This Day In Music Search

Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer Karl Wallinger died age 66. He was a member of The Waterboys, (1985 album 'This Is The Sea'). Wallinger quit the band in 1986 and formed World Party, the song 'Ship of Fools', was a Top 40 hit in the United States in 1987, 'Way Down Now', (1990) reached No.1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. The 1990 World Party album Goodbye Jumbo was voted "album of the year" by Q magazine and was nominated for a Grammy Award. The Wallinger-penned 'She's the One' from World Party's fourth studio album, Egyptology (1997) was later covered by Robbie Williams and became a UK No.1 hit single.

Miley Cyrus released her eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation. The album was supported by three singles. The lead single, 'Flowers', set several streaming and chart records and spent eight weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Cyrus' second No.1 in the country, and topped the charts in 36 other countries. 'River' and 'Jaded' followed as subsequent singles in March and April 2023. The album officially debuted at No. 1 in ten countries and was in the top 5 of seventeen official charts.

Mariah Carey filed for a trademark application for the phrase "Queen Of Christmas." The trademark would have given her the legal right to stop others from using the title on music and merchandise but the application was denied by the US Patent and Trademark Office the following year. Carey's company Lotion LLC applied for the yuletide trademark leading to another singer, Elizabeth Chan, putting in a legal challenge in August 2021, in an attempt to block her from obtaining the registration.

American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Asa Brebner died age 65. He was a member of The Modern Lovers led by Jonathan Richman. They are best know for their 1976 hit ‘Roadrunner’ which Rolling Stone ranked it Number 274 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

American singer–songwriter, actress and producer Joni Sledge died from natural causes age 60. She was best known as a founding member of Sister Sledge, who were best known for their hits 'We Are Family' and 'He's The Greatest Dancer'.

Pink Floyd won a court battle with EMI that prevented the record company from selling single downloads and ringtones on the Internet from the group's albums. Pink Floyd's back catalogue was second only in sales to The Beatles.

Tickets for a one-off gig by Sir Paul McCartney in Las Vegas sold out seven seconds after going on sale. The former Beatle was booked to perform at the opening of the New Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on 19 April 2009 in-front of 4,000 fans. Tickets cost $750 each.

Michael Jackson arrived in a Santa Barbara court an hour late dressed in his pyjamas after being treated for a back injury. Jackson was attending the Santa Moria court for his child abuse trial.

A survey carried out by Music Choice concluded that 'Angels' by Robbie Williams was the song Britons would most like played at their funeral. Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' was second and Monty Python's 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' was voted into third place.

During a concert in London, England, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines said that the band was "ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas" (referring to Maines' hometown of Lubbock and President Bush hailing from the same state). This was during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, the comment sparked intense controversy and outrage among Americans, including a large share of country music fans.

Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde was arrested for leading an animal rights protest against the clothing firm Gap, who were accused of using leather from cows slaughtered 'illegally and cruelly'. The protest took place in a store in Manhattan.

American rhythm and blues singer Lavern Baker died from coronary complications aged 57. Had the 1958 US No.6 single 'I Cried A Tear.'

Alanis Morissette won Best Album for Jagged Little Pill, Best Female singer, Best Rock Album, Best songwriter and best single at the 25th Juno Awards held in Hamilton, Canada.

Former Stone Roses' manager Gareth Evans' £10 million ($17 million) lawsuit with the band was settled out of court over alleged wrongful dismissal for an undisclosed sum.

Younger brother of The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb died in hospital. His death from myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) followed a long battle with cocaine addiction, which had weakened his heart.

Gloria Gaynor started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Will Survive', also a No.1 in the UK. The song was originally released as the B-side to a song first recorded by The Righteous Brothers called 'Substitute.'

At 7am in the morning on a trestle table set up out-side Buckingham Palace, London, the Sex Pistols signed to A&M Records, (the real signing had taken place the day before). An after party was held at the offices of A&M records following the signing where the group set about reeking unforeseen havoc on the posh building, with Sid Vicious smashing a toilet and cutting his foot, trailing blood everywhere he went, while Rotten cursed and threatened every upscale executive in sight and guitarist Steve Jones getting it on with an unnamed fan in the restrooms.The contract lasted for six days.

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel recorded 'The Sounds Of Silence' as an acoustic duo. It wasn't until record company producers added electric guitar, bass and drums, without the knowledge of Paul and Art, that the song would become a hit in late 1965.

Bruce Channel started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hey! Baby'. The song features a prominent riff from harmonica player Delbert McClinton, who while touring the UK in 1962 with The Beatles, McClinton met John Lennon and gave him some harmonica tips. Lennon put the lessons to use right away on ‘Love Me Do’.

UK trade paper Record Retailer published the UK's first ever EP (extended player) chart and LP chart. No. 1 EP was 'Expresso Bongo' by Cliff Richard & The Shadows and No.1 LP 'The Explosive Freddy Cannon.'

Big Records released 'Our Song' by a teenage duo from Queens, New York, Tom and Jerry. The duo will become famous in the '60s under their real names, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

RCA Records placed a half page advert in Billboard Magazine claiming that Elvis Presley was 'the new singing rage.'

Emeli Sandé, Scottish singer, songwriter. Sandé has three UK No.1 singles with 'Read All About It' with Professor Green, 'Next to Me' and 'Beneath Your Beautiful'.

