This Day In Music Search

Bruce Springsteen was at No.1 on the UK album chart with his twentieth studio album Letter to You. Since touring was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the album was promoted with an online radio station. It features three tracks originally written prior to Springsteen's 1973 debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N. J.: 'If I Was the Priest,' 'Janey Needs a Shooter' and 'Song for Orphans.' Springsteen came across earlier recordings of these songs with John Hammond while assembling a compilation album.

Rihanna joined The Beatles and Elvis Presley as one of just three acts to top the UK singles chart seven times over seven years. The singer made the No.1 spot, as the featured artist on Eminem's new track 'The Monster'.

A copyright infringement lawsuit filed by songwriter Guy Hobbs against Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin over their hit song 'Nikita' was thrown out of court. The Judge ruled that both songs shared similar themes and phrases, but that these were prevalent in modern music.

No Doubt filed a lawsuit over its portrayal in the music video game Band Hero. The lawsuit alleged that the game had "transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act", singing dozens of songs the group neither wrote, popularized, nor approved for use in the game. The case was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and cited Activision, the game's distributor, as having exceeded the contractual likenesses of the members of No Doubt. In 2012, the issue was settled out of court, two weeks before the scheduled trial date.

The Eagles went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Long Road Out of Eden. It was the group's first full studio album since The Long Run in 1979 and became the highest selling album of the year.

Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin received the Music Industry Trusts Award for one of the greatest songwriting partnerships of all time.

Oasis singer Liam Gallagher was arrested after an alleged drunken brawl with photographer Mel Bouzac at a London pub. Bouzac had been tipped off that Liam was in the pub wearing a Russian hat and attempted to take photos.

Fall singer Mark E. Smith appeared at Manhattan Criminal Court on assault charges accused of kicking, punching and choking his girlfriend and band keyboard player Julia Nagle at a New York Hotel.

Shania Twain released her third studio album Come On Over which became the best-selling country music album, by a female act. To date, the album has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, shipped over 20 million copies in the United States, and in the UK it has sold over 3.3 million. Out of the album's 16 tracks, 12 were released as singles.

Depeche Mode's Martin Gore was arrested at the Denver Westin Hotel after refusing to turn down the volume of his music in his room.

Bobby "Blue" Bland, Booker T. & The M.G.s, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, The Isley Brothers, Sam & Dave and The Yardbirds were all elected to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

Roxette scored their second US No.1 single with 'Listen To Your Heart', a No.6 hit in the UK the following year.

Elton John scored his 50th UK chart hit when 'Sacrifice', entered the charts. Only Cliff Richard and Elvis Presley had also achieved this feat. Sacrifice was initially released as a single in 1989, but stalled at No.55 in the UK and at No.18 in the US. English DJ, Steve Wright, began playing the song on BBC Radio 1 and the song was then re-released as a double A-side single, along with 'Healing Hands'.

U2 were on the front cover of UK pop magazine 'Smash Hits', which also had features on the Pet Shop Boys, Wet Wet Wet, T'Pau, Sting and Black. Reviewed in the new singles page The Smiths 'I Started Something I Couldn't Finish'.

Prince played the first of seven nights at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan at the start of his 87-date North American Purple Rain tour. The outing marked the live debut of his new band The Revolution.

Bob Marley was baptised at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Kingston, converting to a Christian Rastafarian and taking on the new name Berhane Selassie.

The Police released 'Walking on the Moon' as the second single from their second studio album, Reggatta de Blanc which became the band's second No.1 hit in the UK. Sting has said that he wrote the song when he was drunk one night after a concert in Munich. The following morning, he remembered the song and wrote it down.

Crosby Stills Nash & Young were sued by former bass player Greg Reeves for over a $1 million claiming he was owed from sales of their album 'Deja Vu'.

The Last Waltz, the movie of The Bands final concert premiered in New York. The Martin Scorsese movie also featured Joni Mitchell, Dr John, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton.

Johnny Nash started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Can See Clearly Now', his only US chart topper, it made No.5 in the UK.

The Who opened up The Rainbow Finsbury Park, London, England appearing on the first of three nights.

David Bowie released his third studio album, The Man Who Sold the World in the US - the first with the nucleus of what would become the "Spiders from Mars", backing band. The album was released in the UK in April the following year.

Founder member of The Ink Spots, Ivory Watson died aged 60. The group who formed in the early 1930s in Indianapolis, had the 1939 US hit ‘If I Didn't Care’, and ‘The Gypsy’ was their biggest chart success, staying at the No.1 position for 13 weeks.

Pink Floyd made their US live debut when they appeared at the Winterland Auditorium, San Francisco, California. Floyd shared the bill with local group Big Brother & The Holding Company, featuring singer Janis Joplin and singer / songwriter Richie Havens.

The Beach Boys 'Good Vibrations', entered the UK chart and went on to be a UK & US No.1 hit single. As a child, Brian Wilson's 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.

The night after The Rolling Stones had just come off a 30-date UK tour with The Everly Brothers, they kicked off another 50-date UK club tour at the Top Rank Ballroom in Preston.

The Beatles topped the bill at The Royal Variety Show at The Prince Of Wales Theatre, London. With the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret in the audience, this was the night when John Lennon made his famous remark ‘In the cheaper seats you clap your hands. The rest of you, just rattle your jewellery’. The show was broadcast on UK television on the Nov 10th 1963.

Cliff Richard scored his first UK No.1 album with his 5th release '21 Today'. The album was released on October 14, 1961, the exact date of Cliff Richard's 21st birthday. Side 1 of the album contained rock tunes while side 2 consisted of ballads.

