This Day In Music Search

Lauryn Hill was being sued for breach of contract and fraud by her fellow Fugees bandmate, Pras Michél. The lawsuit, filed in New York, claimed that Hill mismanaged the budget of the band's 2023 comeback tour and it became "so bloated with unnecessary and, most likely fictitious, expenses, that it seemed designed to lose money." The lawsuit also claimed that Hill turned down $5m (£3.8m) to play at the Coachella festival without telling Michél about the offer because the Fugees would not have been top of the bill.

Ed Sheeran was ordered to stand trial in the US over claims he copied his hit song 'Thinking Out Loud' from Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On'. A judge denied Sheeran's bid to dismiss the case, saying a jury should decide on the similarities between the songs. The claim was originally lodged in 2018, by investment banker David Pullman and a company called Structured Asset Sales, which had acquired a portion of the estate of 'Let's Get It On' co-writer Ed Townsend. Seeking $100m (£90m) in damages, they alleged that Sheeran and his co-writer Amy Wadge "copied and exploited, without authorisation or credit".

A schoolboy from Philadelphia who skipped class to meet his musical hero handed his teacher an absence note with a difference. The typewritten note was signed by Bruce Springsteen. Fifth-grader Michael Fenerty met the star at a "meet-and-greet" in the Free Library of Philadelphia when Springsteen was in town signing copies of his new autobiography, Born to Run.

American guitarist and songwriter Marv Tarplin died aged 70. He was best known as the guitarist for the Miracles from the 1950s through the early 1970s who co-wrote several of their biggest hits, including the 1965 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted 'The Tracks of My Tears'. Tarplin also worked with Marvin Gaye, The Marvelettes and The Supremes.

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.

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. The album was nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning Best Rock Album, and was also awarded the Brit Award of Best International Album.

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.

Mick Jagger held a press conference with Dave Stewart at Essex House in New York City, USA, to promote the soundtrack to the movie Alfie. The re-make of the 1966 film also featured Joss Stone, Sheryl Crow and Nadirah Nadz Seid. The track 'Old Habits Die Hard' from the soundtrack by Mick Jagger and David A. Stewart won the BFCA Award, Golden Globe, Sierra Award and the World Soundtrack Award.

An auction of the contents of Sir Elton John's London home raised more than £1.4 million. An oil painting, entitled Madison Square Park, sold for £67,200, and a 19th Century portrait of Lieutenant George Dyer, painted by James Northcote in 1817, fetched £55,200. Sir Elton sold off the items so he could redecorate his home in a more modern style.

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.

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.

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.

T.A.F.K.A.P. launched music channel VH1 in the UK, which gave the first airing of his new video 'Dolphin.'

Kate Pierson from The B-52's was charged with criminal mischief and trespassing during an anti-fur protest at 'Vogue's' New York City offices.

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.

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John had their second UK No.1 from the film 'Grease' with 'Summer Nights.' Seven weeks at No.1 it became the second best selling single of 1978, beaten by 'Saturday Night Fever'.

Mary Ford died from cancer after being in a diabetic coma for 54 days. One-half of the husband-and-wife musical team, Les Paul and Mary Ford. Between 1950 and 1954, the couple had 16 top-ten hits; in 1951 alone, they sold six million records.

Police were called to a Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blue Oyster Cult concert after a fight broke out between two sound engineers. The Skynyrd roadie claimed that the sound had been deliberately turned off during the bands set.

David Cassidy was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'How Can I Be Sure.' It was the star from the US TV series the Partridge Family's first UK No.1. The song was originally recorded by The Young Rascals in 1967.

The UK's first National pop radio station, BBC Radio 1 was launched in the UK to take over from the very successful pirate radio stations, which had been forced off-air by the Government. Former pirate DJ Tony Blackburn, from Radio Caroline, was the first presenter on air, with The Move's Flowers In The Rain the first record to be played.

Donovan made his US television debut on Shindig! along with The Hollies, The Turtles and the Dave Clark Five.

The Rolling Stones performed at the Gaumont Theatre in Hanley, Staffordshire, UK. Also on the bill were The Moody Blues, The Spencer Davis Group, The End and The Habits. Bill Wyman produced singles and the debut album of The End, for Decca Records.

The Beatles continued recording sessions at Abbey Road for their fourth UK album Beatles For Sale, recording various takes of 'Every Little Thing', 'What You're Doing' and 'No Reply', which became the opening track on Beatles For Sale.

Ben Lovett, English musician, who plays guitar, accordion, percussion, keyboard and piano with Mumford & Sons. Their second studio album 'Babel' released in 2012 debuted at number one on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. It became the fastest selling album of 2012 in the UK.

American singer and rapper Faheem Najm known professionally as T-Pain. He is known for popularising the creative use of Auto-Tune pitch correction, often used with extreme parameter settings to create electronic-styled vocal performances. He scored the 2007 US No.1 single featuring American rapper Yung Joc 'Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')'.

Keisha Buchanan, singer, with British girl group Sugababes who had the 2002 UK No.1 single, 'Round Round'. In 2006, British Hit Singles & Albums named the Sugababes as the most successful female act of the 21st century with six UK No.1 singles and eighteen UK top ten hits.

