This Day In Music Search

American recording executive Jerry Moss died at his Bel Air home at the age of 88. He is best known for being the co-founder of A&M Records, along with trumpet player and bandleader Herb Alpert. Moss began his music career by promoting '16 Candles', a 1958 hit for the Crests on Coed Records. In 1960, he moved to California, where he teamed up with Herb Alpert, forming Carnival Records in 1962 and running the company from an office in Alpert's garage. Moss and Alpert agreed in 1989 to sell A&M to PolyGram Records for a reported $500 million.

A bandstand where David Bowie played soon after the release of his first hit single 'Space Oddity' was given a Grade II listing. The singer performed from the stand to a small audience in Croydon Road Recreation Ground on 16 August 1969. The bandstand was the centrepiece of a one-day festival, which Bowie helped to organise and later inspired him to write the seven-minute song, ‘Memory Of A Free Festival’.

American singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin died in Detroit at the age of 76. Known as ‘The Queen of Soul’ and one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. During her career she scored over 15 Top 40 hits and won 18 Grammy Awards. Hits include the 1967 US No.1 & UK No.10 single 'Respect', the 1968 UK No.4 single 'I Say A Little Prayer' and the 1987 UK No.1 single with George Michael, 'I Knew You Were Waiting'. In 2010 Rolling Stone magazine ranked her number one on their list of the ‘100 Greatest Singers of All Time’.

One Direction were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Drag Me Down'. It was the band's first single since Zayn Malik's departure earlier in this year The track won the fan-voted 'Best Video Award' at the 2016 Brit Awards.

A fan of the 1980s pop band Wham! was silenced after becoming the first noise nuisance to be prosecuted by Newcastle city council's night watch team. Brian Turner had tormented neighbours by playing their hit song 'Last Christmas' all night at full volume from 1am onwards. Magistrates fined Turner, of Sandyford, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, £200 and ordered him to pay £215 costs.

Madonna suffered three cracked ribs, a broken collarbone and a broken hand in a horse-riding accident on her country estate. The accident happened when she fell off a new horse in the grounds of her Ashcombe House on the border of Wiltshire and Dorset on her 47th birthday. The singer was treated at hospital in Salisbury, 90 miles (150 kilometres) south-west of London.

P Diddy appeared on the US TV Today Show and announced that he was altering his stage name again, dropping the "P." and referring to himself simply as "Diddy." The name change to Diddy upset Richard "Diddy" Dearlove, a London based DJ who took out court proceedings against P Diddy over the use of the name. He won when an out of court settlement of £110,000 was agreed and as a result, Combs is no longer be able to use the name Diddy in the UK.

Alan Caddy guitarist with The Tornadoes died. He had the 1962 UK & US No.1 single 'Telstar' which became the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart. Caddy also played on sessions and worked on arrangements for Spencer Davis Group, Kiki Dee, Pretty Things and Dusty Springfield.

On the 20th anniversary of Elvis Presley death over 30,000 fans descended on Memphis Tennessee for a 10-minute mourning circuit circling his grave. A poll found that almost a third of the fans were keeping an eye out for him in the crowd.

Will Smith started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Men In Black' taken from the film of the same name. The song won Smith a Grammy in 1997 for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Blur, Prodigy, Beck, Kula Shaker, Dodgy, Foo Fighters, Placebo, James, Ash, Dodgy and Gene all appeared at the two day V97 UK festival in Chelmsford and Leeds, weekend tickets, £50.

Kiss played at The Marquee Club in London, England on their current 129-date Crazy Nights world tour.

Rick Allen, drummer with Def Leppard made his first live appearance with the band after losing an arm in a car accident, when they appeared at the Monsters Of Rock Festival, Castle Donington, England.

Madonna started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Papa Don't Preach.' The singers fourth US No.1, & No.1 in the UK. Also on this day Madonna went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'True Blue'.

After dating for six years, Paul Simon married actress Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the first Star Wars trilogy. The marriage would last less than two years, but the two continued to date off and on after they split.

The biggest single of the summer in the US, The Knack's 'My Sharona' was awarded a Gold record for selling one million copies. The Knack's Doug Fieger wrote the song for his girlfriend, Sharona Alperin, whose picture appeared on the single's cover.

Elvis Presley was found dead lying on the floor in his bathroom by his girlfriend Ginger Alden, he had been seated on the toilet reading 'The Scientific Search For Jesus'. He died of heart failure at the age of 42. His first record for RCA, 'Heartbreak Hotel' was also his first US No.1. He starred in 31 films. Elvis holds the record for the most entries on the US Hot 100 chart with 154. Elvis became the first rock 'n' roll artist to be honoured by the US Postal Service with a stamp.

The Stylistics were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)', the Philadelphian soul group's only UK No.1.

Peter Gabriel announced that he was leaving Genesis. The group auditioned more than 400 singers during the next 18 months before deciding that Phil Collins, who had been the drummer for Genesis since 1970, could front the band.

This week's UK Top 5 singles: No.5, Free, 'All Right Now', No.4, Shirley Bassey, 'Something', No.3, Hotlegs, 'Neanderthal Man', No.2, The Kinks, 'Lola' and No.1, Elvis Presley, 'The Wonder Of You', (his 16th UK No.1).

