This Day In Music Search

Rudolph Isley, from the American group The Isley Brothers, died from an apparent heart attack at his home at the age of 84. The Isley Brothers first came to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, 'Shout', and then the 1962 hit Twist and Shout. The Isley Brothers also scored the hits 'This Old Heart Of Mine', 'Summer Breeze' and 'Harvest for the World'. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40.

American musician and singer Deon Estus died at the age of 65. He is best known as the bass player of Wham! and as the bassist on George Michael's first two solo projects. Estus' single ‘Heaven Help Me’, with additional vocals by George Michael, reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989.

Sir Rod Stewart said he was "on cloud nine" after being knighted by the Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace. The singer was honoured in the Queen's birthday honours list in recognition of his services to music and charity.

Camera Obscura keyboardist Carey Lander died from osteosarcoma, a rare form of blood cancer aged 33. The Scottish indie pop band's first album, Biggest Bluest Hi Fi, was released in 2001.

The Rolling Stones new single, 'Doom And Gloom', was released, the first new studio recordings since 2005's A Bigger Bang. Doom And Gloom was the lead single from the band’s most recent greatest hits collection, GRRR!

George Michael was released from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk, England after serving four of an eight week sentence for driving under the influence of drugs. The singer had been arrested after crashing his car into the front of a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, North London in July of this year.

Barbra Streisand went to No.1 on the US album charts with 'Love Is the Answer'. Streisand's ninth No.1 album, making her the only artist to have a number one album in America in five different decades.

54-year-old Jo Wood, wife of The Rolling Stones Ronnie Wood was granted a divorce after 24 years of marriage on the grounds of adultery. The couple split in 2008 after the guitarist, 64, began a relationship with a 20-year-old woman.

Madonna adopted a one-year-old boy in Malawi, Africa, the boy's father, Yohane Banda, told reporters "I know he will be very happy in America." The boy's mother had died a week after he was born.

Freddie Mercury's 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow was offered for auction on eBay by his sister, Kashmira Cooke, who had inherited the car from him. The luxury vehicle had not appeared in public since 2002, when it had been used to transport the Bulsara family to the premiere of the Queen stage musical We Will Rock You. It came with a box of Kleenex Mansize tissues left in the car by Freddie.

Mojo magazine readers voted the studio session for Elvis Presley's debut single 'That's All Right' the most pivotal moment in rock history. Bob Dylan's switch from acoustic to electric guitars in 1965 came second, and 'White Riot, the debut single by The Clash released in 1977 was voted third.

Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee was released on $5000 bail after facing charges relating to a riot at a gig in North Carolina in 1997. Lee allegedly incited the crowd to attack a guard and had also poured a drink over his head.

Elton John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Candle In The Wind 97' A re-write of his 1974 hit about Marilyn Monroe. This version was raising funds for the Diana, Princess of Wales charity, following her death in Paris. It went on to become the biggest selling single in the world ever.

The Verve started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their third album Urban Hymns. The band's best-selling release features 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' and 'The Drugs Don't Work'. It is currently ranked the 15th best-selling album in UK.

Tupac Shakur was released from Clinton Correctional Prison on $1.4 Million bail which was posted by Suge Knight. In return 2Pac signed a three album deal with Knight's Death Row Records.

Apple Computers settled a lawsuit launched by The Beatles record company, Apple Corporation, over name and logo rights. The computer company reportedly paid $29 million to settle the suit.

Drummer Dave Grohl played his first gig with Nirvana when they appeared at the North Shore Surf Club in Olympia.

Michael Jackson attended the opening ceremony of the Michael Jackson Auditorium at his former school, Gardner Street Elementary in Hollywood, California. In November, 2003, school officials covered over Jackson's name with painted plywood, leaving only the word "Auditorium" showing, after receiving requests from angry parents when Jackson was booked on suspicion of child molestation.

Madonna was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the title track from her album. 'True Blue' her third UK No.1. The title came from a favorite expression of her then husband Sean Penn and was a direct tribute to him.

Janet Jackson started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'When I Think Of You', her first US No.1, a No.10 hit in the UK.

The Rolling Stones performed at the Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, USA, as part of a 50-date North American tour. 95 fans were arrested after trouble broke out at the venue. The tour became the largest grossing of 1981, with $50 million in ticket sales.

The Police scored their second UK No.1 album with their third studio release 'Zenyatta Mondatta', which featured, 'Don't Stand So Close to Me', 'Canary in a Coalmine and 'De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da.'

Pussycat started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Mississippi' making them the first Dutch act to top the UK chart.

John Denver was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Annie's Song.' The song was a tribute to his wife and was written in 10 minutes while he was on a ski lift.

One Hit Wonders Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Je t'aime... Moi non plus.' Banned by many radio stations for its sexual content and sounds and for first time in the history of the show, the BBC’s Top Of The Pops producers refused to air the No. 1 song.

During a Beatles recording session at Abbey Road six saxophonists recorded parts for 'Savoy Truffle' for the forthcoming White Album. George Harrison distorted the saxophones to get the desired sound.

The Doors appeared at Danbury High School, Danbury, Connecticut. Before the group came on stage an announcer told the audience not to leave their seats during the performance or they would be escorted out of the venue. There was also a beauty pageant just prior to The Doors coming on stage.

The Beatles made their first appearance on the UK singles chart with 'Love Me Do' which peaked at No. 4 on the chart.

The Highwaymen were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Michael'. The US group's only UK Top 40 hit. The Highwaymen were US college students who broke up when they graduated.

Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash kicked off an eleven date tour of the Southern US states in Abilene, Texas.

American rapper, songwriter, and actress Cardi B. Her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy (2018), debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 and broke several streaming records. She is the first solo female artist in history to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and the female rapper with the most No.1 singles (five) on the Billboard Hot 100, and is the highest-certified female rapper of all time in US digital single sales (69 million).

Scottish bassist and songwriter Dominic Aitchison, best known as the bassist and founding member of post-rock band Mogwai. Their tenth album, As the Love Continues, reached No. 1 on the UK Chart in February 2021.

Brendan Brown, guitarist and singer from American rock band Wheatus who had the 2001 UK No 2 single 'Teenage Dirtbag' which appeared in the movie Loser. They also experienced success with their 2001 cover version of Erasure's 'A Little Respect'.

American musician and singer Petra Haden. She has performed with her sisters as The Haden Triplets, (Rachel and Tanya Haden who is married to singer and actor Jack Black). Petra has also worked with The Decemberists, Beck, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Weezer and Victoria Williams.

American rapper MC Lyte. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, MC Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first female rapper to release a full solo album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock. The album spawned the singles '10% Dis' and 'Paper Thin'. She has collaborated with many artists, Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott, Brandy, Sinéad O'Connor, Will Smith, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Moby, Aerosmith, Beyoncé and will.i.am,.

Scott Johnson, from American alternative rock band Gin Blossoms, who had the 1994 UK top 30 hit single 'Hey Jealousy', from their first major label album, New Miserable Experience (1992), which also featured the single 'As Long as It Matters', which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Jon Langford, guitar, vocals, from British post-punk band The Mekons, who formed in 1976 as an art collective. They have released 16 studio albums; their first The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen, was released in 1979.

American drummer Blair Cunningham, who with British pop group Haircut 100 had four UK Top 10 hit singles between 1981 and 1982, including 'Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)', 'Love Plus One' and 'Fantastic Day'. He has also played for many bands and artists, including Echo & the Bunnymen, Pretenders, Paul McCartney, Alison Moyet, Sade, Paul Rutherford and Roxy Music. His brother Carl Cunningham was the drummer with the Stax group the Bar-Kays. He died in the same plane crash that killed Otis Redding in December 1967, when Blair was 10 years old.

Australian singer Renée Geyer. She released 15 studio albums with Moving Along (1977) and Tenderland (2003) both reaching No.11 on the Australian charts. Geyer was an internationally respected and sought-after backing vocalist, whose session credits include work with Sting, Chaka Khan, Toni Childs, Joe Cocker, Neil Diamond and Men at Work. She died on 17 January 2023 age 69.

American country music singer-songwriter, Paulette Carlson who rose to fame in the 1980s as the founder and lead vocalist for the country band Highway 101. With Highway 101, she charted four No.1 hit singles, seven Top 10 hits and won two Country Music Association Awards. As a solo artist, she has charted five times on Hot Country Songs Charts.

French singer-songwriter and record producer Jean-Jacques Goldman. Since the death of Johnny Hallyday in 2017, he has been the highest-grossing living French pop-rock act. In 1997 he won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year as co-author of three tracks on Celine Dion's album Falling into You.

Andrew Woolfolk, saxophonist with Earth, Wind & Fire, who had the 1975 US No.1 single 'Shining Star', and the 1981 UK No.3 single 'Let's Groove'. The band has received 20 Grammy nominations and were the first African-American act to sell out Madison Square Garden. Woolfolk died on 24 April 2022, after a long illness.

American rock, R&B, and soul singer, Daryl Hall, from Hall and Oates, who had the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Maneater', plus five other US No.1 hits. Hall scored the solo 1986 UK No.28 single 'Dreamtime'. Since late 2007, he has hosted the web television series, Live from Daryl's House, which is now aired on MTV. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. Hall and Oates have sold an estimated 40 million records, making them the third-bestselling music duo of all time

American musician Gary Mallaber, who was the drummer in the Steve Miller Band and has also played with the Greg Kihn Band. Mallaber has also recorded with Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, John Lennon, Peter Frampton, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Rush, Bob Seger, Barbra Streisand, Warren Zevon and others.

American jazz drummer Billy Higgins. He played on Ornette Coleman's first records, beginning in 1958 and worked with many artists, including Donald Byrd, Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Don Cherry, Milt Jackson, Pat Metheny, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins. In his career, Higgins played on more than 700 recordings. He died of kidney and liver failure on May 3, 2001.

American country singer and songwriter Dottie West. She was among several people who helped to elevate the platform of female country artists and was the first woman to win a country music accolade from the Grammy Awards. In the late 1970s, she recorded two albums with Kenny Rogers. Their first duet, 'Every Time Two Fools Collide' (1978), became her first chart-topping single and was followed by four more top-10 songs.

American jazz saxophonist Curtis Amy. In the mid 60s, he spent three years as musical director of Ray Charles' orchestra and later did session work and played the solos on several recordings, including The Doors' song 'Touch Me', Carole King's Tapestry, and Lou Rawls' first albums, as well as working with Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell and Smokey Robinson. He died on June 5, 2002 age 74.

American jazz drummer Art Blakey. He worked with bebop musicians Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. In the mid-1950s, Horace Silver and Blakey formed The Jazz Messengers, a group which he led for the next 35 years. The group was formed as a collective of contemporaries, but over the years, the band became known as an incubator for young talent. Blakey died on October 16, 1990, from lung cancer age 71.