This Day In Music Search

English songwriter Barry Mason died age 85. A leading songwriter of the 1960s, he wrote the bulk of his most successful songs in partnership with Les Reed. His song writing credits included three UK Singles Chart No.1s, "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)", "The Last Waltz", and "I Pretend". His songs have been recorded by many artists including Tom Jones, David Essex, The Drifters, Rod Stewart, Petula Clark, Perry Como, Elvis Presley and Engelbert Humperdinck.

The Kingsmen guitarist Mike Mitchell died. The 1960s garage rock and blue-eyed soul band from Portland, Oregon, are best known for their 1963 recording of R&B singer Richard Berry's 'Louie Louie'. Their first album, The Kingsmen in Person, remained on the Billboard Top LPs chart for 131 weeks from January 1964 to August 1966.

English harmonica player and vocalist Lew Lewis died. He was a member of Eddie and the Hot Rods before forming his own bands and released a solo single for Stiff Records. Influenced in style by Little Walter, he also guested on albums by The Stranglers, The Clash and others. In 1987, Lewis was given a seven-year jail sentence for armed robbery, after holding up a post office with a fake pistol, stealing £5,000 and trying to escape on a shopping bike.

British guitarist and composer Martin Quittenton died. He played in the blues rock band Steamhammer, formed in 1968 and Quittenton also worked with Rod Stewart and co-wrote the international hit singles 'Maggie May' and 'You Wear It Well'. Stewart invited Quittenton to join his group Faces, but Quittenton was not attracted by the wild off-stage antics for which the Faces were notorious.

An auction of part of the model railway collection owned by record producer Pete Waterman raised more than £600,000. Waterman said he was selling the collection, which included 56 Gauge 1 steam models, to fund apprenticeships at the heritage trust he runs.

Edwin Shirley the co-founded Edwin Shirley Trucking, which became one of the largest music transport companies in Europe died of cancer. Brian May noted Shirley's importance to their touring operation: 'Edwin was at the head of Queen's vehicle convoy for so many years I can't begin to remember how many... He was a great pal of Gerry Stickells, our illustrious Tour Manager and the two of them wrote the book on how to party on tour.'

Jerry Lee Lewis filed for divorce from his sixth wife, Kerrie McCarver Lewis. The 67-year-old singer married Kerrie in 1984 who was the president of Lewis Enterprises Inc. fan club.

Skip Spence, an original member of Jefferson Airplane and founding member of Moby Grape, died of lung cancer in a San Francisco hospital aged 52. He had battled schizophrenia and alcoholism.

Mark Morrison was convicted with threatening a police officer with an illegal 23,000-volt electric stun gun. The singer left Maryebone Magistrates' Court in tears after being warned he was likely to be sent to prison.

Kiss appeared in full make-up at the 38th Grammy Awards, where they announced a reunion tour. It would mark the first time all four members had appeared together in over fifteen years.

Prince had his first UK No.1 with 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World', (his 37th single release). It was his first release since changing his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol.

David Lee Roth was arrested in New York's Washington Square Park for allegedly buying a $10 bag of marijuana.

Paul McCartney headlined a concert at the Hollywood Bowl to celebrate 'Earth Day' along with Ringo Starr, Don Henley and Steve Miller. McCartney had last performed there as a member of The Beatles in 1965.

David Soul one half of TV cop show Starsky & Hutch, went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Give Up On Us', his only US hit. Also No.1 in the UK.

Paul McCartney's first television special, James Paul McCartney, was aired in America on the ABC network. The show, which includes performances by McCartney and Wings, would be broadcast in the UK on May 10th.

The Electric Light Orchestra made their debut at The Fox and Greyhound in Croydon, London. ELO were formed to accommodate former Move members Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. Wood departed following the band's debut record, Lynne wrote and arranged all of the group's original compositions and produced every album.

Pink Floyd appeared at the Township Auditorium, Columbia, South Carolina, USA. A typical set list on this The Dark Side of The Moon tour was: The Dark Side of the Moon (entire album), One of These Days, Careful with that Axe Eugene, Echoes, Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun.

The Led Zeppelin single 'Whole Lotta Love' was certified Gold in the US after selling over a million copies. The single had peaked at No. 4 on the US singles chart. In the UK Atlantic Records had expected to issue the edited version themselves, and pressed initial copies for release on 5th December 1969. However, band manager Peter Grant was adamant that the band maintain a 'no-singles' approach to marketing their recorded music in the UK, and he halted the release.

Elektra Records dropped Detroit's MC5 from their label after the band took out an advertisement in a local paper that included the company logo and said; 'Fuck Hudsons.' The band were protesting at the Michigan department store's refusal to stock their albums.

Desmond Dekker and the Aces were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Israelites', making Dekker the first Jamaican artist to have an UK No.1 single.

The Rolling Stones first album was released in the UK, it went to No.1 two weeks later and stayed on the chart for 40 weeks, with 11 weeks at No.1. The American edition of the LP, with a slightly different track list, came out on London Records on 30 May 1964, subtitled England's Newest Hit Makers, which later became its official title.

The Beatles filmed the 'chase scenes' for A Hard Day's Night with actors dressed as policemen in the Notting Hill Gate area of London. In the evening they recorded the title track for the film, 'A Hard Day's Night' at Abbey Road. John and Paul had the title first, and had to write a song to order, completing the track in nine takes.

Chuck Berry recorded "Roll Over Beethoven" which was released by Chess Records the following month. It is said that Berry wrote the song in response to his sister Lucy always using the family piano to play classical music when Berry wanted to play pop music. The lyric "roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news" refers to how classical composers would roll over in their graves upon hearing that classical music had given way to rock and roll.

