Births
1938 Eddie Cochran, singer, (1958 US No. 8 single 'Summertime Blues', 1960 UK No.1 single 'Three Steps To Heaven'). Killed in a car crash on 17th April 1960 aged 21.
1941 Chubby Checker, US singer, (Ernest Evans), 1960 US No.1 & UK No.14 single 'The Twist', 1962 UK No.2 single 'Let's Twist Again'). 'The Twist' is the only song to go to number 1 on the US singles charts twice. Once in 1960 and again in 1962.
1945 Antonio Martinez, Los Bravos, (1966 UK No.2 & US No.4 single 'Black Is Black'). First Spanish rock band to have a UK & US hit single.
1947 Lindsey Buckingham guitar, vocals, Fleetwood Mac, (1987 UK No.5 single 'Little Lies' and 1977 US No.1 single 'Dreams' from world wide No.1 album 'Rumours').
1950 Ronnie Laws, sax, Earth Wind and Fire, (1975 US No.1 single 'Shining Star', 1979 UK No.4 single 'After The Love Has Gone').
1954 Stevie Ray Vaughan, guitarist. He was killed in a helicopter crash on August 27th 1990. His family successfully sued the operators of the company for allowing an unqualified pilot to fly in fog and were awarded $2 million (L1.2 million). Vaughan played guitar on David Bowies Let's Dance album
1960 Gail Greenwood bass, Belly, (1993 UK No. 23 single 'Feed The Tree').
1961 Robbie Jaymes, Modern, Romance, (1982 UK No.4 single 'Best Years Of Our Lives').
1962 Tommy Lee, dummer, Motley Crue, (1988 UK No.23 single 'You're All I Need' & 1989 US No.1 & UK No.4 album 'Dr Feelgood').
1969 Gwen Stefani, vocalist with No Doubt, (1997 UK No.1 single with 'Don't Speak' and a 1997 No.1 US album 'Tragic Kingdom'). As a solo artist (2005 US No.1 single 'Hollaback Girl' from the 2004 worldwide 2004 Top 5 album 'Love, Angel, Music, Baby').
1971 Kevin Richardson, singer, Backstreet Boys, (1997 US No.2 single 'Quit playing Games With My Heart', 1999 UK No.1 single 'I Want It That Way').
1975 India Arie Simpson, American soul, R&B singer, songwriter, (2006 US No.1 album Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship').
1978 Jake Shears, (Jason Sellards), vocals, Scissor Sisters, (2004 UK No.1 self-titled album, 2004 UK No. 12 single 'Laura').
1984 Ashlee Simpson, US singer, (2004 US No.1 album 'Autobiography').
Deaths
1967 Singer, songwriter Woody Guthrie died after suffering from Huntington's Chorea disease. Guthrie was a major influence on Bob Dylan and American folk music. The 70's film 'Bound For Glory' is based on his life.
1999 Akio Morita the founder of Sony electronics died aged 78. The 1979 Sony Walkman transformed both Sony and consumers across the world.
2000 The Cars singer and bass player Benjamin Orr died of cancer at the age of 44.
Events
1945 Elvis Presley appeared in a talent show at the age of 10. It was his first public appearance. He won 2nd place and $5.
1945 Stan Kenton and his orchestra recorded "Painted Rhythm."
1957 "The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom" premiered on ABC-TV.
1961 Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Hank Williams became the first to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
1965 Manfred Mann became the first western band to perform behind the Iron Curtain.
1965 Ken Dodd was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Tears', the singer, comedian's only UK No.1.
1967 James Brown played two shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London with his 18 piece American band.
1969 "Abbey Road" by the Beatles was released in the U.S. It was released a week earlier in England.
1970 The group Lifetime was formed when Jack Bruce (Cream), John McLaughlin (Miles Davis' group), Larry Young and Tony Williams joined forces.
1972 David Cassidy was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'How Can I Be Sure.'
1978 The members of Aerosmith bailed thirty fans out of jail after they were arrested for smoking pot during an Aerosmith concert at Fort Wayne Coliseum.
1980 UK BBC TV aired 'The Police In The East' documentary featuring The Police on tour in India.
1980 Bruce Springsteen forgot some of the words to "Born to Run" in Ann Arbor, MI.
1981 The Kinks played their first show at Madison Square Garden.
1987 M/A/R/S were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Pump Up The Volume.'
1987 Scottish group Wet Wet Wet released their first album 'Popped In Souled Out.'
1988 The documentary "Imagine," about John Lennon, premiered in Hollywood, CA.
1989 "Sound + Vison", the box set by David Bowie, was released.
1989 Deborah Harry made her UK live comeback after seven years at The Borderline Club, London.
1990 A storeowner in Florida was found guilty of distributing obscene material. The material in question was 2 Live Crew's "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" album. The man was later fined $1,000.
1991 M.C. Hammer offered a $50000 reward for the return of Michael Jackson's white glove, which had been stolen from the Motown Museum. This was part of an on-going battle between Hammer and Michael Jackson.
1991 Texas governor Ann Richards proclaimed October 3, (Stevie Ray Vaughan's birthday), to be "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day". An annual motorcycle ride and concert in Central Texas benefits the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund.
1992 Abba scored their ninth UK No.1 album with 'Gold- Greatest Hits.'
1992 Sinead O'Connor ripped up a photograph of Pope John Paul II, on the US TV show 'Saturday Night Live', in a protest at abortion laws. The incident happened as Sinead ended her live performance and out of nowhere, produced a photograph of Pope John Paul II, which she ripped into pieces. There was stunned silence in the studio and the station went to a commercial. NBC was fined $2.5 million dollars by the Federal Communications Commission.
1994 Eric Clapton started his "Nothing But The Blues" tour.
1996 Van Halen gave David Lee Roth the boot for the second time after they had recorded a couple of songs for the bands greatest hits package.
1997 A court battle started between Garth Brooks and Warren G over the trademark of the letter 'G' which both artists used. The dispute was settled out of court the following year.
1998 Irish girl group B*Witched scored their second UK No.1 single with 'Rollercoaster'.
1999 Tom Jones went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Reload', making the singer the oldest artist to score a UK No.1 album with new material.
1999 Eve was at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Let There Be...Eve.'
2000 Mark David Chapman was denied parole by the New York State Board of Parole. Chapman had been sentenced to life for the murder of John Lennon on December 8, 1980.
2003 The Thrills kicked off a 20-date UK tour at Glasgow Academy.
2004 UK singer Joss Stone scored her first UK No.1 album with her second release 'Mind Body & Soul.'
