful entertainers in modern entertainment history, with more than 71.5 million albums shipped in the United States and 140 million albums sold worldwide.

She is the best-selling female artist on the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) Top Selling Artists list, the only female recording artist in the top ten, and the only artist outside of the rock and roll genre. Along with Frank Sinatra, Cher, and Shirley Jones, she shares the distinction of being awarded an acting Oscar and also recording a number-one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

According to the RIAA, Streisand holds the record for the most top ten albums of any female recording artist - a total of 31 since 1963. Streisand has the widest span (46 years) between first and latest top ten albums of any female recording artist. With her 2009 album, Love Is the Answer, she became one of the only artists to achieve number-one albums in five consecutive decades. According to the RIAA, she has released 51 Gold albums, 30 Platinum albums, and 13 Multi-Platinum albums in the United States.

"Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" is the theme song from the 1976 film A Star Is Born. It was composed and performed by Barbra Streisand with lyrics by Paul Williams. The song was released on the soundtrack album to A Star Is Born.

Streisand earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song, her second Oscar overall, as composer of the song. With "Evergreen", Streisand earned a Grammy Award for Song of the Year as well. She and Williams also won Golden Globes in the category of Best Original Song for the song.

On the US music charts, the single spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and six weeks atop the easy listening chart. This was Streisand's second number-one song on the Hot 100 (following "The Way We Were" in 1974), and her third on the adult contemporary chart ("The Way We Were" and 1964's "People").

In 1997, the track appeared in the tribute album Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute.

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Karen Carpenter - Rainy Days and Mondays

Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances.

She suffered from anorexia nervosa, a little known eating disorder at the time, and died at the age of 32 from heart failure, later attributed to complications related to her illness.

From 1965 to 1968, Karen, her brother Richard and his college friend Wes Jacobs, a bassist and tuba player, formed The Richard Carpenter Trio. The band played jazz at numerous nightclubs and recorded many demo which were constantly rejected.

Finally, in April 1969 A&M Records signed the Carpenters to a recording contract. Karen Carpenter sang most of the songs on the band's first album, Offering (later retitled Ticket to Ride). The issued single (later the title track), which was a cover of a Beatles song, became their first single: it reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. Their next album, 1970's Close to You, featured two massive hit singles: "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun." They peaked at #1 and #2, respectively, on the Hot 100.

Karen Carpenter started out as both the group's drummer and lead singer, and she originally sang all her vocals from behind the drum set. Eventually, she was persuaded to stand at the microphone to sing the band's hits while another musician played the drums, although she still did some drumming.

After the release of Now & Then in 1973, the albums tended to have Karen singing more and drumming less. Karen rarely selected the songs she would sing, and often felt she had very little control over her life. She dieted obsessively and developed anorexia nervosa. At the same time, her brother Richard developed an addiction to Quaaludes.

The Carpenters frequently cancelled tour dates, and they stopped touring altogether after their September 4, 1978, concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In 1981, after the release of the Made in America album (which turned out to be their last), the Carpenters returned to the stage and did some tour dates, including their final live performance in Brazil.

"Rainy Days and Mondays" is a 1971 song by The Carpenters that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It was also the duo's fourth #1 song on the Adult Contemporary singles chart . The song was composed in 1971 by then fairly unknown composers Roger Nichols and Paul Williams. It was released as the first track on the album Carpenters. The B-side on the single is "Saturday." Olivia Newton-John, one of Karen's best friends, recorded a cover version of this song in her album Indigo: Women of Song as a tribute to Karen.

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This day in music history

1957, Elvis Presley started an eight week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'All Shook Up.' It went on to be the biggest single of 1957 selling over 2 million copies.

1968, Deep Purple made their live debut in Tastrup, Denmark.

1979, Lighting director Billy Duffy was killed in an accident during a Kate Bush concert in Southampton, England. 21-year old Duffy fell twenty feet through an open trap door on the stage. Kate Bush held a benefit concert on 12th May with Peter Gabriel and Steve Harley at London's Hammersmith Odeon for his family.