Jackie Wilson made his US chart debut with 'Reet Petite', (it made No.1 in the UK in 1986, 29 years after its first release). On September 29, 1975, Wilson was one of the featured acts in Dick Clark’s Good Ol’ Rock and Roll Revue,. He was in the middle of singing 'Lonely Teardrops' when he suffered a massive heart attack. He remained in a minimally conscious state until he died in 1984.

English singer Kavana, who scored several hit singles in the late 1990s in the UK including, the 1997 UK No.8 single 'I Can Make You Feel Good'.

Louise Redknapp, from British R&B girl group Eternal who had the 1997 UK No.1 single 'I Wanna Be The Only One', and the 1993 UK No.2 album Always & Forever. They achieved 15 UK Top 20 hits between 1993 and 1999. She had the 1996 solo UK No.5 single 'Naked'.

American singer, songwriter and actor Gregory Porter. He has twice won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album: first in 2014 for Liquid Spirit and then again in 2017 for Take Me to the Alley.

American former rapper, record producer, and record executive Sean Combs, (aka, Puff Daddy & P Diddy). He had the 1997 US & UK No.1 single with Faith Evans, 'I'll Be Missing You' (the most successful rap single of all time). He was the producer of MTV's Making the Band and is credited with the discovery and development of musical artists such as the Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Usher, among others. In late 2023, Combs settled a high-profile sexual assault and abuse lawsuit filed by his former partner Cassie Ventura. Numerous lawsuits regarding sexual misconduct were filed in the following months, with several claimants alleging sexual assault and abuse by Combs between 1991 and 2009. In March 2024, and that September he was charged with federal sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering. He pleaded not guilty and was denied bail three times. His trial began on May 5, 2025; on July 2, he was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. On October 3, 2025, Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison with credit for 12 months time served.

American musician Troy McLawhorn who has been the guitarist in the rock band Evanescence since 2007. He has also worked with the bands Seether, Dark New Day, doubleDrive, Still Rain, and Gibraltar. As of 2022, Evanescence has sold over 32 million albums.

Kool Rock, (Damon Wimbley), rapper, from the American hip-hop trio The Fat Boys, who had the 1988 UK No.2 single 'Wipe-out'. The Fat Boys were one of the first rap groups to release full-length rap albums, along with Run-DMC, Whodini and Kurtis Blow.

American musician Wayne Static best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, and primary lyricist for the industrial metal band Static-X. Their second album, Machine (2001) peaked at No. 11 on the US chart. Static died on November 1, 2014, in Landers, California, three days before his 49th birthday. He had consumed oxycodone as well as alcohol that morning before going to bed with his wife. She woke up later that day to find that he had died in his sleep.

Scottish singer Lena Zavaroni, who had the 1974 UK No.10 single 'Ma He's Making Eyes At Me'. She was discovered on the UK TV talent show Opportunity Knocks and at the age of 10, with her debut album Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me), She was the youngest person to have had an album in the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart. Later, she starred in her own television series. From age 13, Zavaroni suffered from anorexia nervosa, and she developed clinical depression when she was 15. Following an operation to cure her depression, Zavaroni died at the age of 35 from pneumonia on 1 October 1999.

English rock guitarist, songwriter James Honeyman-Scott who was a founding member of the English-American rock band The Pretenders. The band's first single, a cover of the Kinks song 'Stop Your Sobbing' was released in February 1979 and gained critical attention. It was followed by 'Kid' in June 1979. In January 1980, the band reached No. 1 in the UK with 'Brass in Pocket', which was also successful in the US, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Honeyman-Scott died on 16th June 1982 of heart failure caused by cocaine intolerance age 25.

English singer, musician, songwriter Chris Difford, who was a founding member of Squeeze. Some of their best-known songs are 'Tempted', 'Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)', 'Cool for Cats' and 'Up the Junction'. After the break-up of Squeeze in 1983, Difford continued writing songs for artists such as Jools Holland, Helen Shapiro, Billy Bremner, Wet Wet Wet and Elvis Costello. Difford now works as a solo artist.

Mike Smith from Welsh rock group Amen Corner best known for their hits 'Bend Me, Shape Me' (1968) and the 1969 UK No.1 single 'If Paradise Is Half As Nice', plus five other UK Top 40 hits. Amen Corner were part of a 16 date British package tour in 1967 with Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Move and The Nice.

American singer Sherri Payne best known as the final lead singer of The Supremes from 1973 until 1977, joining Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong. Payne is the younger sister of singer Freda Payne, who had the 1970 hit single 'Band of Gold'.

American singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist Delbert McClinton, who had the 1980 US No.8 single 'Giving It Up For Your Love'. He also worked with Bruce Channel, wrote and wrote 'Two More Bottles Of Wine', a country No.1 for Emmylou Harris. His highest-charting single was 'Tell Me About It', a 1992 duet with Tanya Tucker, which reached No. 4 on the US Country chart.

American musician Harry Elson from American vocal group The Friends Of Distinction, who had the 1969 US No.3 single 'Grazing In The Grass'. The Friends of Distinction were discovered by American football player Jim Brown, who also discovered Earth, Wind & Fire, and were signed to RCA Records. Elston died on March 4, 2025, at the age of 86.

British pop singer Dickie Valentine who enjoyed great popularity in Britain during the 1950s. In addition to several other Top Ten hit singles, Valentine had two chart-toppers on the UK Singles Chart with 'Finger of Suspicion' (1954) and the seasonal 'Christmas Alphabet' (1955) the first Christmas song to reach the No.1 position. It was the first Christmas No.1 that was actually about Christmas, a trend that would continue off and on over the next several decades. He was killed outright in a car crash on a single lane bridge near Crickhowell, Wales on 6 May 1971, at the age of 41, together with pianist Sidney Boatman and drummer Dave Pearson, aged 42.