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”.

I had to listen to Adele’s “21” twice today, and I was pretty impressed with both listens. Now I get why she’s so popular and why she won “Album of the Year” at the Grammy’s. There’s some great songwriting on the disc. Plus, Adele’s voice sends chills. I’ll take back what I said that she’s overrated and I guess I’ll have a change of heart, and she just got herself a new fan. I’ll listen to the album more, and I’ll give it a more detailed review.

Kev

Musician Birthdays: Harry Belafonte (US Singer, famous for the the hit, “Banana Boat Song (Day-O”, born in 1927), Roger Daltrey (singer of the Who, famous for hits, “Baba O’ Reily”, “Pinball Wizard”, “Who Are You”, etc., born in 1944), Justin Bieber (Canadian singer, made famous as a youtube sensation and famous for the hit, “Baby”, born in 1994)

– In 1958: Buddy Holly played the first of 25 dates on his only UK tour at the Trocadero, Elephant & Castle, London. Also on the bill was Gary Miller, The Tanner Sisters, Des O’Conner, The Montanas, Ronnie Keene & His Orchestra.

– In 1961: Elvis Presley signed a five-year movie deal with producer Hal Wallis.

– In 1967: Working at Abbey Road studios, London, The Beatles started recording a new John Lennon song ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’. The song was inspired by a drawing his 3 year-old son Julian returned home from school with one day. The picture, which was of a little girl with lots of stars, was his classmate – Lucy O’Donnell, who also lived in Weybridge, and attended the same school as Julian.

– In 1968: Elton John’s first single ‘I’ve Been Loving You To Long’ was released on the Phillips label, it didn’t chart.

– In 1969: Jim Morrison of The Doors was charged with lewd and lascivious behaviour after showing his penis to the audience during a show in Miami. He was found guilty and sentenced to eight months hard labour. Morrison died in Paris while the sentence was on appeal.

– In 1975: The Eagles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Best Of My Love’, the first of five US No.1’s for the band. The highest chart position in the UK for the group was No.8 with the 1977 single ‘Hotel California.’

– In 1975: Winners at this years Grammy Awards included; Paul McCartney for Best pop vocal on ‘Band On The Run’, Olivia Newton-John won Record Of The Year for ‘I Honestly Love You’ and Stevie Wonder won Album of the year for ‘Fulfilling- ness First Finale.’

– In 1980: Patti Smith married MC5 guitarist Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith. Smith died on November 4th 1994.

– In 1989: R.E.M. kicked off the US leg of the ‘Green World Tour’, in Louisville, Kentucky.

– In 1990: Janet Jackson played the first night on her 120-date Rhythm Nation 1814 World tour at the Miami Arena in Florida. As part of the show Jackson’s had a live panther on-stage, but after concerns were raised over safety of the crowds and several incidents of the panther urinating on the stage Jackson axed the cat from the show in the summer leg of the tour.

– In 1994: Nirvana played their final ever concert when they appeared at The Terminal Einz in Munich, Germany. The 3,000 capacity venue was a small Airport Hanger. The power went off during the show so they played an impromptu acoustic set including a version of The Cars ‘My Best Friend’s Girl.’

– In 1995: Bruce Springsteen’s Streets of Philadelphia won three Grammys for Song of the Year, Best Male Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song.

– In 1997: A Motley Crue fan who claimed his hearing had been irreparably damaged after a show in New Jersey had his lawsuit thrown out of court. The judge told Clifford Goldberg who had sat near the front of the stage, knew the risk he was taking.

– In 2001:  Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs became the star witness of his own defence in a New York court claiming he didn’t have a gun during a shooting in a New York club. The singer claimed he thought he was being shot at.

– In 2004: Michael Jackson unveiled a new website, http://www.mjjsource.com. The site featured a celebration of his music career plus news on his current criminal trial, including short biographies of his attorneys and a calendar listing upcoming court dates.