Percy Sledge (1940)
Bob Lind (1944)
Bev Bevan - Electric Light Orchestra (1946)
Jocelyn Brown (worked with John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen) (1950)
Steve Rothery - Marillion (1959)
Amy Grant (1960)
Mark Lanegan - Screaming Trees (1964)
Stacey Lattishaw (1966)
Rodney Sheppard - Sugar Ray (1967)
They Are Missed:
The dancer, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, who inspired the hit single "Mr Bojangles," died in 1949. Audiences enjoyed his understated style, which eschewed the frenetic manner of the jitterbug in favor of cool and reserve; rarely did he use his upper body, relying instead on busy, inventive feet and an expressive face. A figure in both the Black and White entertainment worlds of his era, he is best known today for his dancing with Shirley Temple in a series of films during the 1930s.
Saxophonist Albert Ayler was found drowned in New York's Hudson River in 1968. He was 34 years old.
UK singer, songwriter Nick Drake died in his sleep in 1974 of an overdose of tryptasol an anti-depressant drug (age 26). Drake signed to Island Records when he was twenty years old, recorded the classic 1972 album Pink Moon. In 2000, Volkswagen featured the title track from Pink Moon in a television advertisement, and within a month Drake had sold more records than he had in the previous thirty years.
In 2007, Kevin Dubrow, the frontman with metal band Quiet Riot, was found dead in his Las Vegas home at the age of 52. Their 1983 release 'Metal Health 'was the first metal album to top the US charts. The band's biggest hit was "Cum on Feel the Noize," a cover of the Slade song which they are said to have grudgingly recorded in just one take.
History:
In 1957, Billboard magazine reported that rock and roll acts were turning away from the "increasingly disappointing grosses" of big package shows in favor of smaller scale teen record hops, where performers appeared for smaller guarantees but bigger percentages of the gate.
Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 for their first national TV appearance. They performed "Lotta Lovin'" and "Dance to the Bop."
In 1961, the Everly Brothers began a six month stint in the US Marine Corps Reserves as part of the 8th Battalion. During their enlistment, Warner Brothers Records released "Crying in the Rain," which had been recorded before the duo entered Camp Pendleton. The song would reach number six in the US early the next year.
Harrods department store in London closed in 1965 to the public so The Beatles could do their Christmas shopping.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience made their London performance debut at the Bag O' Nails Club in 1966.
"Incense and Peppermints" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock hits the top of the Billboard Pop chart in 1967. The recording was initially intended as a 'b-side' and the lead vocal was actually that of a friend of the band, 16 year old Greg Munford, who was just hanging around during the session. Munford was not even a regular band member, but ended up singing a tune that would become a Rock and Roll standard and sell over a million copies. Despite this success, Munford never actually joined the group and drummer Randy Seol sang the song in concert. Although it was a huge success in America, the single didn't chart at all in the UK.
In 1968, over 10,000 fans saw Cream play their final two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London. During the shows, the crowd chanted "God save the Cream." Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker would continue to work together in Blind Faith with Steve Winwood and Rick Grech.
In 1969, John Lennon returned the MBE award (Member of the British Empire) that he and the other Beatles had been given in 1965. He sent the medal back with a note that read, "Your Majesty, I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam, and against "Cold Turkey" slipping down the charts. With love, John Lennon of Bag".
The three surviving members of The Doors told Rolling Stone Magazine in 1971that they were determined to carry on despite the death of singer Jim Morrison. They will officially disband in 1973.
Chuck Berry was at #1 on the UK singles chart in 1972 with "My Ding a-Ling," his only UK #1.
The Band's final concert, called The Last Waltz, was given at San Francisco's Winterland in 1976. It included appearances by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Hawkins and Neil Diamond. Martin Scorsese filmed the event.
In 1978, the Cars’ "My Best Friend’s Girl" was the first commercially released picture disc in the U.K. That marketing ploy and the song’s clever plot took it to #3 on the pop chart.
In 1984, the cream of the British pop world gathered at S.A.R.M. Studios, London to record the historic "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" The single, which was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, featured Paul Young, Bono, Paul McCartney, Boy George, Sting and George Michael. It went on to sell over three million copies in the UK, becoming the bestselling record ever, and raised over $13.6 million worldwide.
In 1986 for the first time in Billboard chart history, the top three spots are occupied by female artists. #1 was Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors," #2 was Tina Turner with "Typical Male" and #3 was Janet Jackson's "When I Think Of You".
Songwriter Diane Warren was the author of the number 1 and number 2 songs in the US in 1989. "When I See You Smile" was a hit for Bad English, and "Blame It On the Rain", was credited to Milli Vanilli. Warren would go on to write "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" for Aerosmith and the Armageddon soundtrack in 1998.
