This Day In Music History- March 12

Pink Floyd's David Gilmour topped the U.K. album charts with "On An Island" in 2006.

In 2003, callers to Nashville radio station WKDF demand a boycott of Texan trio the Dixie Chicks' music after singer Natalie Maines says, "We're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

In 1971, John Lennon released his solo single "Power to the People," having recorded it a mere four days before.

Guitarist Graham Coxon of Blur was born in 1969.

It was a dark day for jazz in 1955 as Charlie "Bird" Parker died at the age of 34. A master saxophonist, he was also a musical innovator, helping to birth the animated style of swing called bebop. The hard-living Parker's postmortem suggests he may have died from pneumonia, a heart attack, burst stomach ulcers, or cirrhosis of the liver.

Liza "with a Z" Minnelli was born in Hollywood in 1946.

In 1946, Jefferson Airplane's Paul Kantner was born in San Francisco. The guitarist is a free-thinker who helped create the West Cost psychedelic sound in the 1960’s.

The late Leonard Chess was born in Motol, Poland in 1917. His Chicago-based Chess label documented the seminal blues and rock 'n roll of Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Howlin' Wolf.

James Taylor ("Your Smiling Face") turns 60.

Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in 1969 (none of his band mates attended).

George Harrison was arrested for possession of marijuana in 1969 (maybe that’s why he wasn’t at the wedding)

John Lennon and Harry Nilsson were thrown out of the Troubador nightclub in Los Angeles for heckling the Smothers Brothers, who were performing there in 1974. This period becomes known as Lennon’s “Lost Weekend.”

In 1965, The Beatles wrapped up their location shooting of Help! in the Bahamas. In an interview with The New York Times, Beatles manager Brian Epstein predicts that the band will still be popular in 10 years and declares the Rolling Stones "a fine group."

1996 - The album "Unplugged" was released by KISS.

2003 - The Chinese government ordered the Rolling Stones to eliminate four songs from their upcoming performances in Shanghai and Beijing. The banned songs were "Brown Sugar," "Honky Tonk Women," "Beast of Burden," and "Let's Spend the Night Together."

In 1959, an American Bandstand viewer's pole lists 15 year old Fabian Forte as the Most Promising New Talent. The young man is currently enjoying success with "Turn Me Loose", which will crack the US Top 10 in April.

In 1966, The Levi Strauss Company began selling bell-bottom blue jeans in the US. (far out man!)

A poll conducted by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2001, music fans voted Judy Garland's "Over The Rainbow" as the Song Of The Century. The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" came in at #16 and The Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was #26.

The Mamas and the Papas' debut single, "California Dreamin'," reached #4 in 1966. Over time, it becomes the Mamas and the Papas' signature song.

Steve Harris was born in London in 1956. He works as an architectural draftsman but quits his day job after launching Iron Maiden in '75. The bassist also serves as the group’s principal composer and lyricist.