This Day In Music Search

Snoop Dogg, who has built a public persona around his copious marijuana intake, said he was giving up smoking. The hip-hop star made the surprise announcement on social media. He posted "After much consideration & conversation with my family, I’ve decided to give up smoke. Please respect my privacy at this time," Some fans speculated that the post was part of a marketing stunt for his cannabis company Leafs By Snoop. In 2013, speaking to GQ magazine, Snoop Dogg said he was smoking 80 cannabis joints a day.

Daryl Hall took out a restraining order against his former bandmate, John Oates. Court documents showed the case has been categorised as a "contract and debt" dispute against Oates and his trust, The Daryl Hall Revocable Trust. A Nashville judge later sided with Daryl Hall and ruled that John Oates could not sell his share of the band’s joint venture until a private arbitrator heard the case.

Keith Allison, American singer and bassist from Paul Revere & the Raiders died age 79. They had the Top Ten US hits ‘Kicks’ and ‘Hungry’, establishing the band as national stars and later in 1971 the hugely successful cover of the song ‘Indian Reservation’.

Peter Gabriel launched The Voice Project - the "Imprisoned For Art" campaign, an effort to free prisoners around the world that had been sent to jail for opposing their governments.

American soul singer Jimmy Ruffin died aged 78. Ruffin who was the elder brother of David Ruffin of the Temptations had the 1974 UK No.4 single 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted'. In 1980, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees produced his album Sunrise and the hit single 'Hold On To My Love', reached No.10 in the US and No.7 in the UK.

Sheriff's deputies in South Los Angeles charged 61-year-old Bonnie Pointer of The Pointer Sisters for possessing rock cocaine after the car she was driving in was pulled over for a mechanical malfunction.

Patti Smith won the National Book Award for her memoir 'Just Kids'. The book documented her relationship with American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe who she had met in the late 60's.

The Eagles were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Long Road Out Of Eden’ the bands seventh studio album and first since 1979.

American country music legend Don Gibson died of natural causes aged 75. Scored the 1958 US No.7 single 'Oh Lonesome Me', (covered by Neil Young on his After The Gold Rush album), 1961 UK No.14 single 'Sea Of Heartbreak'. His song ‘I Can't Stop Loving You’, has been recorded by over 700 artists, most notably by Ray Charles in 1962.

21 year-old Britney Spears became the youngest singer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The only other performer to get a Hollywood star at her age was Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert.

George Michael signed a new contract with the record company he took to court in 1993. The singer re-signed to Sony in a deal that included his extensive back catalogue. Michael had failed in his court wrangle with Sony after accusing it of "professional slavery"; his contract was bought out by Virgin Records.

American soul singer Arthur Conley died of intestinal cancer in Ruurlo, The Netherlands at the age of 57. Had the 1967 US No.2 & UK No.7 single 'Sweet Soul Music'. He first recorded in 1959 as the lead singer of Arthur & the Corvets.

It was reported that Andy White who played drums on The Beatles track 'Love Me Do' which was featured on the new Beatles Greatest Hits album would not earn enough from it to buy his own copy. White would get no more than his original session fee of £7.

The Spice Girls were at No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut release 'Spice Girls.' Five singles were released from the album: 'Wannabe', 'Say You'll Be There', '2 Become 1', 'Who Do You Think You Are' and 'Mama'. The first single, 'Wannabe', went to No.1 in 31 countries, and the next two singles, 'Say You'll Be There' and '2 Become 1', the top of the charts in 53 countries.

English singer-songwriter and founding member of folk rock band, Lindisfarne Alan Hull died of a heart attack aged 50 whilst working on a new album, Statues & Liberties. After his death, Hull's ashes were scattered at the mouth of the River Tyne. Lindisfarne scored the 1972 UK No.3 single 'Lady Eleanor', 'Fog on the Tyne' and 'Run for Home'. On 19 July 2012, following a public campaign an Alan Hull memorial plaque was unveiled on the front of Newcastle City Hall, at a ceremony attended by hundreds of fans.

