Births
1933 Soul singer Cissy Houston, and mother of Whitney Houston. Member of Sweet Inspirations, The Drinkard Singers, (with Dionne Warwick), back-up singer with Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross.
1935 Johnny Mathis, US singer, 1976 UK No.1 single 'When A Child Is Born', plus 10 other UK Top 40 singles. 1978 US No.1 single 'Too Much Too Little Too Late' and over 15 other Top 40 singles). His Greatest Hits album spent over nine years on the US chart.
1942 Dewey Martin, The Dillards, Buffalo Springfield, (1967 US No.17 single 'For What It's Worth').
1942 Frankie Lymon, singer, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, (1956 UK No.1 & US No.6 single 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'). He died from a drug overdose on 28th February 1968 aged 25.
1942 Gus Dudgeon, producer. Best known for his work with Elton John. Also produced David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Zombies, Kiki Dee, Strawbs, XTC and Joan Armatrading. Dudgeon was killed in a car accident on 21st July 2002, his wife, Sheila, was also killed in the accident.
1943 Marilyn McCoo, singer, 1977 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'You Don't Have To Be A Star'. Also a member of The 5th Dimension.
1946 Sylvia Peterson, The Chiffons, (1963 US No.1 single 'He's So Fine', 1972 UK No.4 single 'Sweet Talking Guy', first released in 1966).
1947 Marc Bolan, guitarist, UK singer, songwriter, T Rex, (1971 UK No.1 single 'Hot Love', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles, 1972 US No.10 single Bang A Gong, (Get It On). Bolan was killed in a car accident on 16th September 1977.
1952 John Lombardo, 10,000 Maniacs, (1993 UK No.47 single 'Candy Everybody Wants').
1954 Lesley Beach, sax, Amazulu, (1986 UK No.5 single 'Too Good To Forgotten').
1959 Basia Trzetrzelewska, singer, Matt Bianco, (1988 UK No.11 single 'Don't Blame It On That Girl').
1964 Robby Takac, bass, Goo Goo Dolls (1999 UK No. 26 single 'Iris', 2002 US No.3 album 'Gutterflower').
1964 Trey Anastasio, American guitarist, and singer with Phish.
1984 Keisha Buchanan, singer, Sugababes, (2002 UK No.1 single, 'Round Round', 2002 UK No.2 album 'Angels With Dirty Faces').
Deaths
1969 David Crosby's girlfriend Christine Gail Hinton was killed in a car accident.
1977 Mary Ford died from cancer after being in a diabetic coma for 54 days. Had the 1957 UK No.7 single 'Vaya Con Dios' with Les Paul.
Events
1933 The half-hour country music and comedy show "National Barn Dance" debuted on WLS in Chicago, IL.
1935 The show "Porgy and Bess" opened for the first time in Boston.
1941 "That Solid Old Man" was recorded by The Larry Clinton Orchestra.
1954 Julie Andrews made her first Broadway appearance in "The Boy Friend."
1961 Bob Dylan played harmonica for the recording of Caroline Hester's first Columbia album.
1965 Donovan made his U.S. television debut on the show "Shindig!"
1965 EMI Records launched the budget priced 'Music For Pleasure' label, selling the albums in grocery stores for 12/6d each.
1967 BBC Radio 1 was launched in the UK. Former Radio Caroline DJ Tony Blackburn was the first presenter on air. The Move's 'Flowers In The Rain', was the first record played.
1967 During a UK tour Pink Floyd appeared at the Skyline Club in Hull north east England.
1971 Yes started their first tour with Rick Wakeman in England.
1971 Rick Wakeman made his live debut with Yes at The De Montford Hall, Leicester at the start of a 23-date UK tour.
1972 David Cassidy was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'How Can I Be Sure', his first of two UK No.1's.
1972 Pirate station Radio Caroline started broadcasting again and continued to broadcast until the MI Amigo sank in March 1980.
