This Day In Music Search

American R&B singer and musician Robert Parker died age 89. He was best known for his 1966 hit, 'Barefootin'. He played with most of New Orleans’ musicians, including Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, and Huey "Piano" Smith.

Scottish drummer Ted McKenna died aged 68 of a hemorrhage during a routine operation for a hernia. He worked with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Rory Gallagher, The Michael Schenker Group and toured with Ian Gillan for a short period in 1990.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced that Tom Petty had died accidentally from mixed drug toxicity, a combination of fentanyl, oxycodone, acetylfentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl (all opioids); temazepam and alprazolam (both sedatives); and citalopram (an antidepressant). Petty's wife and daughter said he had multiple medical problems, including emphysema, knee difficulties and most significantly a fractured hip. The statement read, "It is our feeling that the pain was simply unbearable and was the cause for his overuse of medication. We feel confident that this was, as the coroner found, an unfortunate accident."

The former business manager of Alanis Morissette admitted stealing over $7m (£5.7m) from the singer and other celebrities. Jonathan Schwartz was charged with fraud over claims he transferred the singer's money into his own accounts. When initially confronted about the theft, Mr Schwartz lied and said he had invested the money in an illegal marijuana growing business.

Bruce Springsteen scored his 10th UK No.1 album with High Hopes, putting him ahead of the likes of Abba, David Bowie and Michael Jackson. The achievement puts him on level pegging with The Rolling Stones and U2, who also have 10 UK No.1's. The Beatles lead the way, with 15, followed by Madonna on 12, while Elvis Presley and Robbie Williams both had 11 each.

Jamaican singer, songwriter and record producer Winston Riley died aged 68. He had been shot in the head at his home in Kingston. After being in a coma since the shooting, he died on 19 January. He formed the band The Techniques in 1962 and Riley's own song, ‘Double Barrel’, performed by Dave and Ansell Collins under his own production, was one of the first international reggae hits, reaching No.1 in the Dutch and UK Singles Chart.

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler made his debut appearance as a judge on American Idol, during the premiere of the show's tenth season, (replacing Simon Cowell) and alongside Randy Jackson and fellow new judge Jennifer Lopez. He didn't inform any of the members of Aerosmith about his new TV career.

American songwriter and singer John Stewart, who wrote the Monkees 1967 hit 'Daydream Believer' died aged 68 after he suffered a brain aneurysm in San Diego. Stewart was a member of folk group The Kingston Trio and went on to record more than 45 solo albums with his biggest solo success being a US top five single, 'Gold', in 1979.

Canadian singer songwriter and former Mamas and the Papas singer Denny Doherty died at the age of 66 at his home near Toronto, Canada after a short illness. The group scored the 1966 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Monday Monday.' Doherty started his musical career in 1956 with a band called the Hepsters and in 1963, established a friendship with Cass Elliot when she was with a band called The Big 3.

American soul singer, Wilson Pickett died in hospital near his Ashburn, Virginia home of a heart attack aged 64. Pickett recorded the soul classics ‘Mustang Sally’, ‘Everybody Needs Somebody to Love’ and ‘In The Midnight Hour’ plus Pickett scored 15 other US Top 40 singles.

It was reported that Paul McCartney was set to become the world's first pop star billionaire. McCartney was said to be worth £725 million and was expected to become a billionaire after huge sales from The Beatles compilation hits album. His company MPL Collections owns the copyright to more than 25,000 songs and his fortune made him the 11th richest person in the UK, motor racing tycoon Bernie Ecclestone was the richest with a reported £3.2bn.

American singer, songwriter Carl Perkins died aged 65 from throat cancer. He wrote the classic rock & roll song 'Blue Suede Shoes', the first record on the Sun label to sell a million copies. His songs were recorded by Elvis Presley, The Beatles Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Cash.  Paul McCartney claimed that "if there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles."