Carrie Underwood, American pop country music singer, winner of the fourth season of American Idol. Her debut album 'Some Hearts' is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. In 2010, when Carrie garnered her second win as ACM Entertainer of the Year, she became the first female artist to win the award twice, and only the 7th female to take the award in the 40-year history of the ACM category, among Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, and the Dixie Chicks.

Robin Thicke, singer-songwriter, record producer, actor and musician. His mother is American actress-singer Gloria Loring, who appeared on US daytime drama Days of Our Lives, and his father was Canadian actor Alan Thicke, who was known for his role on the TV sitcom Growing Pains. In the US, 'Blurred Lines' topped the Billboard Hot 100 for twelve consecutive weeks, becoming the longest running No.1 single of 2013 and of the 2010s decade. The song peaked at No.1 in 25 countries. Thicke has also written hits for Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and Mary J. Blige.

John Charles LeCompt, guitar, with American rock band Evanescence who had the 2003 UK No.1 & US No.5 single ‘Bring Me To Life’, and the 2003 UK No.1 & US No.3 album Fallen.

Timothy Z. Mosley (Timbaland), R&B producer and rapper. With partner Magoo, he is a member of hip-hop duo Timbaland & Magoo. Produced hits for Nelly Furtado, Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Utada Hikaru, Ludacris and The Pussycat Dolls.

Susie Q, (Susie Banfield), from English rap duo Cookie Crew who had the 1988 UK No.5 single 'Rok Da House'.

American drummer Dave Krusen best known for being the original drummer for Pearl Jam. Krusen was also a member of the bands Hovercraft, Unified Theory and Candlebox.

American singer-songwriter Edie Brickell best known for 1988's Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, the debut album by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, which went to No. 4 on the Billboard Albums chart and featured the Top Ten single 'What I Am'. Brickell married Paul Simon in 1992.

Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper Neneh Cherry, who had the 1988 UK & US No.3 single 'Buffalo Stance' and a 1994 UK No.3 single '7 Seconds' with Youssou N'dour. Her musical career started in London in the early 1980s, where she performed in a number of punk and post-punk bands including the Slits and Rip Rig + Panic. Cherry has won two Brit Awards and an MTV Europe Music Award (with Youssou N'Dour). She has also been nominated for a Grammy Award.

Patrick Kane from Scottish pop duo Hue and Cry. They scored the 1987 UK No.6 single 'Labour Of Love'.

Jay "Rick" Rubin, American record producer and former co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin is the founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings. 

Jeff Ament, bassist for Pearl Jam who had the 1992 single 'Jeremy', have scored 5 US No.1 albums and have sold more than 85 million albums worldwide. One of the key bands in the grunge movement of the early 1990s they are considered one of the most influential bands of the decade.

Eliot Lewis, American singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for his work with Average White Band (1989-2002) and Hall & Oates. Lewis is also an integral part of Live From Daryl's House.

Gary Clark, guitarist from Scottish pop group Danny Wilson who had the 1988 UK No.3 single 'Mary's Prayer'. Clark become a successful songwriter for other artists including Natalie Imbruglia, Liz Phair, k.d. lang and former Spice Girls Melanie C and Emma Bunton.

Bunny DeBarge singer from American family group DeBarge who had the 1983 US No.17 single 'All This Love', and the 1985 UK No.4 single 'Rhythm Of The Night'.

English singer Tina Charles, who had the 1976 UK No.1 single 'I Love to Love, But My Baby Loves to Dance'. Charles began her career as a backing singer and session musician and recorded her first solo single in 1969 with a then-unknown Elton John playing piano. During the early 1970s, she supplied vocals for the Top of the Pops album series of cover versions of contemporary hits.

Scottish drummer, Ted McKenna who has played with bands Tear Gas, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Rory Gallagher, The Sensational Party Boys and The Michael Schenker Group. He also toured with Ian Gillan for a short period in 1990. McKenna died on 19 January 2019 at the age of 68, of a hemorrhage during a routine operation for a hernia.

Tom Scholz, guitar, keyboards, Boston, (1977 UK No.23 single 'More Than A Feeling', 1986 US No.1 single 'Amanda'). Boston have sold more than 75 million records worldwide, including 31 million albums in the United States, of which 17 million were from their self-titled debut album and seven million were for their second album, Don't Look Back, making them one of the world's best-selling artists.

Pete Nelson, from English pop group The Flowerpot Men who had the 1967 UK No.4 single and a Top 20 hit Continental Europe hit in the autumn of 1967, with 'Let's Go To San Francisco'. He died on 23 October 2005 after a short battle with cancer.

Sam Cutler. He was the English tour manager for The Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd and other acts. In 1969, he acted as master of ceremonies at The Rolling Stones concert in Hyde Park London. Cutler died from cancer on 11 July 2023, at the age of 80.

Dean Torrence, who with Jan and Dean had the 1963 US No.1 & UK No.26, single 'Surf City', co written by The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson). Jan and Dean were pioneers of the California Sound and vocal surf music styles. Other hits include, Subsequent top 10 hits included 'Drag City' , 'Dead Man's Curve' and 'The Little Old Lady from Pasadena.'