1972 Columbia Records announced that they were closing down four Hollywood studios.
1977 Ringo Starr released the album "Ringo The Fourth."
1978 Exile started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Kiss You All Over', it made No.6 in the UK.
1978 John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John had their second UK No.1 from the film 'Grease' with 'Summer Nights.'
1979 The Undertones kicked off a 14- date UK tour at The Locarno, Bristol.
1984 UK station Capitol Radio launched 'The Network Chart' show hosted by David 'Kid' Jenson.
1984 The music division of Thorn EMI once said to be the greatest recording organisation in the world reported a world-wide loss of almost $5 million during the last six months.
1984 Kiss kicked off a 14-date UK tour at the Brighton Centre.
1986 The Housemartins kicked off a 17- date UK tour at The Powerhouse, Birmingham.
1987 Roy Orbison recorded "A Black And White Night Live" at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles, CA.
1988 John Lennon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1989 Neil Young appeared on "Saturday Night Live" and performed "Rockin' In The Free World."
1989 The Rolling Stones recorded the video for "Rock And A Hard Place" at Foxboro-Sullivan Stadium.
1989 Tina Turner scored her first solo UK No.1 album with 'Foreign Affair'.
1991 Liza Minnelli received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1992 US singer Steve Earle was arrested in Nashville after he failed to report for jury service.
1993 Kate Pierson of the B-52's was arrested while staging a sit-in at the New York offices of Vogue. She was protesting the use of fur in ads and clothing.
1993 David Crosby and George Harrison appeared on the fifth season premiere of "The Simpsons."
1994 Michael Stipe of R.E.M. signed a movie deal with New Line Cinema.
1994 T.A.F.K.A.P. launched music channel VH1 in the UK, which gave the first airing of his new video 'Dolphin.'
1995 Mariah Carey made chart history when she started an eight week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Fantasy', making her the first female act to enter the chart in pole position.
1995 Simply Red scored their first UK No.1 single when 'Fairground' started a four-week run at the top of the charts. It was their 15th UK Top 40 hit.
1995 The Boo Radleys kicked off a 17-date UK & Irish tour at SFX Dublin.
1997 Randy Travis became the first artist to sign with DreamWorks Records Nashville.
1997 Patty Loveless released her ninth album "Long Stretch of Lonesome."
1997 Bono appealed for the release of Mordecha Vanunu during a show in Tel Aviv, Israel. Vanunu had been imprisoned for being a nuclear secrets traitor.
1997 The Rolling Stones released "Bridges To Babylon."
1998 - Jonny Lang, Slash (Guns 'n' Roses), Joey Ramone (Ramones) and Rick Nelson (Cheap Trick) and others appeared on "The Drew Carey Show". All the musicians were trying out for lead guitarist of Carey's band.
1999 Chris de Burgh's web site was closed down after countless obscene messages were posted on the guestbook. One message consisted entirely of two four-letter words repeated 3500 times.
2000 Toploader started a 18 date UK tour at Rock City Nottingham.
2002 Popstars band Hear'say announced they had split up. The winners of the Popstars TV talent show who scored 2 UK No.1 singles had lasted less than two years.
2003 An auction of the contents of Sir Elton John's London home raised more than Ł1.4 million. An oil painting, entitled Madison Square Park, sold for Ł67,200, and a 19th Century portrait of Lieutenant George Dyer, painted by James Northcote in 1817, fetched Ł55,200. Sir Elton sold off the items so he could redecorate his home in a more modern style.
2006 Justin Timberlake started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with his second solo album 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' which also became the biggest album ever for pre-orders on iTunes.
2007 Country music singer Keith Urban crashed his motorcycle on the way to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. The 39-year-old, who was not injured, said he was being followed by a photographer when the accident happened near his home in Sydney, Australia.
2007 Foo Fighters went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Echoes Silence Patience & Grace' the bands sixth studio album and second UK No.1. Reba McEntire was at No.1 on the US album chart with Reba: Duets.