At the end of a long battle to claim royalties Jimmy Merchant and Herman Santiago ex of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, received an estimated $4 million in back payments from the song 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'.

David Crosby from Crosby Stills Nash & Young was admitted to hospital after breaking a leg, shoulder and ankle after crashing his Harley Davidson motorbike.

Wham! Were at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Make It Big' and No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go'. Michael's inspiration for the song was a scribbled note left by his Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley for Andrew's parents, originally intended to read "wake me up before you go" but with "up" accidentally written twice, so Ridgeley wrote "go" twice on purpose.

Jethro Tull bass player John Glascock died at the age of 28, as a result of a congenital heart defect. Had also been a member of Chicken Shack.

The Who's double album Quadrophenia entered the UK album chart peaking at No.2. One of two two full-scale rock operas from The Who (the other being the 1969 ‘Tommy’). The 1979 film based on the story stars Phil Daniels, Toyah Willcox, Ray Winstone, Michael Elphick and Sting.

Slade were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Coz I Luv You', the group's first of six No.1's. The misspelt song titles became a trademark for Slade, causing a great furore among teachers up and down the country.

A 16 date UK package tour with Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Move, The Nice and Amen Corner played at the City Hall, Sheffield. A review in the Sheffield Star noted: 'Like an electrified golliwog, Jimi Hendrix threw himself into a live-wire act that featured his intricate guitar interpretation. Quite an Experience'. Pink Floyd also released their third single Apples And Oranges today in the UK.

The Beach Boys were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Good Vibrations.' As a child, Brian Wilsons mother told him that dogs could pick up "vibrations" from people, so that the dog would bark at "bad vibrations" Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.

John Weightman the Headmaster of a Surrey Grammar School, banned all pupils from having Beatle haircuts saying, "this ridiculous style brings out the worst in boys physically. It makes them look like morons."

The Four Seasons started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Big Girls Don't Cry', the group's second No.1 of the year. It made No.13 in the UK.

Harry Belafonte was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Mary's Boy Child,' the first single to sell over 1 million copies in the UK. It stayed at No.1 for seven weeks making it this years Christmas No.1. The first Christmas song to hit No.1 in two different versions - the other was Boney M's version in 1978.

English singer, model and actress Sarah Harding, from English-Irish pop girl group Girls Aloud, which was created through the ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. They scored the 2002 UK No.1 single 'Sound Of The Underground' and over 20 UK Top 20 singles. Girls Aloud hold the record for 'Most Consecutive Top Ten Entries' in the UK by a Female Group. In August 2020, Harding announced that she had been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer; she revealed in March 2021 that her condition was terminal. Harding died on 5 September 2021, at the age of 39.

American musician Isaac Hanson, guitar, keyboards and vocals with Hanson, who had the 1997 UK & US No.1 single 'MMMbop'. Hanson has sold over 16 million records worldwide and has had 8 top 40 albums and 6 top 40 singles in the US.

Ronald Devoe, singer from American R&B group New Edition who had the 1983 UK No.1 single 'Candy Girl', and with Bell Biv De Voe had the 1990 US No.3 single 'Do Me!' After New Edition's 1990 breakup, DeVoe and fellow New Edition members Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins formed the R&B/hip-hop group Bell Biv DeVoe. Bell Biv DeVoe's 1990 debut album Poison sold more than 5 million copies and garnered five hit singles.

Richard Fortus American guitarist. He is best known as a member of Guns N' Roses with whom he has been a member since 2002. Fortus has also collaborated extensively with The Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler.

