January 27th: On this Day In Music History

 

1956, Elvis Presley's single, 'Heartbreak Hotel' was released by RCA Records, who had just purchased Presley's contract from Sun Records for $35,000. The song sold 300,000 copies in its first week and would eventually sell over a million, becoming Elvis' first Gold record.

1958, Little Richard entered The Oakwood Theological College in Huntsville, where he was ordained as a seventh day Adventist Minister.

1960, Michael Holliday was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of 'Starry Eyed' written by unknown American songwriter Gary Stites.

1961, Frank Sinatra played a benefit show at Carnegie Hall in New York City for Martin Luther King.

1962, Joey and the Starlighters started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Peppermint Twist, part 1'. The single reached No.33 on the UK chart.

1962, The Beatles appeared at Aintree Institute in Aintree, Liverpool. The group had played here many times before but this was their last performance at the venue. Brian Epstein became infuriated when the promoter paid The Beatles' fee (£15 pounds) with handfuls of loose change. Epstein took this as an insult to the group, and made sure that The Beatles never played for that promoter (Brian Kelly) again.

1966, The Overlanders were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Beatles song 'Michelle'. The group's only UK hit.

1968, The Bee Gees made their live debut in the US when they played at the Anaheim Centre, California. 1971, David Bowie arrived in the US for the first time; he couldn't play live because of work permit restrictions, but attracted publicity when he wore a dress at a promotion event. 1973, Roxy Music won 'the most promising new name', section in the NME reader's poll. 1973, 'Superstition' gave Stevie Wonder had his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1. 1976, David Bowie filed a $2 suit against attorney Michael Lippman claiming that he had taken a 15% agents fee instead of the customary10%. 1977, The Clash signed to CBS Records in the UK for £100,000. 1978, Wire appeared at The Foxes, Brighton, England, supported by Adam And The Ants. 1979, Ian Dury And The Blockheads were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick', their only UK chart topper. 1980, Def Leppard played the first of two nights at The Marquee, London. Tickets cost £2 ($3.40). 1980, Dexy's Midnight Runners kicked off a 26-date UK tour at London's Music Machine. 1984, Madonna made her first appearance in the UK when she appeared on C4 TV music program The Tube performing 'Holiday'. The show was broadcast live from the Hacienda Club in Manchester. 1988, Pink Floyd played the fist of 9 nights at The Entertainment Center, Sydney, Australia. 1990, Kylie Minogue had her third UK No.1 single with 'Tears On My Pillow', the song was originally a US hit for Little Anthony and The Imperials in 1958. 1994, Oasis made their London live debut when the played at King's Cross Water Rats. The gig was by invite only. 1996, Babylon Zoo started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spaceman', the fastest selling single by a debut artist in the UK, (420,000 copies in 6 days). The song was used for a Levi Jeans TV commercial. The single also went to Number 1 in twenty-three other countries. 1996, The Daily Star ran an exclusive story stating that UK boy band Take That were about to split up. 1998, James Brown was charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful use of a firearm after police were called to his South Carolina home. Brown later clamed the drugs were used to help his 'eyesight.' 2000, Noel Gallagher of Oasis became a dad when Meg Matthew's gave birth to a girl, Anais at Portland Hospital, London. 2002, Beach Boy Brian Wilson played the first of four sold-out nights at The Royal Festival Hall, London. 2002, Spanish-American Enrique Iglesias scored his first UK No.1 single with 'Hero'. His father, Julio Iglesias, had a UK No.1 hit in 1981. 2002, Alan Jackson started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Drive.' 2003, former S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens signed a £1m solo deal with Polydor records in the UK. 2004, R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband were charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana after being arrested in Atlanta, Georgia. Police pulled them over for a suspected licence plate offence.   2009, Road Chef, the Watford Gap UK Motorway services operator, paid £1,000 at an auction for a collection of celebrity signatures, which were collected by former employee, Beatrice England. The book included signatures of Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, The Eagles and Dusty Springfield. The Blue Boar services as it was once known received so many famous guests in its 50-year history that Jimi Hendrix mistook it for a London nightclub as it was mentioned so often by his contemporaries. January 27th: Born on this day 1918, Born on this day, Elmore James, US blues guitarist, singer, wrote 'Shake Your Money Maker', covered by Fleetwood Mac in 1968. Influenced Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Keith Richards. James died 24th May 1963. 1919, Born on this day, David Seville, The Chipmunks, (1958 US No.1 single 'The Chipmunk Song', 1959 UK No.11 single 'Ragtime Cowboy Joe'). Seville died on 16th January 1972. 1930, Born on this day, Bobby Bland, R&B singer, (1963 US R&B No.1 single 'That's The Way Love Is'). 1945, Born on this day, Nick Mason, drums, Pink Floyd, (1973 US No.1 & UK No.2 album 'Dark Side Of The Moon' spent a record breaking 741 weeks on the US chart. 1979 UK and US No.1 single 'Another Brick In The Wall, (part 2)'. Pink Floyd have sold over 200 million albums worldwide.) 1946, Born on this day, Nedra Talley, vocals, The Ronettes, (1963 US No.2 & UK No.4 single 'Be My Baby'). 1948, Born on this day, Kim Gardner, died 24/10/01, Ashton Gardner & Dyke, (1971 UK No.3 single 'The Resurrection Shuffle'). 1951, Born on this day, Brian Downey, drums, Thin Lizzy, (1973 UK No.6 single 'Whisky In The Jar'). 1951, Born on this day, Seth Justman, keyboards, vocals, The J Geils Band, (1982 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Centrefold'). 1957, Born on this day, Janick Robert Gers, guitar, Iron Maiden. 1961, Born on this day, Gillian Gilbert, keyboards, The Inadequates, New Order, (1983 UK No.9 single 'Blue Monday'), The Other Two, (1991 UK No.41 single 'Tasty Fish'). 1961, Born on this day, Martin Deguille, vocals, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, (1986 UK No.3 single 'Love Missile F1-11'). 1964, Born on this day, Migi Drummond, Curiosity Killed The Cat, (1989 UK No.14 single 'Name And Number'). 1968, Born on this day, Adrian Thawes, (Tricky), singer, actor, 1996 UK No.10 single 'Milk'. 1968, Born on this day, Mike Patton, vocals, Faith No More, (1993 UK No.3 and US No.4 single 'I'm Easy). 1974, Born on this day, Mark Owen, vocals, Take That, (1995 UK No.1 single 'Back For Good' plus seven other UK No.1 singles), Solo, (1996 UK No.3 single 'Child'). The winner of UK TV show Celebrity Big Brother in 2002. (1995 UK No.1 single 'Back For Good' and seven other UK No.1 singles, 1993 UK No.1 album 'Everything Changes spent 78 weeks on the UK chart). Re-formed Take That without Robbie Williams in 2006 for a sold-out European tour. Topped the UK singles and album charts simultaneously for the first time in their career when the single 'Patience' and album 'Beautiful World' both reached No.1 in Dec 2006.   Died on this day   1972, American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson died in Chicago of heart failure and diabetes complications aged 60. Known as the "Queen of Gospel Music" she recorded over 30 albums   2006, Gene McFadden, R&B vocalist and songwriter, best known as half of the Philly soul team McFadden & Whitehead, died of cancer at the age of 56. The duo had the 1979 hit 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now', which sold more than 8 million copies and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

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