Musician Birthdays: Lou Reed (famous for being frontman/guitarist for the Velvet Underground & solo career, also famous for hits, “I’ll Be Your Mirror”, “Walk On the Wildside”, “A Perfect Day”, etc. Born in 1943), Eddie Money (US singer, famous for hit, “Baby Hold On”. Born in 1949), Karen Carpenter (vocals, drummer of the Carpenters, famous for hit, “Please Mr. Postman”. Born in 1950), Jon Bon Jovi (actor, US singer. Famous for hits, “Wanted: Dead or Alive”, “Living on a Prayer”, “Blaze of Glory”, etc. Born in 1962), Chris Martin (singer/songwriter, pianist, guitarist of Coldplay. Famous for hits, “Yellow”, “Clocks”, “Viva La Vida”, etc. Born in 1977)

– In 1955: Elvis Presley appeared at Porky’s Rooftop Club in Newport, Arkansas. Constantly on the road, performing night after night this was the group’s 46th show this year, (Elvis along with Scotty Moore and Bill Black).

– In 1955: Bo Diddley has his first recording session at Universal Recording Studio in Chicago, where he layed down ‘Bo Diddley’, which went on the top the US R&B chart by the following June.

– In 1960: After completing his national service and flying back to America, Elvis Presley stepped on British soil for the first and only time in his life when the plane carrying him stopped for refuelling at Prestwick Airport, Scotland.

– In 1963:  The Four Seasons became the first group to have 3 consecutive No.1’s in the US when ‘Walk Like A man’, started a three week run at the top, a No.12 in hit the UK.

– In 1964: The Beatles began filming what would become their first feature film ‘A Hard Days Night’ at Marylebone train station in London.

– In 1974: At this year’s Grammys Stevie Wonder won four awards: Album of the year for ‘Innervisions’, Best R&B song and Best vocal for ‘Superstition’ and Pop vocal performance for ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life’.

– In 1977: The Jam played the first of a five-week Wednesday night run at The Red Cow, Hammersmith, London. The group had just signed a four-year recording contract with Polydor records.

– In 1985: The Smiths were at No.1 on the UK indie charts with ‘How Soon Is Now.’ Soho had a No.8 UK hit with ‘Hippy Chick.’ a song based on a guitar sample from the song.

– In 1985: Wham! started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Make It Big’, which eventually went on the sell over 5 million copies in the US.

– In 1991: 21 years after it’s first release ‘All Right Now’, by Free made No.2 in the UK singles chart after being re-issued to coincide with its use in a Wrigleys Chewing gum TV ad.

– In 1991: Madonna’s ‘Rescue Me’, entered the US hot 100 at No.15, making her the highest- debuting female artist in rock history. The record had been held by Joy Llayne whose 1957 single ‘Your Wild Heart’, entered the chart at No. 30.

– In 1991: Mariah Carey started an 11-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with her debut ‘Mariah Carey.’

– In 1997: LeAnn Rimes went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Unchained Melody, The Early Years.’

– In 2003: Norah Jones started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut album ‘Come Away With Me’. The album spent over a year on the chart and was also a US No.1.

– In 2004: Metallica kicked off the first North American leg of their 137 date Madly in Anger with the World Tour at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

– In 2007: Jimi Hendrix was crowned the ‘wildest guitar hero’ of all-time in a poll of music fans for Classic Rock magazine. Hendrix beat Keith Richards into second place, with Stevie Ray Vaughan in third. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page made it to number four, followed by Dimebag Darrell, who played for several heavy metal bands including Pantera and Damageplan.

– In 2008: Canadian guitarist, singer, Jeff Healey, died of cancer. Healey lost his sight to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes when he was eight months old, resulting in his eyes being surgically removed. After living cancer-free for 38 years, he developed sarcoma in his legs. Despite surgery for this, the sarcoma spread to his lungs and ultimately was the cause of his death. Healey released over 12 albums, presented a long running radio show and worked with many artists including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, BB King, ZZ Top, Steve Lukather, Eric Clapton and Ian Gillan.

– In 2009: Liverpool University launched a Masters degree on The Beatles, popular music and society. Liverpool Hope University claimed the course which looked at the studio sound and compositions of The Beatles was the first of its kind in the UK and “probably the world”.