Born on this day in 1931, Lonnie Donegan, singer who launched the skiffle craze. He had a 1960 UK #1 single with "My Old Man’s A Dustman," plus over 30 other UK Top 40 singles. He died on November 3rd, 2002.
Born on this day in 1945, Tammi Terrell, singer, who died of a brain tumour on March 16, 1970 after collapsing into Marvin Gaye's arms on stage during a duet of "That’s All You Need To Get By." Terrell had undergone eight brain operations in 18 months. She had had hits with Marvin Gaye, including the 1967 US #5 "Your Precious Love."
In 1960, Dick Clark told the US House of Representatives that he had never taken payola for the records he featured on his show "American Bandstand." Clark relinquished the rights to music publishing that he owned. The value of those rights, Clark indicated later, amounted to about $80 million.
On this day in 1962, "Soldier Boy" by the Shirelles was the #1 song.
In 1963, publicist Andrew Oldham and agent Eric Easton signed a management deal with The Rolling Stones after buying the rights to the bands first recordings for £90. They also persuade keyboard player Ian Stewart to drop out of the line up and become the bands road manager, (and still play piano at the back of the stage).
In 1965, Jimmy Nicol, the drummer who stood in for Ringo Starr during a Beatles Australian tour in 1964, appeared in a London Court faced with bankruptcy with debts of £4,000. Later in the year he would join the successful Swedish group, The Spotnicks, recording with them and twice touring the world. As for his eight show stint with The Beatles, Nicol would later say "Standing in for Ringo was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Until then I was quite happy earning thirty or forty pounds a week. After the headlines died, I began dying too."
In 1967, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Cindy Birdsong made her stage debut as a member of the Supremes, temporarily filling in for founding member Florence Ballard, whose battle with alcoholism was causing her to miss an increasing number of scheduled performances. Birdsong left the Bluebelles to join the Supremes as Ballard's official replacement in July 1967.
In 1967, Jimi Hendrix, the Walker Brothers, Engelbert Humperdink and Cat Stevens played two shows at Bournemouth Winter Gardens, England.
In 1967, the 14 hour Technicolour Dream benefit party for The International Times was held at Alexandra Palace in London. Seeing the event mentioned on TV, John Lennon called his driver and went to the show. Coincidentally, Yoko Ono was one of the performers. Other acts to appear included The Flies, Pink Floyd, Arthur Brown, The Move and Susie Creamcheese.
In 1969, bandleader/composer Duke Ellington celebrated his 70th birthday by being honored with the presentation of the Medal of Freedom, the US government's highest civilian honor.
In 1969, Ringo Starr added his vocal to "Octopus's Garden" for the forthcoming Beatles "Abbey Road" album. It was only the second time that one of Ringo's own compositions had been recorded by the band, the first being "Don't Pass Me By" in 1968.
In 1970, George Harrison told reporters that the Beatles would reunite eventually and announced plans for his first post-Beatles solo album.
In 1970, Rick Nelson and Doug Kershaw were guests on Johnny Cash's ABC-TV music variety show.
In 1971, concert promoter Bill Graham announced his plan to close both the east and west coast versions of his rock venue, the Fillmore.
In 1972, New York Mayor John Lindsay intervened in the immigration proceedings against John Lennon. Lindsay called attempts by the US government to deport Lennon "a grave injustice in light of Lennon's unique contributions to music and art." Lennon was granted permanent resident status in the US in 1976.
Also in 1972, a Detroit, Michigan band called Gallery enters the Billboard Hot 100 with "Nice To Be With You", which will rise to #4 during its 13 week run. They will follow with two more Top 20 hits, "I Believe In Music" (#22) and "Big City Miss Ruth Ann" (#23) over the next eight months.
In 1973, more than 15,000 people attending a rock concert by Elvin Bishop, Canned Heat, Buddy Miles and Fleetwood Mac are routed from a baseball stadium in Stockton, California, by police firing tear-gas canisters. More than 80 people, including 28 police officers, are hurt and fifty arrests are made.
In 1976, Bruce Springsteen, who was enjoying his first rush of fame and had just played a concert in Memphis, decided to catch a cab to Graceland. Noticing a light on at the house, he climbed the wall and ran to the front door. As he was about to knock, security guards interceded. He recalls asking, "Is Elvis home?" Answer: "No, Elvis isn't home, he's in Lake Tahoe." Springsteen attempted to impress the guards by saying he was a recording star and had recently made the covers of TIME and Newsweek, as he was politely escorted to the street.
In 1977, the Temptations, the most successful male vocal group of the 1960's and early '70s, left Motown Records after 17 years. They signed with Atlantic, but after recording two unsuccessful Disco albums, the Temps were later lured back to Motown by Berry Gordy Jr.
In 1977, the Kinks performed at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
In 1977, the Grateful Dead played the first of five nights at the New York Palladium, New York, NYC.
In 1979, Van Halen's "Dance The Night Away" single was released.
In 1981, in London at a Christie's auction house, Elton John paid $23,400 for 232 "Goon Show" radio scripts from programs that had been broadcast during the 1950s.
In 1988, Eric Clapton filed for a divorce from Patti "Layla" Boyd.
In 1990, Floyd Butler of the Friends of Distinction, died of a heart attack at the age of 49. Had the US #3 single "Grazing In The Grass" in 1969.
In 1999, Tommy Lee announced that he had quit Motley Crue to devote time to his new band, Methods of Mayhem, and his family.
In 2003, a $5 million lawsuit against former Creedence Clearwater Revival leader John Fogerty was dismissed after a personal-injury lawyer claimed that he suffered hearing loss in his left ear from attending a Fogerty concert. The Judge said the plaintiff assumed the risk of hearing damage when he attended the concert in 1997.
In 2007, Avril Lavigne was at #1 on the US album chart with her third album 'The Best Damn Thing', also a #1 on the UK chart.
In 2009, an anonymous Queen fan won a two-hour one-to-one guitar lesson with Brian May, after bidding £7,600 (approximately $11,900) at a private charity auction. The auction, in support of the Action for Brazil's Children Trust, of which May is a patron, was held at the exclusive Cuckoo Club in London.
In 2008, the Madonna album 'Hard Candy' was released.
In 2011, principal trumpeter for Britain's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, David Mason, who played piccolo trumpet on the Beatles' "Penny Lane" and also contributed to their recordings of "A Day In The Life," "Magical Mystery Tour," and "All You Need Is Love," died of leukemia at age 85.
birthdays today include (among others): Otis Rush (79), April Stevens (77), Tommy James (66) and Carnie Wilson (45)