Fleetwood Mac re-formed to perform at Bill Clinton's inauguration. The band's track from 'Don't Stop' from their album Rumours, was the official song of his 1992 presidential campaign.

Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe manager Doc McGhee pleaded guilty to importing more than 40,000lb of marijuana into the US from Colombia via a shrimp boat. McGhee received a five-year suspended prison sentence, a fine of $15,000, and was ordered to set up an anti-drugs foundation.

The Pretenders scored their first UK No.1 hit with their third single 'Brass In Pocket'. The bands self-titled debut album started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK chart also on this day. Singer Chrissie Hynde got the idea for the song's title when, during an after-show dinner, she overheard someone enquiring if anyone had, "Picked up dry cleaning? Any brass in pocket?"

Pink Floyd's The Wall started a 15-week run at No.1 on the US album chart. The group’s third US No.1, it went on to sell over 23 million copies in the US alone. The Wall is still the third largest grossing album in the US, behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Eagles’ 'Greatest Hits'.

Tracks from The Beatles White Album (including 'Helter Skelter'), were played in the courtroom at the Sharon Tate murder trial to find out if any songs could have influenced Charles Manson and his followers to commit murder. Actress Sharon Tate who was married to film director Roman Polanski, was eight and a half months pregnant when she was murdered in her home, along with four others, by followers of Charles Manson.

The Beatles began recording 'A Day In The Life' at Abbey Road studios London, recording four takes of the new song. According to John Lennon the inspiration for the first two verses was the death of Tara Browne, the 21-year-old heir to the Guinness fortune who had crashed his Lotus Elan on 18 December 1966 in Redcliffe Gardens, London.

Pink Floyd and Marmalade played at The Marquee Club, London, England. Marmalade went on to score a No.1 UK hit with their version of The Beatles' Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da in 1968.

The Monkees were at No.1 on the UK singles with 'I'm A Believer', the group's only UK No.1. The song composed by Neil Diamond had 1,051,280 advance orders, and went gold within two days of release. It is one of the fewer than forty all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) physical copies worldwide.

The Beatles made their first national TV appearance in the UK on Thank Your Lucky Stars performing 'Please Please Me'. Thank Your Lucky Stars was a hugely popular programme at the time, and it was a major coup for The Beatles to be appearing. Their presence was secured by Dick James, who later became The Beatles’ publisher.

Richard Kylea Cowie Jr, MBE, better known by his stage name Wiley and in his early career Wiley Kat, English MC, rapper, and record producer. Often labelled the ‘Godfather of Grime’ he had the 2012 UK No.1 single 'Heatwave’.

John Parker, double bass, human beatbox and singer with the English folk and alternative duo Nizlopi. They scored the 2005 UK No.1 single 'JCB Song'.

American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer Trey Lorenz. Best known for his duet with Mariah Carey on her 1992 UK No.2 & US No.1 version of the Jackson Five hit 'I'll Be There'. He is also known for his 1992 hit single 'Someone to Hold'.

English singer, songwriter, record producer and musician Caron Wheeler who with Soul II Soul had the 1989 UK No.1 single 'Back To Life'. Their debut album, Club Classics Vol. One (1989) earned two Grammy Awards. She was one of the founding members of the female backing vocalist group Afrodiziak. known for performing backing vocals on the Jam's final single 'Beat Surrender' in 1982.

Mickey Virtue, keyboards, with UB40, who had the 1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single 'Red Red Wine' and over 30 other top 40 hits.

American film composer and session musician Michael Boddicker. He was awarded a Grammy as a songwriter for 'Imagination' from Flashdance in 1984. He worked with many artists including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross Olivia Newton-John, Randy Newman and Quincy Jones.

Eric Leeds, American jazz and funk musician, saxophone and other woodwind and brass instruments. Best known for his work with Prince. Played on The Black Album, Lovesexy and Batman albums.

English-born American musician, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Dewey Bunnell who with America had the 1972 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Horse With No Name' and US Top 10 'Ventura Highway'.