American singer, songwriter and guitarist Jeff Buckley. After a decade as a session guitarist in Los Angeles, he attracted a cult following in the early 1990s, performing at venues in the East Village, Manhattan. He signed with Columbia, recruited a band, and released his only studio album, the 1995 Grace. Buckley drowned on 29th May 1997 in Wolf River Harbor on the Mississippi River - during a spontaneous evening swim. Since his death, there have been many posthumous releases of his material including his cover of Leonard Cohen's song 'Hallelujah' which became No.1 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs in March 2008 and reached No.2 in the UK Singles Chart. His singer-songwriter father Tim Buckley, died on 29th June 1975 of a heroin and morphine overdose.

American drag queen, television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor RuPaul, who had the 1994 UK No.7 single with Elton John, 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', and the 1998 UK No.21 single, 'It's Raining Men'. In mid-2008, RuPaul began producing RuPaul's Drag Race, a reality television game show and has gone on to produce seventeen seasons in the United States.

American guitarist Jim Babjak, from The Smithereens. The band had a string of hits in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, including 'Only a Memory', 'A Girl Like You' and 'Too Much Passion'.

Peter Cox, singer with Go West, who had the 1985 UK No.5 single 'We Close Our Eyes' and hits with 'Call Me' and 'King of Wishful Thinking'. They were named Best British Newcomer at the 1986 Brit Awards.

Scottish singer songwriter Iain Sutherland from Sutherland Brothers and Quiver, who had the 1976 UK No.5 single 'Arms Of Mary'. The Sutherland Brothers song 'Sailing', gave a major UK hit to Rod Stewart in 1975. Sutherland died on 25 November 2019, aged 71.

American musician Robert Antoni, who was a member of Nazz, and Utopia with Todd Rundgren. Nazz are best known for their debut single 'Open My Eyes', and 'Hello It's Me'.

Rod Clements from English group Lindisfarne who had the 1970s hit singles 'Meet Me on the Corner', 'Lady Eleanor and 'Run For Home'. Their album Fog on the Tyne became the biggest selling UK album in 1972.

English rock musician Martin Barre best known for his work with progressive rock band Jethro Tull from their second album in 1969 to the band's initial dissolution in 2012.

American singer-songwriter Gene Clark. He was a founding member of the folk rock band the Byrds, who had the 1965 UK & US No.1 single 'Mr Tambourine Man'. He was the Byrds' principal songwriter between 1964 and early 1966, writing most of the band's best-known originals from this period, including 'I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better', 'She Don't Care About Time' and 'Eight Miles High'. His fourth solo studio No Other (1974), received five-star reviews. Clark's health continued to decline as his substance abuse accelerated, and he was diagnosed with throat cancer in early 1991. He died on May 24, 1991, at the age of 46 from heart disease as a result of a bleeding ulcer.

American songwriter, singer, musician, and record producer Bob Gaudio. He rose to musical fame at the age of 15 as a member of The Royal Teens, who had the 1958 US No.3 single 'Short Shorts. As a member of The Four Seasons, he wrote the 1960s hits 'Sherry', 'Big Girls Don't Cry', 'Walk Like a Man', and the 1976 UK & US No.1 single 'December 1963, (Oh What A Night').

Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Gordon Lightfoot. He had the 1971 UK No.30 single 'If You Could Read My Mind' and the 1974 US No.1 single 'Sundown'. Several of Lightfoot's albums achieved gold and multi-platinum status internationally and his songs have been recorded by many notable artists. The Guess Who recorded a song called 'Lightfoot' on their 1968 album Wheatfield Soul; the lyrics contain many Lightfoot song titles. He died on 1 May 2023 age 84.

English comedian, actor, satirist, playwright and screenwriter Peter Cook. With Dudley Moore he had the 1965 UK No.18 single 'Goodbye-ee'. With Moore he released a series of albums as Derek and Clive, which were considered highly offensive by many at the time. In 1978, Cook appeared on the British music series Revolver as the manager of a ballroom where emerging punk and new wave acts played. For some groups, these were their first television appearances. Cook died aged 57, whilst in a coma, on 9 January 1995, at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, London, from a gastrointestinal haemorrhage, a complication resulting from years of heavy drinking.