February 18th: On this Day In Music History

 

1956, The Platters 'The Great Pretender', started a two run at No.1 on the US singles chart, a No. 5 in the UK.

1959, Ray Charles recorded 'What'd I Say', in New York City. The song had evolved in concert as a call-and-response between Charles and his female back-up singers. It became Charles' biggest hit to date, reaching No.1 on the R&B and No.6 on the pop charts.

1962, On weekend leave from marine training, The Everly Brothers appeared on the US Ed Sullivan show, in full uniform and with regulation cropped hair, singing their new single, 'Crying In The Rain'.

1965, The Kinks were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Tired Of Waiting For You', the group's second UK No.1.

1965, Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded two new songs: John Lennon's 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away' and a new Paul McCartney song 'Tell Me What You See'.

1966, Beach Boy Brian Wilson recorded the future classic song 'Good Vibrations', which went on to become the band's third U.S. number-one hit. As a child, his mother told him that dogs could pick up "vibrations" from people, so that the dog would bark at "bad vibrations" Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song. 1966, The Rolling Stones kicked off an 11-date tour of Australia and New Zealand at the Commemorative Auditorium, Sydney, supported by The Searchers. 1967, The Buckinghams started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Kind Of A Drag', the group's only US No.1. It didn't make the UK chart. 1969, This week's UK Top 5 singles: No.5, 'Dancing In The Street', Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, No.4, 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me', Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations, No.3, 'Where Do You Go To' Peter Sarstedt, No.2, 'Blackberry Way', The Move, and No.1, 'Half As Nice' Amen Corner.' 1969, The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Royal Albert Hall, London. 1971, Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band made their New York debut at Unganos. 1972, 12 year-old Neil Reid started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with his debut album. It made Reid the youngest person ever to score a UK No.1. 1972, On their first Australian tour, Led Zeppelin rescheduled to the following night their concert at the Memorial Drive, Adelaide, after heavy rain left the stage and equipment unsafe. Zeppelin had brought to Adelaide the largest PA system seen in Australia to produce what was expected to be the loudest rock show ever heard. 1980, During an interview Rolling Stone Bill Wyman said that he intended to leave the band in 1982 on the group's 20th anniversary. Wyman quit the band in 1993. 1987, Bon Jovi were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Livin' On A Prayer', it made No.4 in the UK. 1989, An impostor claiming to be Madness vocalist Suggs caused havoc when he phoned Radio 1 and asked them to advertise a one-off gig in Newcastle, it also came to light that the man had been calling local radio stations and UK gig promoters. 1989, Fine Young Cannibals scored their only UK number 1 album with 'The Raw And The Cooked.' 1998, Oasis' Noel Gallagher's Epiphone Supernova guitar raised £4,600 ($7,820) in aid of Children In Need at a Bonhams auction held in London, England. 2000, An American court ordered the release of FBI files relating to John Lennon's interests and activities including his support for the Irish Republican cause and the Workers Revolutionary Party. The British Government told the US that it wanted the files to remain secret. MI5 also had files on Lennon, which they had passed on to the FBI during the 70's.

2001, Joe feat Mystikal started a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Stutter.'

2004, Dido entered a Top 10 of the music world's biggest earners after making £15.8 million ($26.9 million) in 2003. The singer's second album Life For Rent was the previous years biggest selling UK album. The Rolling Stones topped the Heat magazine rich list having earned £55.3 million ($94 million) in 2003.

2004, A court case accusing Marilyn Manson of sexual assault was dismissed after the two sides reached a settlement. Security guard Joshua Keasler had sued Manson after the star allegedly put his legs around Keasler's neck and gyrated against him on stage at a gig in Detroit, Michigan in 2001. Manson was ordered to pay $4,000 (£2,091) in fines and costs in the criminal proceedings.

2005, Britney Spears attacked a US magazine after it published photographs of her honeymoon without permission. Weekly publication Us printed five pages of pictures of Spears and husband Kevin Federline on holiday in Fiji. A statement from US said: "Britney should start her own magazine if she'd like to dictate her own coverage."

2007, Norah Jones scored her third US No.1 album with 'Not Too Late', also a No.1 in the UK and over 20 other countries.