Milli Vanilli started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1989 with "Blame It On The Rain," their third US #1 of the year.
The film 'The Bodyguard,' opened nation-wide in 1992 featuring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner.
Whitney Houston went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1995 with "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," written by Babyface and taken from the film 'Waiting To Exhale,' it gave Whitney her 11th US #1.
After not playing together for over 30 years, The Zombies briefly reunited in 1997 to promote their new box set called 'Zombie Heaven.' Rod Argent (keyboards), Paul Atkinson (guitar), Colin Blunstone (vocals), Hugh Grundy (drums) and Chris White (bass) performed their two biggest hits, "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season" at London's Jazz Café.
Garth Brooks' seventh album "Sevens" was released in 1997.
The sixth album of 2Pac, 'R U Still Down? (Remember Me),' was released posthumously in 1997.
In 1998, Spin magazine editor Craig Marks told police that Marilyn Manson's bodyguards pinned him against a wall and hauled him up into the air. Marks claimed that he was invited backstage to talk with Manson after a performance at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Manson allegedly threatened Marks with "`You know I can kill you, your family and everyone you know'." Real nice.....
A burglar broke into Alice Cooper's home in 2000 and made off with over $6000 worth of clothes, shoes and cameras belonging to the singers daughter. The good's were all lifted from Cooper's house in Paradise Valley, along with four of the star's gold discs.
In 2000, The Beatles' album simply titled "1", a collection of their UK and US chart toppers, reaches number one in Great Britain. It will top the US chart a week later and will become the best selling album in a total of 28 countries worldwide.
Garth Brooks went to #1 on the US album chart in 2001 with 'Scarecrow.'
In 2003, Michael Jackson launched a website to defend himself following allegations of sexual abuse of a 12-year old boy. The singer posted a message saying the charges were based on 'a big lie' and he wanted to end 'this horrible time' by proving they were false in court.
Glen Campbell was arrested in Phoenix Arizona in 2003 with a blood alcohol level of .20 after his BMW struck a Toyota Camry. He was charged with 'extreme' drunk driving, hit and run, and assaulting a police officer. The singer blamed his condition on the accidental mixing of alcohol and a prescription anti-anxiety drug. A police officer reported that while in custody, Campbell hummed his hit 'Rhinestone Cowboy' repeatedly. Why not "Galveston?"
Twisted Sister's Dee Snider hosted VH-1 Classic's "A Very Classic Thanksgiving" in 2004. The guest list featured ex-Monkee Davey Jones, Eddie Money, MC Hammer and Teri Nunn of Berlin. If that crowd doesn’t put you in the holiday spirit, nothing will.
In 2004, Steven Tyler visits Women’s Hope substance-abuse treatment center in Dorchester, MA. His Thanksgiving Day talk was about sobriety after his own struggles with drugs and alcohol. "If I can just tell them how good it is for me now, and that it is possible . . . then I`ve done my job," says the Aerosmith frontman. Tyler had been clean for nearly 20 years.
In 2005, Madonna achieved her sixth number one on the US album charts with ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor,’ her third consecutive US album chart topper. The album went to #1 in 40 countries setting a new record. The Beatles previously held this record when The Beatles 1 went to #1 in 36 countries in 2000.
White Zombie's box set “Let Sleeping Corpses Lie” rose from the dead in 2008. The four-CD/single DVD collection covered ‘85's rare “Gods On Voodoo Moon” EP through Zombie's contribution to Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack, a little over a decade later. The DVD had promo clips and concert footage. According to Rob Zombie this "is the last thing that will come [out] from the band."
A two-CD set marking the 25th anniversary of the release of R.E.M.'s “Murmur” album – “Murmur: Deluxe Edition” – rolled out in 2008. The remastered version of the band's ‘83 full-length debut includes previously unreleased performances recorded that year at a Toronto club.
The 14-track “For The Troops II” with songs by 3 Doors Down and Aerosmith's Joe Perry was released in 2008. The album was also distributed at US military bases and military personnel were able to download the set for free.
An archival Neil Young concert album, “Sugar Mountain: Live At Canterbury House 1968” was out in 2008. The two-disc collection includes performances from Ann Arbor, MI, shows.
In 2008, the legal dispute over a music contract between Michael Jackson and an Arab sheik, ended with an "amicable settlement." Jackson had been due to fly in to the UK to give evidence at the High Court before an agreement in principle was reached. The King of Bahrain's son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, was suing Jackson for £4.7m, claiming he reneged on a music contract.
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