Musician Birthdays: Captain Beefheart (singer/songwriter, born in 1941) Ronnie Van Zandt (singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, born in 1948), Adam Jones (guitarist of Tool, born in 1965)

– In 1961: The Supremes signed a world wide recording contract with Motown Records.

– In 1965: The Who released their first single ‘I Can’t Explain’. With Jimmy Page on guitar and The Ivy League on backing vocals, it went on to reach No.8 on the UK chart.

– In 1967: The Rolling Stones were forced to change the lyrics of ‘Lets Spend The Night Together’ to ‘Lets Spend Some Time Together’ when appearing on the US TV’s The Ed Sullivan Show after the producers objected to the content of the lyrics.

– In 1969: George Harrison had a five-hour meeting with John, Paul and Ringo where he made it clear that he was fully prepared to quit The Beatles for good. Harrison wasn’t happy with plans for live performances and the Let It Be film project.

– In 1972: Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’ started a four week run at No.1 in the US singles chart.

– In 1977: The Eagles went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Hotel California’ the group’s third US No.1 album.

– In 1982: The Police kicked off the North American leg of their 119-date Ghost In The Machine world tour at Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, supported by The Go-Go’s.

– In 1983: Men At Work started a four week run at No.1 in the US singles chart with ‘Down Under’ the Australian act group’s second US No.1, also a No.1 in the UK.

– In 1998: Harmonica player Junior Wells died, (born Amos Blakemore). Worked with Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt and The Rolling Stones.