This Day In Music Search

American songwriter Marilyn Bergman died from respiratory failure at the age of 93. Together with her husband Alan Bergman they wrote music and lyrics for numerous celebrated television, film, and stage productions including Barbra Streisand's hit ‘The Way We Were’.

Morgan Wallen released Dangerous: The Double Album, with the hit '7 Summers.' It peaked at No. 1 in America and stayed there for 10 weeks, the longest run at the top since Drake's Views in 2016. In March 2022, the album established the all-time record for the longest duration in the No. 1 spot (84 weeks and counting) on Billboard's Country Albums chart. It achieved the most weeks in the top ten of the Billboard 200 by a solo studio album.

Northern Indian-born British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Peter Sarstedt died at the age of 75. He was best known for the single 'Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?' which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1969 (and 14 other countries), and won an Ivor Novello Award.

American R&B and soul singer Otis Clay died aged 73. Clay who started in gospel music scored R&B hits in the late 60s and 70s. He recorded the original version of 'The Only Way Is Up' in 1980 which later became a chart-topping single for Yazz and the Plastic Population.

David Bowie released his twenty-fifth and final studio album Blackstar, coinciding with his 69th birthday and two days before his death. It became his first and only album to reach No.1 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the US. At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, the album won awards for Best Alternative Music Album; Best Engineered Album; Best Recording Package, and the title single won Best Rock Performance, and Best Rock Song. The album was also awarded the British Album of the Year award at the 2017 Brit Awards.

It was reported that vinyl record sales had increased 32% in 2013, while CD sales declined 14.5% in the last last year, vinyl sales grew 32% from 4.5 million units sold in 2012 to 6 million sold in 2013, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Jimmy Page launched a new set of stamps in the UK which featured classic album covers from the last 40 years including Coldplay, Power, Corruption And Lies, New Order, David Bowie and Parklife by Blur.

The estate of George Harrison started a $10 million (£5.8 million) legal action against Dr Gilbert Lederman of Staten Island University Hospital, claiming the doctor coerced Harrison to sign souvenirs. The main allegations of the legal action was that Dr Lederman got an extremely sick Harrison to sign his son's guitar and autographs for his two daughters.

A woman who believed that Axl Rose communicated with her via telepathy was arrested for stalking the Guns N’ Roses singer for a second time. Police detained Karen Jane McNeil after she was spotted loitering outside his house.

It was reported that police foiled a £1 million ($1.7million) kidnap plot to snatch Victoria Beckham and her baby son. The plot was uncovered after a tip-off to the police. The gang had planned to kidnap the pair when husband David was away playing football.

A Los Angeles court found Robert Hoskins guilty of five counts of stalking, assault and making terrorist threats to Madonna. Hoskins had twice scaled the walls of the singer's estate and had threatened to slash her throat from ear to ear.

Jamaican reggae/rap (ragga) duo Chaka Demus and Pliers were at No.1 in the UK with their version of 'Twist And Shout.' The song was originally recorded (and produced by Phil Spector) by the Top Notes in 1961 and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was also covered by The Beatles on their first album Please Please Me.

Steve Clark guitarist with Def Leppard, was found dead at his Chelsea flat by his girlfriend, after a night of heavy alcohol consumption combined with prescription drugs. The autopsy revealed he had died from an overdose of codeine and had Valium, morphine and a blood alcohol level of .30, three times the British legal driving limit. In 2007 Clark was ranked No.11 on Classic Rock Magazine's "100 Wildest Guitar Heroes".

Canadian rock band Rush were named the country's official Ambassadors Of Music by the Canadian government. Industry sources estimate their total worldwide album sales at over 42 million. They have been awarded 14 platinum and 3 multi-platinum albums in the US, plus 17 platinum albums in Canada.

The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, (in Perfect Harmony'). The song started as a Coca Cola TV ad. It originally included the line, 'I'd like to buy the world a Coke.'

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were both barred from an exclusive hotel for wearing "op art" pants and nothing else. They were both asked to leave the Hotel Crillen in Lima, Peru after refusing to change clothes.

The Beatles started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Rubber Soul the group's seventh US chart-topper, which went on to spend 56 weeks on the chart. Rubber Soul was the group’s first release not to feature their name on the cover. The group also started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We Can Work It Out' the group's 11th US No.1 single.

The Everly Brothers kicked off a 17 date North American tour at the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Also on the bill, Buddy Holly, The Rays, Royal Teens, Shepherd Sisters, Paul Anka, Margie Rayburn and
Danny & The Juniors.

Bill Haley & His Comets started the first ever 'rock & roll tour' of Australia, playing two sold out nights in Sydney.

Jamaican dancehall recording artist and producer Sean Paul, (2003 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Get Busy'). Paul has also been featured in many other singles including chart-toppers 'Baby Boy' by Beyoncé, 'What About Us' by The Saturdays, 'Rockabye' by Clean Bandit and 'Cheap Thrills' by Sia.

English songwriter and singer Karen Poole who with Alisha's Attic had the 1996 UK No.14 'I Am I Feel'. She is the daughter of 60s musician Brian Poole. Ivor Novello and twice Brit Awards nominated Poole has achieved more than 30 Top 20 UK hit singles as a songwriter, having written hits for prominent artists including Kylie Minogue, David Guetta, Lily Allen, Sugababes, Giorgio Moroder, Boyzone, Will Young and many others.

American musician Jeff Abercrombie, bassist with the American band Fuel (1989–2010). Fuel has had songs on film soundtracks such as Scream 3, Daredevil and Godzilla.