American rock and new wave singer-songwriter Martha Davis. With The Motels she scored the 1981 UK hit single 'Days Are OK'. She has made several solo albums and contributed many songs to motion picture soundtracks.

British musician, author, broadcaster and lecturer CP Lee. He was a member of the band Greasy Bear and became a linchpin of the punk rock explosion with Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias. In 1977 Lee wrote the "snuff-rock" musical Sleak. Lee died on 25 July 2020 age 70.

Francis Buchholz, from German rock band Scorpions. Their 1990 power ballad 'Wind Of Change' topped the European charts and was a No.4 hit in the US. The Scorpions hold the record for the best-selling single by a German artist and band.

Robert Palmer, British singer, songwriter, member of Vinegar Joe and solo artist. His first solo album the 1974 Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley was heavily influenced by the music of Little Feat and the funk fusion of the Meters who acted as backing band along with producer/guitarist Lowell George of Little Feat. He had the 1986 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'Addicted To Love'. He was also a member of the Power Station with former Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran members John Taylor and Andy Taylor. Palmer died on 26th Sept 2003 aged 54.

Harvey Hinsley from British soul band Hot Chocolate, who had the 1975 US No.3 single 'You Sexy Thing' the 1977 UK No.1 single 'So You Win Again' and over 25 other Top 40 hits.

English singer Rod Evans who was an early member of Deep Purple who had the US No.14 single 'Hush' which was taken from the band's debut 1969 album Shades of Deep Purple. Evans was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Deep Purple in 2016 but, despite being invited, he did not attend the ceremony.

Dolly Parton US singer, songwriter, actress. She had the 1976 UK No.7 single 'Jolene', and the 1981 US No.1 single '9 to 5'. She has 44 career Top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and she has 110 career-charted singles over the past 40 years. She has composed over 3,000 songs including Parton 'I Will Always Love You' which was a US Country No.1 for her in 1974 and became a UK & US No.1 for Whitney Houston in 1992. In 1974 Elvis Presley indicated that he wanted to record 'I Will Always Love You' and Parton was told by his manager that it was standard procedure for the songwriter to sign over half of the publishing rights to any song recorded by Presley. Parton refused. That decision has been credited with helping to make her many millions of dollars in royalties from the song over the years.

Laurie London, actor, singer. At the age of 13 had the 1958 US No.1 & UK No. 12 single 'He's Got The Whole World In His Hands'.

American singer and songwriter Janis Joplin. Joplin rose to prominence following an appearance at Monterey Pop Festival where she was the lead singer of the then little-known San Francisco psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company. She left Big Brother to continue as a solo artist with her backing groups, first the Kozmic Blues Band and then the Full Tilt Boogie Band. She appeared at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and on the Festival Express train tour. She had a 1971 US No.1 single with 'Me And Bobby McGee' and the 1971 US No.1 album Pearl. Joplin died on 4 October 1970 age 27 after an accidental heroin overdose.

English actor, comedian and singer Michael Crawford. During Crawford's starring role in The Phantom of the Opera, a double A-sided single was released featuring two songs from the musical: 'The Music of the Night', sung by Crawford, and 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again', sung by his Phantom co-star Sarah Brightman. It reached No.7 in the UK Singles Chart.

American singer, songwriter Phil Everly from The Everly Brothers, who had the 1958 UK & US No.1 single 'All I Have To Do Is Dream' plus over 25 other Top 40 hits. The duo was raised in a musical family, first appearing on radio singing along with their father Ike Everly and mother Margaret Everly as "The Everly Family" in the 1940s. Everly died on 3rd Jan 2014 aged 74 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Johnny O'Keefe, singer known as 'Australia's King of rock 'n' roll'. He co-wrote and had the 1958 Australian hit with, 'Real Wild Child', which was covered by Iggy Pop in 1986. Other hits included 'Shout!', 'Don't You Know Pretty Baby' and 'She's My Baby.' O'Keefe died on October 6th 1978.