1981, John Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to drug possession charges; the sentence was suspended after 30 days. Phillips started touring the US lecturing against the dangers of taking drugs.

1985, The charity record 'We Are The World' by USA For Africa was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. The US artists' answer to Band Aid had an all-star cast including Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Ray Charles, Billy Joel and Paul Simon plus the composer's of the track, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.

1991, Steve Marriott leader of Small Faces and Humble Pie, died in a fire at his home in Essex. His work became a major influence for many 90's bands. Small Faces had the 1967 UK No.3 & US No.16 single 'Itchycoo Park', plus 1968 No.1 UK album 'Ogden's Nut Gone Flake', Humble Pie, 1969 UK No.4 single 'Natural Born Bugie'. As a child actor he played parts in Dixon of Dock Green and The Artful Dodger in Oliver.

1993, Aerosmith released the album ‘Get a Grip’, which became their first album to debut at No.1. It went on to sell 7 million copies in a 2-year timespan in the United States alone and sold 20 million copies worldwide as well as winning the band two Grammy awards.

1997, The Chemical Brothers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their album 'Dig Your Own Hole.'

1939, Born on this day, Johnny Tillotson, singer, (1960 US No.2 and 1961 UK No.1 single 'Poetry In Motion').

1945, Born on this day, Jimmy Winston, organ, Small Faces, (left in Nov 1965).

1951, Born on this day, Luther Vandross, soul singer, (1989 UK No.13 single 'Never Too Much', first released 1983, US N0.10 and UK No.2 single with Janet Jackson 'The Best Things In Life Are Free'). Also worked with David Bowie, Mariah Carey. Vandross died on 1st July 2005 aged 54 two years after suffering a major stroke.

1971, Born on this day, Mikey Welsh, bass, Weezer, (1995 UK No.12 single, 'Buddy Holly').

1972, Born on this day, Stephen Marley, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, (1988 UK No.22 single 'Tomorrow People').

For more musical feats & facts, you can visit thisdayinmusic.com

Gianni Morandi - In ginocchio da te

Gianni Morandi (born December 11, 1944) is an Italian pop singer and entertainer.
He made his debut in 1962 and quickly placed high at or won a number of Italian popular song festivals, including the Canzonissima festival in 1969.

In 1970, he represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest with "Occhi di ragazza". His career went into a decline in the 1970s but underwent a revival in the 1980s. He won the Festival of Sanremo in 1987, placed second in 1995 and third in 2000.

It is estimated that Morandi has sold 30 million recordings. His songs "In ginocchio da te", "Non son degno di te" and "Scende la pioggia" were certified as having each sold over one million copies, and were awarded gold discs. He has written a number of autobiographical books and appeared in 18 films. In TV he played Claude Jade's husband Davide in the 1984 TV series Voglia di volare.

Gianluigi Morandi was born in a little village called Monghidoro on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. His father Renato was active within the Italian Communist Party and Gianni used to help him sell the party newspapers. At an early age Morandi worked as a shoe-shiner, cobbler and as a candy vendor in the village's only cinema. His vocal abilities led him to a number of small gigs, some of which were during the Communist Party’s activities.

In 1962 he was signed by RCA Italiana and achieved national stardom with the song "Fatti mandare dalla mamma", and remained Italy’s darling throughout that decade. During the 1970s he experienced a period of decline; however, he regained popularity during the 1980s and won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1987 with "Si può dare di più" together with Enrico Ruggeri and Umberto Tozzi. He also played as actor in several TV series, as well as the host in popular Italian television shows.

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Gino Paoli - Sapore di sale

Though he was born in Monfalcone, in Gorizia (near modern-day Slovenia and Croatia), as a young child Gino Paoli moved across Italy to Genoa, and it was that city with which he was associated and that he called his home.

In the 1950s he worked as a porter and a graphic designer before realizing it was music at which he was most talented. Singing in local bands, Paoli was discovered by Ricordi, and soon he was recording tracks for them.