2008, Carpenters fans were objecting to plans to have pop duo's former family home in Downey, south of Los Angeles knocked down. The current owners of the house, said they objected to fans looking in the windows and leaving floral tributes. The five-bedroom house was immortalised when it featured on the cover of The Carpenters' 1973 hit album Now & Then.

2009, Welsh songstress Duffy won three trophies at this years Brit awards, taking home Best British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act and British Album of the Year for her debut Rockferry. Kings of Leon won International Group and International Album for Only By The Night, International Male and Female Solo Artists were Kanye West and Katy Perry. British Male Solo Artist went to Paul Weller, Iron Maiden won British Live Act and Elbow won Best British Group. Outstanding Contribution to Music went to the Pet Shop Boys.

February 18th: Born on this day

1933, Born on this day, Yoko Ono, Japanese artist, singer, poet, author and peace activist and wife of John Lennon. Ono moved to New York City from Tokyo aged 14 and first met John Lennon in London in 1966, the couple married in 1969

1934, Born on this day, Skip Battin, The Byrds, who had the 1965 US & UK No.1 single 'Mr Tambourine Man'. In 1959-60 he sang in a duo, Skip & Flip, with Gary Paxton when they had two US hits that each went to #11, Paxton later formed the Hollywood Argyles, who had the number-one hit, 'Alley Oop'. Battin was in the Byrds from 1970 to 1973. Member of New Riders Of The Purple Sage and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Battin died on July 6th 2003.

1939, Born on this day, Bobby Hart, singer, songwriter who had the 1968 US No 8 single with Tommy Boyce, 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite', also wrote 'Last Train To Clarksville', 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' and 'Scooby Doo Where Are You.' Has sold over 40m records.

1941, Born on this day, Herman Santigo, singer with Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers who had the 1956 UK No.1 single 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'.

1945, Born on this day, Jimmy Jewell, from Gallagher & Lyle who had the 1976 UK No.6 single 'I Wanna Stay With You'.

1947, Born on this day, Dennis Deyoung, vocals, keyboards, Styx who had the 1979 US No.1 & 1980 UK No.6 single 'Babe'.

1952, Born on this day, Judy Kay Newton, Juice Newton who had the 1981 US No.2 single, 'Queen Of Hearts'.

1952, Born on this day, Randy Crawford, US female singer who had the 1980 UK No.2 single 'One Day I'll Fly Away' and with the Crusaders the 1979 UK No.5 & US No.36 single 'Street Life.'

1953, Born on this day, Robbie Bachman from Bachman Turner Overdrive who had the 1974 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet'. 1954, Born on this day, John Travolta, actor, singer, who had the 1978 UK & US No.1 single with Olivia Newton John, 'You're The One That I Want'. The track topped the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks in the summer of 1978 and as of 2008, is still the sixth best-selling single ever in the UK where it has sold over 2,015,000 copies. His mother and his sister Ann appeared as extras in Saturday Night Fever and his sister Ellen appeared as a waitress in Grease. 1955, Born on this day, Brian James, from British punk group The Damned, who had the 1986 UK No.3 single 'Eloise', James was also a member of Lords Of The New Church. 1961, Born on this day, Jasper Stainthorpe, from Then Jerico who had the 1989 UK No.13 single 'Big Area'. 1965, Born on this day, Dr Dre, NWA, who had the 1990 UK No.26 single 'Express Yourself'. As a solo artist had the 1996 US No.1 & UK No.6 single 'California'. Dre is the host of 'Yo! MTV Raps.' 1966, Born on this day, Tommy Scott, singer from English group Space who had the 1996 UK No.14 single 'Female Of The Species'. 1970, Born on this day, twins, Andy Williams (drums, vocals), and Jez Williams, (guitar) who were members of English group Sub Sub who had the 1993 UK No.3 single 'Ain't No Love, (Ain't No Use'). Also members of Doves, who had the 2002 UK No.3 single 'There Goes The Fear' and 2002 UK No.1 album 'The Last Broadcast'.

Died on this day

 

1995, American guitarist Bob Stinson from The Replacements died from a drug overdose, his body was found in his Uptown, Minneapolis apartment. Founding member of The Replacements, was also a member of Static Taxi.