American singer, writer, and producer R. Kelly, who had the 1994 US No.1 single 'Bump N' Grind' and the 1997 UK No.1 single 'I Believe I Can Fly'. In 1996, he received a Grammy Award nomination for writing and producing Michael Jackson's single 'You Are Not Alone' which also won a Guinness World Record as the first song in history to debut at No.1 on the Billboard Chart. On July 11, 2019, Kelly was arrested on federal charges alleging sex crimes, human trafficking, child pornography, racketeering, and obstruction of justice. In 2022, Kelly was convicted of three child pornography charges and three charges of enticing a minor. He was sentenced to serve 31 years imprisonment. As of 2023, Kelly is incarcerated at FCI Butner Medium I. He is scheduled for release on December 21, 2045, when he will be 78 years old.

Andrew Patrick Wood, American musician best known as the lead singer for grunge bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone, cited as "founding fathers" of the Seattle's grunge movement. Wood died on March 19th 1990.

Australian musician and television personality Paul Hester. He was the drummer for the band Split Enz for their last year together from December 1983 to December 1984, and co-founding member and drummer of the band Crowded House. They achieved success in the United States with their self-titled debut album, which provided the Top Ten hits 'Don't Dream It's Over' and 'Something So Strong'. Later hits include 'Fall at Your Feet', 'Weather with You' and 'Distant Sun'. Hester hanged himself at Elsternwick Park in Brighton, Melbourne on 26th March 2005 aged 46.

Steve Garvey bass guitarist of the English punk band Buzzcocks who had the 1978 UK No.12 single 'Ever Fallen In Love, With Someone You Shouldn't've'.

Paul King, Mungo Jerry, who had the 1970 UK No.1 & US No.3 single 'In The Summertime' as well as the hits 'Baby Jump' and 'Lady Rose'.

David Bowie English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, painter and actor. His first UK Top 40 single was the 1969 'Space Oddity' which became a UK No.1 in 1975, plus over 50 other UK Top 40 hits including five No.1's. Bowie has also scored two US No.1 singles, the 1975 'Fame' and 1983 'Let's Dance'. His music and stagecraft significantly influencing popular music and during his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at 140 million worldwide, made him one of the world's best-selling music artists. Bowie died from liver cancer at his New York home on 10 January 2016.

American guitarist and founding member of the rock band The Doors Robert Krieger. They were among the most influential and controversial rock acts of the 1960s, primarily due to Jim Morrison's lyrics and voice, along with his erratic stage persona and legal issues. The Doors scored the 1967 US No.1 & UK No.49 single ‘Light My Fire’ and a 1971 US No.14 & UK No.22 single ‘Riders On The Storm’. The Doors were the first American band to accumulate eight consecutive gold LPs.

Terry Sylvester, guitar, vocals, Swinging Blue Jeans, The Hollies, (joined in 1969). Had the 1972 US No.2 single 'Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress', 1988 UK No.1 single 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother', first released in 1969.

Lee Jackson, bass, vocals, from English progressive rock band The Nice, who had the 1968 UK hit single an instrumental rearrangement of Leonard Bernstein's 'America'.

Marcus Hutson, singer with American group The Whispers who had the 1980 UK No.2 & US No.19 single 'And The Beat Goes On'. The Whispers scored 15 top-ten R&B singles and 8 top-ten R&B albums with two of them, The Whispers and Love Is Where You Find It, reaching No.1. He died on 23 May 2000.

American drummer John Petersen most notably for rock bands The Beau Brummels and Harper's Bizarre. The Beau Brummels had the 1965 US No.8 single, 'Just A Little'. Harpers Bizarre are best known for their Broadway/sunshine pop sound and their 1967 cover of Simon and Garfunkel's 'The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy).' Petersen died from a heart attack on 11 November 2007. at the age of 62.

Anthony Gourdine from Little Anthony and the Imperials who had the 1958 US No.4 single 'Tears On My Pillow', which was The Imperials' first million-seller. The song has been extensively covered, including a No.1 in the UK Singles Chart version by Kylie Minogue in January 1990.

Welsh singer Shirley Bassey. In January 1959, Bassey became the first Welsh person to gain a No. 1 single and later had the 1970 UK No.4 single with a cover of The Beatles George Harrison song 'Something' as well as hits with the James Bond themes 'Goldfinger' (1964) 'Diamonds are Forever', (1971) and Moonraker (1979). Bassey received the first award for Best British Female Solo Artist at the 1st Brit Awards in 1977 and she was appointed a Dame in 1999 for services to the performing arts. Bassey has sold over 140 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female artists of all time. She is the first woman in history to claim a Top 40 album in seven consecutive decades in the United Kingdom.

American singer, musician and actor Elvis Aaron Presley, the King of rock 'n' roll. He had his first No.1 in 1956 with the US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Heartbreak Hotel'. His first UK No.1 single was in 1957, with 'All Shook Up'. Presley went on to have over 100 US and UK Top 40 singles from 1956 - 2006. Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century, with estimated record sales of around 600 million units worldwide. He holds several records, including the most albums charted on the Billboard 200, the most No.1 albums by a solo artist on the UK Albums Chart, and the most No.1 singles by any act on the UK Singles Chart. Presley died on the bathroom floor of his Graceland mansion on August 16th 1977 age 42.

American country music guitarist Luther Perkins a member of the Tennessee Three, the backup band for singer Johnny Cash. Perkins was an iconic figure in what would become known as rockabilly music. His creatively simple, sparsely embellished, rhythmic use of Fender Esquire, Jazzmaster and Jaguar guitars is credited for creating Cash's signature "boom-chicka-boom" style. He died on 5 August 1968 as a result of severe burns and smoke inhalation. Perkins fell asleep at home in his den with a cigarette in his hand.