Trey Anastasio, singer, guitarist from American rock band Phish who are known for musical improvisation, extended jams, and blending of genres.

American rock bassist and vocalist Robby Takac from Goo Goo Dolls. The band is renowned for their 1998 single, 'Iris', which spent 11 consecutive months on the Billboard Hot 100. They have sold 15 million records worldwide and received four Grammy Award nominations.

American musician Bill Rieflin who came to prominence in the 1990s mainly for his work as a drummer with groups such as Ministry, the Revolting Cocks, Swans, Chris Connelly, and Nine Inch Nails. He worked regularly with R.E.M. following the retirement of Bill Berry in 1997. He died on 24 March 2020 age 59.

Basia Trzetrzelewska, Polish singer with British band Matt Bianco. From around mid-to late-80s, the group scored a number of internationally charting singles, including 'Get Out of Your Lazy Bed', 'Whose Side Are You On?', 'Half a Minute', 'Yeh Yeh' and 'Don't Blame It on That Girl'.

American musician Gibby Haynes the lead singer of the band Butthole Surfers who had the 1996 Modern Rock Tracks chart No.1 single 'Pepper'. Haynes has also fronted the band P with friend and actor Johnny Depp.

Lesley Beach, saxophone with British reggae/ska/pop band from the 1980s Amazulu. They achieved success in the UK charts with four top-20 hits, the biggest being 'Too Good to Be Forgotten' in 1986.

John Lombardo from American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. They released four albums that charted in the top 50 in the US: In My Tribe (1987), Blind Man's Zoo (1989), Our Time in Eden (1992) and the live album MTV Unplugged (1993).

English guitarist, singer, songwriter, Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld), best known as the lead singer of the glam rock band T. Rex. In the late 1960s, he rose to fame as the founder and leader of the psychedelic folk band Tyrannosaurus Rex, with whom he released four critically acclaimed albums and had one minor hit, 'Debora'. He had the 1971 UK No.1 single 'Hot Love', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles, and the 1972 US No.10 single 'Bang A Gong (Get It On)'. Bolan strongly influenced artists of many genres. After seeing Bolan wearing Zandra Rhodes-designed outfits, Freddie Mercury enlisted Rhodes to design costumes for the next Queen tour in 1974. Bolan was the early guitar idol of Johnny Marr, who later found fame as the guitarist of the influential indie rock band the Smiths. Bolan was killed in a car accident on 16th September 1977 aged 29 a fortnight before his 30th birthday.

Sylvia Peterson, from the American all-girl group The Chiffons. The group was originally a trio of schoolmates who went on to score the 1963 US No.1 single 'He's So Fine'. This first hit was followed by other notable tunes such as Gerry Goffin and Carole King's 'One Fine Day', 'Sweet Talkin' Guy' and 'I Have A Boyfriend'.

Marilyn McCoo American singer who had the 1977 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'You Don't Have To Be A Star'. Also as a member of The 5th Dimension, they had the 1967 hit 'Up, Up and Away', written by Jimmy Webb the song won four 1968 Grammy Awards. McCoo was the host of the 1980s US music television show Solid Gold.

Gus Dudgeon, producer. Best known for his work with Elton John, (their first collaboration was 'Your Song'). Dudgeon also produced Chris Rea's first hit, the US chart-topping 'Fool (If You Think It's Over)', and David Bowie's 'Space Oddity'. He worked with many artists, including The Beach Boys, the Zombies, Kiki Dee, Strawbs, XTC and Joan Armatrading. His production of John Kongos' hit 'He's Gonna Step on You Again' (1971) used a tape loop of African tribal drumming. The Guinness Book of Records cites Dudgeon as being the first person to use sampling in music production. Dudgeon was killed in a car accident on 21st July 2002, his wife, Sheila, was also killed in the accident.

American rock and roll, rhythm and blues singer and songwriter Frankie Lymon. With Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, he had the 1956 UK No.1 & US No.6 single 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'. Following an arrest for heroin use in 1966, Lymon joined the United States Army instead of a jail sentence. However, he repeatedly went AWOL to secure gigs at small Southern clubs. He died from a heroin overdose on 27th February 1968, aged 25.

Canadian rock drummer Dewey Martin from The Dillards and Buffalo Springfield, who had the 1967 US No.17 single 'For What It's Worth'. Martin also did session work for The Monkees. Martin died on 31st Jan 2009, aged 68.

American singer Johnny Mathis. He had the 1976 UK No.1 single 'When A Child Is Born', plus 10 other UK Top 40 singles and the 1978 US No.1 single 'Too Much Too Little Too Late' and over 15 other US Top 40 singles. His Greatest Hits album spent over nine years on the US chart. Mathis has released 200 singles and had 71 songs chart worldwide.

American soul and gospel singer Cissy Houston, (mother of Whitney Houston). She was a member of Sweet Inspirations, The Drinkard Singers, (with Dionne Warwick), and as a back-up singer worked with Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, David Bowie (Young Americans), Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison, (Moondance), Beyoncé, (Dangerously In Love) and many others. Houston died on 7 October 2024, at the age of 91.