February 21st: On this Day In Music History

 

1961, The Beatles played three gigs in one day. The first was a lunchtime show at the Cavern Club, then at night they appeared at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool.

1964, New York band The Echoes recruited a new young unknown piano player, named Billy Joel.

1964, Three classic British singles were released, The Rolling Stones 'Not Fade Away', (a UK No.3), The Hollies 'Just One Look', (a UK No.2), and Billy J Kramer's 'Little Children', (a UK No.1). 1968, Otis Redding had his first entry on the UK singles chart when '(Sittin On) The Dock Of The Bay' entered the chart, it went on to be a No.3 hit.

1970, Simon and Garfunkel went to No.1 on the UK chart with 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. The album went on to stay on the chart for over 300 weeks, returning to the top of the charts on eight separate occasions and spending a total of 41 weeks at No.1.

1976, The Four Seasons were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'December '63 (Oh What A Night). The group's only UK No.1.

1977, Fleetwood Mac released 'Rumours'. The album went on to sell more than 15 million copies world-wide and spent 31 weeks at No.1 on the US chart.

 

1980, Fleetwood Mac kicked off a 17-date tour of Australia and New Zealand at the Entertainment Centre in Perth.

1981, Dolly Parton started a two week run at No.1 on the US charts with '9 to 5', the singers first No.1, a No.47 hit in the UK.

1981, REO Speedwagon went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Hi Infidelity'. The album spent a total of 15 weeks at No.1.

1981, Phil Collins entered the UK album chart at No.1 with 'Face Value.'

 

1987, Ben E King was at No.1 in the UK singles chart with 'Stand By Me.' The track was first released in 1961 and became a hit in 1987 after being featured in the film 'Stand By Me.'

1998, Celine Dion went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'My Heart Will Go On'. The song was the theme from the movie Titanic. The world's best selling single of 1998.

2001, Robbie Williams was attacked and thrown from the stage during a concert in Stuttgart, Germany after a man got onto the stage and pushed Williams into the security pit. The attacker was arrested and taken to a secure psychiatric clinic.

2002, Elton John accused the music industry of exploiting young singers and dumping talented artists for manufactured group's. He said 'There are too many average and mediocre acts; it damages real talent getting airplay. It's just fodder.' 2003, Liberty X kicked off an-11 date UK tour at Manchester MEN Arena. Liberty X were the five runners up on the 'Popstars' UK TV show. The name Liberty was chosen to reflect the freedom they enjoyed from not being under the rigid enforcements of the television company and record label that was put upon the winners Hear'Say. 2004, Simon Cowell was set to appear in a new episode of The Simpsons. The TV Pop Idol judge would play a nursery boss who gets punched by Homer Simpson. 2008, Britney Spears failed in a court bid to regain visitation rights to her two children. Spears was banned from monitored visits in January of this year after refusing to hand the children back, resulting in a stand-off with police at her house. The singer's ex-husband Kevin Federline was awarded primary custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and Jayden James, aged one, in October. 2008, A computer expert was jailed for two years for electronically stalking Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington. Devon Townsend worked at a US national security laboratory in New Mexico, where she used a computer to track Bennington, she admitted to obtaining family photos, accessing e-mail and voicemail, and threatening his wife Talinda. 2008, A US music aficionado sold his collection of more than three million vinyl albums, singles and compact discs to an eBay buyer from Ireland for just over $3 million. An eBay spokeswoman said the sale was one of the highest ever for the online auction site. 2009, Rihanna issued a statement thanking fans for their support after an alleged assault by her R&B singer boyfriend Chris Brown, but the singer declined to comment on a leaked photograph which appeared to show her with facial injuries. The Los Angeles Police Department had launched an internal investigation and asked for the public's help in finding the person who leaked the photograph. 2009, The Fray started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album charts with their self-titled second album. February 21st: Born on this day 1933, Born on this day, Nina Simone, (Eunice Wayman), US jazz, blues singer who had the 1959 US No.18 single 'I Love You, Porgy', and the 1968 UK No.2 single 'Ain't Got No I Got Life'. Simone died of cancer on 21st April 2003 1943, Born on this day, David Geffen, Geffen record label boss. Founder of Asylum records who signed The Eagles, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell. Formed Dreamworks in 1995. 1949, Born on this day, Jerry Harrison, keyboards, guitar, Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers, Talking Heads, who had the 1983 US No.9 single 'Burning Down The House', and the 1985 UK No.6 single 'Road To Nowhere'. Also a member of Casual Gods. 1951, Born on this day, Vince Welnick, keyboards, The Tubes who had the 1977 UK No.28 single 'White Punks On Dope'. 1983 US No.10 single 'She's A Beauty'. 1952, Born on this day, Jean-Jacques Burnel, bassist, singer with The Stranglers who had the 1982 UK No.2 single 'Golden Brown' plus over 20 other UK Top 40 hits. 1954, Born on this day, Mike Pickering, DJ, M People who had the 1993 UK No.2 single 'Moving On Up', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles. 1961, Born on this day, Ranking Roger, The Beat, who had the 1983 UK No.3 single 'Can't Get Used To Losing You'. As a member of Fine Young Cannibals had the 1989 US No.1 & UK No.5 single 'She Drives Me Crazy'. 1967, Born on this day, Michael Ward, guitarist with The Wallflowers who had the 1997 US No.3 album 'Bringing Down The Horse'. 1969, Born on this day, James Dean Bradfield, guitarist, singer with Manic Street Preachers who had the 1996 UK No.2 single 'A Design For Life', 1998 UK No.1 album 'This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours'. 1986, Born on this day, Charlotte Church, Welsh singer, who had the 1999 UK No.34 single 'Just Wave Hello' and the 1998 UK No.4 album, 'Voice Of An Angel'. 1989, Born on this day, Corbin Bleu, American actor and singer from High School Musical, as part of the cast had the 2006 US No.1 'High School Musical' album and 2007, US No.1 'High School Musical 2' album. Over 17 million viewers in the United States watched the TV premier of High School Musical; making it the highest rated basic cable broadcast in U.S. history.   Died on this day

 

1976, Florence Ballard of The Supremes died of cardiac arrest, aged 32. Ballard had left The Supremes in 1967, lost an $8 million (£4.7 million) lawsuit against Motown records and was living on welfare when she died.

 

1980, Janet Vogel committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning aged 37. Vogel sang with The Skyliners on their 1959 US No.1 hit, 'Since I Don't Have You.'

1982, American DJ Murry The K died. Murray is thought to be the first person to play a Beatles record on radio in America. During the early days of Beatlemania, he frequently referred to himself as "the Fifth Beatle". Married six times, he died of cancer a week after his 60th birthday.

2004, Mud singer Les Gray died of a heart attack, whilst fighting throat cancer, aged 57, (1974 UK No.1 single 'Tiger Feet' plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles').