January 26th: On this Day In Music History

 

1961, Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Are You Lonesome Tonight'. The singers sixth UK No.1. The single included a spoken passage loosely based on Shakespeare. 1963, The Rooftop Singers started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Walk Right In', a No.10 hit in the UK. 1963, The Beatles played two gigs, the first was at the El Rio Club/Dance Hall in Macclesfield, Cheshire, supported by Wayne Fontana and the Jets. Then The Beatles drove 20 miles to their next gig at King's Hall, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. 1965, during a Rolling Stones tour of Australia and New Zealand, guitarist Keith Richards had his shirt torn off after 50 fans invaded the stage during the gig at The Town Hall in Brisbane. 1970, Elvis Presley played the first night of a four-week engagement playing 2 shows every night at The International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nirvada 1970, John Lennon wrote, recorded and mixed his new single 'Instant Karma' all in one day. 1971, Elvis Presley played the first night of a 31 date run at The Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nirvana. Elvis played a 8.30pm and midnight shows on most days. 1972, Sean Combs' (Puff Daddy) father Melvin was shot dead in his car in a Manhattan park aged thirty-three. Sean was aged 2 at the time. 1973, Sweet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Blockbuster'. The glam rockers only UK No.1 of 15 Top 40 hits. 1974, Mud were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman song 'Tiger Feet', the group's first of three UK No.1's. 1974, Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of the Johnny Burnette 1960 hit 'Your Sixteen', a No.3 hit in the UK. 1975, The BBC 'Omnibus' documentary 'Cracked Actor' a film about David Bowie was shown on UK TV. 1977, former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green was committed to a mental hospital following an incident when he threatened his accountant Clifford Adams with an air rifle when he was trying to deliver a £30,000 ($51,000) royalty cheque to him. 1978, Adam And The Ants appeared at The Marquee, London, England, tickets cost 65p. 1980, Prince made his TV debut on the US show American Bandstand. 1980, during their 22 date UK tour The Clash appeared at Deeside Leisure Centre 1985, Foreigner started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Agent Provocateur'. 1986, Allen Collins, guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed his car, paralysing him from the waist down and killing his girlfriend Debra Jean Watts. Collins had survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members.   1989, Bon Jovi kicked of the North American leg of their New Jersey Syndicate Tour at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. 1991, Cher made a special video for the troops involved in Desert Storm during the gulf war. Cher's Video Canteen, featured Janet Jackson, Paul Simon, Van Halen and Bonnie Raitt. 1991, German duo Enigma went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'MCMXC' featuring the UK No. 1 single 'Sadness Part 1'. Enigma were German Michael Creut and his wife Sandra. 1991, Queen had their second UK No.1 with 'Innuendo'. It was the third longest No.1 song of all time behind The Beatles 'Hey Jude' and Simple Minds 'Belfast Child'. The flamenco guitar solo on the track was performed by Yes guitarist Steve Howe. 1991, US act Surface went to No.1 on the US singles charts with 'The First Time'; it made No.60 in the UK. 1993, during a UK tour Rage Against The Machine appeared at The Underworld, Camden, London. 2003, Billy Joel was airlifted to hospital after his car smashed into a tree. The singer lost control of his Mercedes S500 and skidded for 100 yards before crashing. The accident happened in The Hamptons, New York. 2003, B2K and Puff Daddy went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Bump Bump Bump'. 2003, Justin Timberlake went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his debut solo album 'Justified', which went on to spend over a year on the UK chart. 2004, John Lydon was one of ten contestants to take part in the latest I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here UK TV show set in the Australian outback. The former Sex Pistols singer was seen by 11 million viewers on the first night covered in bird seed being pecked by giant ostriches. Lydon who was paid £25,000 ($42,500) to appear in the show, but walked off the jungle set after four days. 2007, The Rolling Stones topped the US music rich list for the second year running after making $150.6m (£76.2m) in 2006. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were second in the poll with a combined fortune of $132m (£67.2m) and American country band Rascal Flatts appeared third, having earnt $110.5m (£56.2m) in the past year. 2008, Alicia Keys was at No.1 on the US album chart with her third album 'As I Am.' The album sold over 742,000 copies in its first week the largest ever first week sales for any female R&B artist. January 26th: Born on this day 1934, Born on this day, Huey 'Piano' Smith, US R&B pianist, (1958 US No.9 single 'Don't You Just Know It', played on Frankie Ford's hit 'Sea Cruise'). 1945, Born on this day, Ashley Hutchings, bass, Fairport Convention, UK folk group, (1969 UK No.21 single 'Si Tu Dois Partir'). 1948, Born on this day, Corky Laing, drums, Mountain, (1971album 'Nantucket Sleighride'). 1949, Born on this day, Derek Holt, Climax Blues Band, (1976 UK No.10 & 1977 US No.3 single 'Couldn't Get It Right'). 1951, Born on this day, David Briggs, Little River Band, Australian group, (1978 US No.3 single 'Reminiscing' plus 12 other US Top 40 singles). 1957, Born on this day, Eddie Van Halen, guitar, (1984 US No.1 & UK No. 7 single 'Jump'). 1957, Born on this day, Norman Hassan, percussion, UB40, (1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single 'Red Red Wine' and over 30 other Top 40 hit singles). 1958, Born on this day, Anita Baker, US soul singer, 1986 UK No.13 single 'Sweet Love', 1998 US No.1 album 'Giving You The Best That I Got'). 1963, Born on this day, Andrew Ridgeley, vocals, Wham! (1984 UK & US No.1 single 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' plus 10 other UK Top 20 hit singles). 1963, Born on this day, Jazzie B, Soul II Soul & producer, (1989 UK No.1 single 'Back To Life'). 1964, Born on this day, Susannah Melvoin, American vocalist, songwriter. Worked with Prince, Roger Waters, Eric Clapton and Mike Oldfield. As a songwriter, has co-written songs performed by Madonna, Eric Clapton, Prince.    Died on this day   1989, American singer Donnie Elbert died of a stroke aged 52. (1972 US No. 22 & UK No.11 single 'I Can't Help Myself', Sugar Pie Honey Bunch', 'Where Did Our Love Go?' and 'A Little Piece of Leather').

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