The final day of the three day UK Yorkshire Folk, Blues & Jazz Festival at Krumlin, Yorkshire took place featuring The Kinks, Mungo Jerry, Yes, Ginger Bakers Air Force and Edgar Winter. Weekend tickets, £3.

Hippie leader Abbie Hoffman was knocked offstage by Pete Townshend while attempting to make a political statement during The Who's set at Woodstock. Later, Townshend said he didn't know it was Hoffman at the time.

During a North American tour Led Zeppelin appeared at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park with Joe Cocker as support. Zeppelin had been asked to perform at Woodstock but due to this gig commitment were unable to attend. And down the road Bruce Springsteen's band Child played the first of two shows over two days at the Student Prince, Ashbury Park. Springsteen was also unable to attend Woodstock due to these gigs.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young supported by Joni Mitchell appeared at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

Bruce Springsteen's new band Earth made their live debut at the Off Broad Street Coffee House in Red Bank, New Jersey, admission was 75c. The lineup of the group consisted of Springsteen (guitars & vocals), John Graham (bass), Michael Burke (drums) and ‘Flash Craig’ (organ). The group only had a 6-month existence.

Working at Abbey Road studios on George Harrison song 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', taking the song from its early acoustic version into an electric version.

The Jackson Five made their formal debut with Diana Ross and The Supremes at the Great Western Forum, California.

Little Stevie Wonder (aged 12), released his first single, 'I Call It Pretty Music, (But The Old People Call It The Blues)', the single featured Marvin Gaye on drums.

Brian Epstein told Pete Best that the other Beatles wanted him out of the group, and that he was being replaced. Epstein then asked Best to perform with The Beatles that night at the Riverpark Ballroom in Chester, Cheshire. Pete Best does not show up, drummer Johnny Hutchinson of The Big Three filled in the temporary vacancy.

Patsy Cline recorded 'Crazy'. The ballad composed by Willie Nelson became one of her signature tunes and gave Cline a No.2 country hit in 1962. Nelson originally wrote the song for country singer Billy Walker, but Walker turned it down. The song's eventual success helped launch Nelson as a performer as well as a songwriter.

After being drafted in the US Army, Elvis Presley was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, West Germany. On the anniversary of his death today in 1977, listen to how the world's most popular recording artist adapted to military life and kept his career on track.

American rapper and singer Young Thug. In 2017 he featured on the hit song ‘Havana’ by Cuban pop singer Camila Cabello, which became his first No.1 single on the US Billboard chart.

Bob Hardy, bassist with Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, who were the winners of the 2004 Mercury Music Prize for their self-titled debut album.

Venessa Carlton, (2002 UK No.6 single 'A Thousand Miles').

Emily Robison, singer-songwriter with The Chicks. With sales of 27.2 million albums in the US alone, they have become one of the top-selling all-female bands and biggest selling country groups in America. Robinson also formed Court Yard Hounds with her sister and fellow Chicks member, Martie Maguire.

MC. Remedee, Cookie Crew, (1988 UK No.5 single 'Rock Da House').

Matt Lukin, bassist with American alternative rock band Mudhoney. Their early releases on the Sub Pop label were massively influential on the Seattle music scene.

Madonna, (Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone), singer, actress. First hit was the 1984 UK No.6 single 'Holiday'. With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is certified as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. She is the most successful solo artist in the history of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and holds the record for the most No.1 singles by a female artist in Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Tim Farriss, guitarist from Australian rock band INXS, who had the 1988 UK No.2 & US No.1 single 'Need You Tonight'. Their 1987 album Kick has sold over 10m copies in the US alone and features four Top 10 singles; 'Need You Tonight,' 'Devil Inside', 'New Sensation,' and 'Never Tear Us Apart.' INXS has sold over 55 million records worldwide.

James Taylor, Kool & The Gang, (1981 US No.1 & UK No.7 single, Celebration. 1984 UK No.2 single 'Joanna', and over 15 other top 40 hits).

Scott Asheton, drums, Iggy Pop And The Stooges, (1973 album 'Raw Power'). He died on 15th March 2014.

Barry Hay, Golden Earring, (1974 UK No.7 & US 13 single 'Radar Love').

Gordon Fleet, The Easybeats, (1966 UK No.6 & 1967 US No. 16 single 'Friday On My Mind').

Kevin Ayers, singer, songwriter, and founder member of Soft Machine, who had the 1970 UK No.18 album, 'Third'. Ayers who was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement died on 18th February 2013.

Gary Loizzo, from American rock band American Breed who scored the 1967 US No.5 single 'Bend Me, Shape Me', (a hit on the British charts for the British group Amen Corner).

Robert "Squirrel" Lester, second tenor in the Chicago-based singing group The Chi-Lites that charted 21 songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart. Their major hits came in 1971 and 1972, with 'Have You Seen Her' and 'Oh Girl'. He died on 21 January 21, 2010.

Singer, Al Hibbler, (1955 UK No.2 & US No.3 single 'Unchained Melody'). The American baritone vocalist, sang with Duke Ellington's orchestra before having several pop hits as a solo artist.