In 1960 he released the first single written by him, "La Gatta," and in the next few years the songs that would come to define him -- "Il Cielo in una Stanza," "Vivere Ancora," "Sassi," "Sapore di Sale," "Sassi," the latter of which 300 versions were eventually recorded -- came out. He also spent his time working as a talent scout, helping the careers of both Lucio Dalla and Fabrizio De André get off the ground.

Despite his success, the '60s were tumultuous years for Paoli. An attempted suicide (that left shrapnel near his heart) and the suicide of his friend Tenco sent him into a deep depression, and he took a break from music for a while. He returned, however, in 1971 with Due Facce Dell'Amore, and 1974 saw one of his most beloved albums, I Semafori Rossi Non Sono Dio, a tribute to Spanish singer Joan Manuel Serrat.

A prolific composer, Paoli continued releasing nearly an album a year well into the 1990s, including 1988's L'Ufficio Delle Cose Perdute, 1991's Matto Come un Gatto, and 1994's King Kong. In 2002 he returned to the San Remo Festival with "Un Altro Amore," also found on his album Se. Two years later he released Ti Ricordi? No Non Mi Ricordo, a collection of 12 duets with onetime flame and longtime friend Ornella Vanoni.

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Adriano Celentano - Venti Quatro Mille Bacci

One of Italy's best-loved artists, Adriano Celentano has been equally successful in film and music. Whether singing Elvis Presley-inspired rock, as he did as a member of the Rock Boys in 1957, or romantic balladry, Celentano found a dedicated market for his music. Reaching the top of the Italian music charts with his debut single "Il Tuo Bacio e Come un Skirt" in 1959, he matched its success with the million-selling "24000 Baci (24,000 Kisses)" in 1961.

Celentano's albums have been similarly embraced. His debut album, Non Mi Dir, reached the top position of Italy's charts in 1965. His album Soli spent 58 weeks on the charts in 1978-1979. Although he left music for nearly two decades to focus on his career as an actor, Celentano later recaptured the momentum of his early career. His comeback album, Mina + Celentano, was a major hit in 1998 while his second album, Francamente Me Ne Infischio, based on the television-variety show that he agreed to host in 1999, spent several weeks at the top of Italy's album charts. Esco di Rado -- E Parlo Ancora Meno, the third album since Celentano returned to music, sold more than 600,000 copies before its release.

Celentano continued to balance his music career with his work in Italian cinema. As an actor, he made his theatrical debut in such movies as Dai, Johnny, Dai!, I Ragazzi del Jukebox, I Frenetici in 1959, and Fellini's classic La Dolce Vita in 1960. His subsequent screen appearances included roles in such films as The Sin, Rugantino, Give Me Five, Il Bisbetico Domato, and Segni Parsticolari: Bellissimo. Having made his debut as a producer and director with the 1974 film Yuppi Du, Celentano wen on to direct such films as L'atra Meta Del Cielo and Geppo Il Folle. His first long-term experience with television came in late 1987 when he agreed to host the variety show Fantastico 8.

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Jimmy Fontana - Il Mondo

Jimmy Fontana (born Enrico Sbriccoli, 13 November 1934, Camerino, Italy) is a famous Italian actor, composer and singer. One of his most famous songs is Che Sarà, performed also by José Feliciano and Ricchi e Poveri. His other hits include Non te ne andare (1963) and Il mondo (1965).

A lover of jazz, learned to play the bass and moved to Rome working with the Roman New Orleans Jazz Band, starting to sing, choosing the name d ' art Fontana Jimmy (Jimmy tribute to saxophonist Jimmy Giuffre, which he admired, while Fontana was chosen at random from the telephone directory).

In 1961 he participated for the first time in the Sanremo Festival in tandem with Miranda Martino with the song "Lady Moon", written by maestro Armando Trovajoli and Dino Verde.

In 1965 he achieved his greatest success with "Il Mondo", with lyrics by Gianni Boncompagni, music written in collaboration with Carlo Pes and arrangement edited by Ennio Morricone,