February 12th: On this Day In Music History

 

February 12th: On this Day In Music History

 

1956, Dean Martin was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Memories Are Made Of This'. The American actor, comedian, singer and TV hosts biggest hit. Also covered by The Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra and The Driffters.

1961, The Miracles' 'Shop Around' became Motown Record's first million-selling single. It was also the label's first #1 hit on Billboard's R&B singles chart. In the following ten years, The Miracles would have six more million sellers.

1964, The Beatles returned to New York City by train from Washington, D.C. for two performances at Carnegie Hall. There was such a demand for tickets that some extra seating was arranged surrounding the stage. Tickets ranged from $1.65 to $5.50.

1965, Pye Records announced that they'd signed 'the British Bob Dylan', when they added Donovan to the label. 1967, 15 police officers raided 'Redlands' the home of Rolling Stone Keith Richards and took away various substances for forensic tests. 1968, Billed as 'Tour 60 cities in 66 Days' The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Centre Arena, Seattle, Washington. 1969, (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice by Amen Corner was at No.1 on the UK singles chart, the group's only UK No.1. 1970, John Lennon performed 'Instant Karma', on BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops', becoming the first Beatle to have appeared on the show since 1966. 1972, Al Green went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let's Stay Together', his only US chart topper. Tina Turner took the song to No.26 in 84. 1976, Eddie and the Hot Rods appeared at the Marquee Club London, supported by The Sex Pistols who were playing their first ever London show. 1977, Barbra Streisand started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'A Star Is Born.' 1977, The Police recorded their first single, 'Fall Out' for £150 ($255) at Pathway Studios, London. 1977, Blondie, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and the Ramones all appeared at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California. 1978, Rush appeared at the Birmingham Odeon, England, promoting their new single 'Closer To The Heart', which was in the shops for 99p. 1980, Iggy Pop and The Psychedelic Furs appeared at the Hammersmith Palais, London, England, tickets cost £3 ($5.10). 1989, Aretha Franklin lost a court case against Broadway producer Ashton Springer, who sued for $1 million (£0.58 million) when Aretha failed to turn up for rehearsals for the stage show Sing Mahalia Sing – blaming her fear of flying on the non appearance. 1994, Alice In Chains entered the US album chart at No.1 with 'Jar Of Flies.' 1994, Celine Dion started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Power Of Love', the singers first US No.1, a No.4 hit in the UK. 1995, Van Halen, scored their first US No.1 album with 'Balance.' 1997, U2 held a press conference in the Lingerie Department at the Greenwich Village Kmart store in Manhattan, New York City, to announce their Pop Mart world tour. The tour was set to start in Las Vegas on April 25th of this year. 1997, David Bowie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame   2000, Mariah Carey started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Thank God I Found You.' 2003, Former Doors drummer John Densmore took out legal action against The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger for breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition. The band had reformed with Ex- Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Densmore said "It shouldn't be called The Doors if it's someone other than Jim Morrison singing." 2004, Eminem's ex-wife Kimberly Mathers was jailed for a month after being found using cocaine while on probation. Mathers was also put on a 90-day drug abuse programme. 2005, A train was named after Clash frontman Joe Strummer at a ceremony in Bristol. The diesel train owned by Cotswold Rail, was named after the singer, guitarist who died aged 50 in 2002. 2006, Meck feat Leo Sayer was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Thunder In My Heart (Again)'. DJ Meck's remix of Leo Sayer's September 1977 hit which only reached No. 22. 2007, During a press conference at West Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go club Sting confirmed that The Police were getting back together. The band were set to kick off a world tour on May 28 in Vancouver, Canada, supported by Sting's son Joe Sumner's band, Fiction Plane. 2008, Ronald Isley's appeal against a three-year jail term for tax fraud was rejected by a US court. The 65-year-old singer of the Isley Brothers argued against being imprisoned in an Indiana jail on the grounds of age and poor health. The court heard he cashed royalty cheques belonging to his brother O'Kelly, who died in 1996 and spent millions of dollars made from undeclared performances on a yacht and two homes. Isley was ordered to pay more than $3.1m (£1.62m) to the US tax service for "pathological" evasion. February 12th: Born on this day 1915, Born on this day, Lorne Greene, star of the NBC TV show Bonanza. He had a US No.1 single 'Ringo', which made him the second Canadian to have a US No.1 single, a No.22 hit in the UK. Greene died on September 11th 1987.   1939, Born on this day, Ray Manzarek, keyboards, The Doors, (1967 US No.1 & UK No.9 single 'Light My Fire' & 1971 single 'Riders On The Storm'). 1942, Born on this day, Rick Frank, drummer, Elephant's Memory, worked with John Lennon on his 1972 album 'Some Time In New York City' 1945, Born on this day, Joe Schermie, bass, Three Dog Night, (1970 UK No.3 & US No.1 single 'Mama Told Me Not To Come'). 1949, Born on this day, Stanley Knight, Black Oak Arkansas, (70's US No.1 radio hit single 'Jim Dandy To The Rescue'). 1950, Born on this day, Steve Hackett, guitar, (1974 UK No.21 single 'I Know What I Like In Your Wardrobe', quit Genesis in 1977 for solo work). 1951, Born on this day, Vincent James, Sweet Sensation, (1974 UK No.1 single with 'Sad Sweet Dreamer'). 1952, Born on this day, Michael McDonald, keyboards, vocals, The Doobie Brothers, (1979 US No.1 single 'What A Fool Believes', 1993 UK No.7 single 'Long Train Runnin'). 1958, Born on this day, Grant McLennan, bass, vocals, songwriter, The Go-Betweens and solo. McLennan died in his sleep at his home in Brisbane, Australia on 6th May 2006. 1958, Born on this day, Leslie Carter, (Fruitbat), Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, (1992 UK No.7 single 'The Only Living Boy In New Cross'). 1959, Born on this day, Neil Conti, Prefab Sprout, (1988 UK No.7 single 'The King Of Rock 'n' Roll'). 1959, Born on this day, Per Gessle, guitar, vocals, Roxette, (1990 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'It Must Of Been Love'). 1966, Born on this day, Gary Whelan, drums, Happy Mondays, (1990 UK No.5 single 'Step On'). 1966, Born on this day, Paul Crook, American guitarist, worked with Meat Loaf, Anthrax and Sebastian Bach. 1968, Born on this day, Chynna Phillips, Wilson Phillips, (1990 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'Hold On', daughter of Michelle Gilliam, from Mamas And The Papas). 1970, Born on this day, Jim Creeggan, bass, Barenaked Ladies, (1998 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'One Week'). 1981, Born on this day, Lisa Hannigan, Irish singer with Damien Rice. Appeared on his 2003 album 'O' featuring the single 'Cannonball.'   Died on this day 2000, American bassist and songwriter John London died aged 58. Worked with The Monkees, James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. 2000, US blues singer Screamin' Jay Hawkins died aged 70. A Golden Gloves boxing champion at 16, he was married nine times, spent two years in jail, was temporary blinded by one of his flaming props on stage in 1976. He recorded 'I Put A Spell On You' in 1956, covered by The Animals and Nina Simone.