American recording artist Chance the Rapper. His third mixtape Coloring Book earned him three Grammy awards, including Best Rap Album. He featured on the 2017 US No.1 hit single 'I'm The One' by DJ Khaled with Justin Bieber.

Akon, (Aliaune Thiam), US singer, (2005 UK No.1 album ‘Trouble’, 2005 UK No.1 and US No.4 single ‘Lonely’, (which samples Bobby Vinton's ‘Mr. Lonely’). Akon is the first solo artist to hold both the No.1 and No.2 spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. He was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the No.1 selling artist for master ringtones in the world.

Selena Quintanilla-P’rez, best known as Selena, Mexican American singer "the queen of Tejano music.’ Her album Selena Live! won a Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Album at the 36th Grammy Awards. Yolanda Sald’var the president of her fan club, murdered her on March 31, 1995. Warner Brothers made a film based on her life starring Jennifer Lopez in 1997.

Sean Cook, bassist from English space rock band Spiritualized. They released the critically acclaimed 1997 Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, which NME magazine named as their Album of the Year.

American songwriter, singer Dave Pirner with American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, who had the 1993 US No.5 and UK No.7 single 'Runaway Train' from their album Grave Dancers Union.

American singer, actor, and businessman Little Jimmy Osmond, who is the youngest member of the sibling musical group the Osmonds. He scored the 1972 UK No.1 single 'Long Haired Lover From Liverpool'.

Nick Berry, English singer, actor who had the 1986 UK No.1 single 'Every Loser Wins'.

American bassist, singer, and songwriter Jason Scheff who from 1985 to 2016 was the bassist and singer with Chicago. His lead vocals were debuted on the 1986 single '25 or 6 to 4,' a remake of their 1970 hit, then followed up with 'Will You Still Love Me?'

Stephen Singleton, saxophonist with English pop band ABC who as part of the New Romantic movement had the 1982 UK No.4 & 1983 US No.18 'The Look Of Love'. Their 1982 debut album, The Lexicon of Love, was a UK No.1 and they achieved ten UK and five US Top 40 hit singles between 1981 and 1990.

Scottish musician Paul Buchanan from The Blue Nile who released the 1989 UK No.12 album, Hats. Buchanan's songs have been covered by Annie Lennox, Julian Lennon, Michael McDonald, Robbie Robertson and Rod Stewart.

Peter Garrett Australian musician, environmentalist, activist. He became the singer with the Australian rock band Midnight Oil in 1973. In 2010, their album Diesel and Dust ranked No.1 in the book The 100 Best Australian Albums.

John Bentley who is best known as the bassist for the band Squeeze from 1980 to 1982 appearing on the albums Argybargy, East Side Story and Sweets from a Stranger.

Dave Peverett, (also known as Lonesome Dave) was an English singer and guitarist with Savoy Brown and a founder member of Foghat, who had the 1976 US No. 20 single 'Slow Ride'. He died of cancer on 7th February 2000.

Bill 'Sputnick' Spooner, guitar, with American band The Tubes known for their 1977 hit single 'White Punks On Dope' and the 1983 US No.10 single 'She's A Beauty'.

British-born arranger Robert Kirby. He was best known for his work on the Nick Drake albums, Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter, but also worked with Elton John, Ralph McTell, Strawbs, Paul Weller and Elvis Costello. He died on 3 October 2009 age 61.

Drummer, Lee Kerslake, best known for his performances on Ozzy Osbourne’s critically-acclaimed debut album, Blizzard of Ozz, and was also the drummer in Uriah Heep appearing on their 1972 album Demons and Wizards and nine studio records before departing in 1978. He died from prostate cancer on 19 September 2020 aged 73.

Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty who with Stealers Wheel had the 1973 US No.3 & UK No.8 single 'Stuck In The Middle With You'. The song was used in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs, during the famous 'ear' scene. He is best known for his 1978 solo hit the UK No.3 and US No.2 single 'Baker Street.' He was also a member of late 1960s group The Humblebums with Billy Connolly. Rafferty died on 4th Jan 2011 at the age of 63 after suffering a long illness.

English singer Dusty Springfield who had her first solo UK hit single in 1963 with ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, which reached No.4, the 1966 UK No.1 & US No.4 single with 'You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles. With her brother Dion O'Brien ("Tom Springfield") and Tim Feild, Springfield formed the folk-pop vocal trio The Springfields. Two of their five 1961–63 top 40 UK hits 'Island of Dreams' and 'Say I Won't Be There' reached No. 5 on the charts. Her image, marked by a peroxide blonde bouffant/beehive hairstyle, heavy makeup and evening gowns, made her an icon of the Swinging Sixties. She died on 3 March 1999 age 59.

American singer and songwriter Bobby Vinton who had the 1963 US No.1 single & 1990 UK No.2 single 'Blue Velvet', (a cover of Tony Bennett's 1951 hit) plus 29 other US Top 40 hits. As a teen idol, he became known as "The Polish Prince", as his music paid tribute to his Polish heritage and he hosted his own self-titled TV show in the late 1970s.

American singer Roy Hamilton who had the 1955 US No.6 single 'Unchained Melody.' and recored 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Hamilton died of a stroke on 29th July 1969.

American composer, conductor and arranger, Henry Mancini. His best known works include the theme to The Pink Panther film series, 'Moon River' to Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the theme to the Peter Gunn television series. He died 14th June 1994.

American musician Rudy Pompilli best known for playing tenor saxophone with Bill Haley and His Comets. They scored the 1955 UK & US No.1 single with 'Rock Around the Clock'. Pompilli died on February 5th 1976.