Musician Birthdays: Merle Travis (country singer, born in 1917). John Mayall (guitarist/singer for John Mayall and the Blues Breakers, responsible for starting the UK blues movement, born in 1933)

– In 1963: ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ by The Beatles was released in the UK. For the first time ever in the UK advanced orders passed the million mark before it was released.

– In 1969: The Beatles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Come Together / Something’, the group’s 18th US No.1.

– In 1975: German trio Silver Convention started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Fly Robin Fly’, it peaked at No.28 in the UK.

– In 1980: John and Yoko’s ‘Double Fantasy’ album was released. A No.1 in the US & the UK the set featured the No.1 single ‘Just Like Starting Over.’

– In 1986: ‘Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Live / 1975-85’ started a seven week run at No.1 on the US album chart.

– In 1997: Whitney Houston pulled out of a concert sponsored by the Moonies two hours before she was due on stage after finding out the event was a mass wedding for over 1,000 Moonie couple’s. The religious group said they had no intention of suing providing the singer returned the $1m fee she had received.

– In 1997: ‘Perfect Day’ performed by various artists including Elton John, Bono, Tom Jones & David Bowie went to No.1 on the UK singles chart. Originally written and recorded in 1973 by Lou Reed, this new collaboration of 29 major artists was a fund raiser for the BBC Children In Need charity.

– In 1999: It was reported that Oasis singer Liam Gallagher had gone missing after leaving his house three days earlier. The band were due to fly out to the US at the end of the week to start a tour.

– In 2000: U2’s Larry Mullen came to the rescue of motorcyclist who had been involved in an accident. Larry was driving home when he saw the motorcyclist who had crashed and stopped to call for help on his phone and then waited for the ambulance to arrive.

– In 2001: Former Beatles guitarist George Harrison died in Los Angeles of lung cancer aged 58. Following the breakup of The Beatles Harrison had a successful career as a solo artist and later as part of the Traveling Wilburys. The youngest member of The Beatles, (aged 16 when he joined), his compositions include ‘Taxman’, ‘Here Comes the Sun’, ‘Something’, and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’. Harrison released the acclaimed triple album, All Things Must Pass, in 1970, from which came the worldwide No.1 single ‘My Sweet Lord.’ He was the co-founder of Handmade Films, collaborated with Madonna and the members of Monty Python. An accomplished gardener, Harrison restored the grounds of his 120 roomed English home Friar Park.

– In 2005: Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller dropped his £100m copyright case against the X Factor’s Simon Cowell after Fuller settled the case out of court in a deal which made him a joint partner in the X Factor show. Mr Fuller had claimed Mr Cowell’s ITV talent show X Factor copied his successful Pop Idol format, in a case taken to London’s High Court. As part of the settlement, Mr Cowell agreed to appear in at least five more series of American Idol.

– In 2007: Morrissey was set to sue UK music weekly the NME after it failed to apologise for an article focusing on his views on immigration. The magazine had criticised the 48 year old singer and former Smiths star for allegedly telling a reporter Britain had lost its identity due to high levels of immigration.

– In 2008: Taylor Swift went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Fearless’, the country singers second studio album.