TODAY IN HISTORY – August 7th
1942 - Born on this day, B.J. Thomas, singer, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.38 single 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head').
1954 - Johnny Cash married Vivian Liberto at St Ann's Catholic Church in Memphis. Cash had plans of becoming a Memphis appliance salesman, he instead formed a band with Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant, and was signed to Sun Records a year later.
1957 - The Quarry Men played at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, (without Paul McCartney who was away at Boy Scout summer camp). The Cavern was still a jazz club, but skiffle was tolerated, but when John Lennon dared to play ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, the club owner sent a note to the stage saying, "Cut out the bloody rock!"
1958 - Born this day, Bruce Dickinson, rock singer, musician, Iron Maiden, joined in 1981, 1982 UK No.1 album The Number Of The Beast, 1991 UK No.1 single Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter.
1965 - Herman's Hermits went to No.1 on the US singles chart with I'm Henry VIII, I Am, the single was only released in the US. Singer from the group Peter Noone once interviewed Elvis Presley for UK music paper New Musical Express.
1970 - Christine McVie joined Fleetwood Mac as the group's first female member. McVie was married to bass player John McVie. She quit touring with the group in 1991.
1971 - How Can You Mend a Broken Heart recorded by The Bee Gees, zoomed to the No.1 spot on Billboard's hit record charts and remained there for 4 weeks. It was the groups tenth US hit and their first No.1.
1974 - Peter Wolf from The J. Geils Band married actress Faye Dunaway, in Beverly Hills. They divorced in 1979
1976 - Elton John and Kiki Dee started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Don't Go Breaking My Heart, giving Elton his sixth US No.1. It was also Eltons first UK No.1 single.
1982 - Dexy's Midnight Runners were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Come On Eileen' their second and last No.1. It was the Best-selling single of 1982 and the song won Best British Single at the 1983 Brit Awards. The "Eileen" as featured in the video is Máire Fahey, sister of Siobhan Fahey, former singer with Bananarama and Shakespears Sister. The American singer Johnnie Ray, mentioned in the opening lyrics, was also featured in the video using old film footage.
1982 - 'Kids From Fame' by The Kids From Fame started an eight week run at No.1 on the UK album chart. The American television series was originally produced between 1982 and 1987, based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. Using a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts.
1984 - Died this day, Esther Phillips, singer, from liver failure. 1975 US No.20 and UK No.6 single What A Difference A Day Makes.
1987 - Lindsey Buckingham quit Fleetwood Mac.
1991 – Kiwi comedian, the much loved, Billy T James, died this day from heart failure. He had a heart transplant in 1988.
1997 - Garth Brooks played to the largest crowd ever to attend a concert in New York’s Central Park. An estimated 1 million people attended the live concert with an additional 14.6 million viewing live on HBO (Home Box Office).
2002 - Three members of Oasis were injured when the taxi they were travelling in was involved in a crash during a US tour in Indianapolis. Noel Gallagher, Andy Bell and Jay Darlington were all taken to hospital and treated for cuts and bruises.
2002 - Former Boyzone Keith Duffy made his acting debut in UK TV soap Coronation Street playing the role of Peter Barlow's old Navy mate Ciaran McCarthy.
2005 - James Blunt was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘You're Beautiful’, Mariah Carey was at No.1 on the US charts with ‘We Belong Together’ and Axel F had ‘Crazy Frog’ at No.1 on the Australian singles charts.
2007 - Lily Allen had her US work visa cancelled after arriving at Los Angeles airport. The 22-year-old, who was due to tour America in September, had flown in for the MTV Video Music Awards launch. She was held at the airport for five hours in connection with an arrest for an alleged assault in London in June.
2008 - Elvis Presley's peacock jumpsuit, was sold at auction for $300,000, making it the most expensive piece of Elvis memorabilia ever sold at an auction. The white outfit with a plunging V-neck and high collar featured a blue-and-gold peacock design, hand-embroidered on the front and back and along the pant legs.
1942 - Born on this day, B.J. Thomas, singer, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.38 single 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head').
1954 - Johnny Cash married Vivian Liberto at St Ann's Catholic Church in Memphis. Cash had plans of becoming a Memphis appliance salesman, he instead formed a band with Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant, and was signed to Sun Records a year later.
1957 - The Quarry Men played at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, (without Paul McCartney who was away at Boy Scout summer camp). The Cavern was still a jazz club, but skiffle was tolerated, but when John Lennon dared to play ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, the club owner sent a note to the stage saying, "Cut out the bloody rock!"
1958 - Born this day, Bruce Dickinson, rock singer, musician, Iron Maiden, joined in 1981, 1982 UK No.1 album The Number Of The Beast, 1991 UK No.1 single Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter.
1965 - Herman's Hermits went to No.1 on the US singles chart with I'm Henry VIII, I Am, the single was only released in the US. Singer from the group Peter Noone once interviewed Elvis Presley for UK music paper New Musical Express.
1970 - Christine McVie joined Fleetwood Mac as the group's first female member. McVie was married to bass player John McVie. She quit touring with the group in 1991.
1971 - How Can You Mend a Broken Heart recorded by The Bee Gees, zoomed to the No.1 spot on Billboard's hit record charts and remained there for 4 weeks. It was the groups tenth US hit and their first No.1.
1974 - Peter Wolf from The J. Geils Band married actress Faye Dunaway, in Beverly Hills. They divorced in 1979
1976 - Elton John and Kiki Dee started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Don't Go Breaking My Heart, giving Elton his sixth US No.1. It was also Eltons first UK No.1 single.
1982 - Dexy's Midnight Runners were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Come On Eileen' their second and last No.1. It was the Best-selling single of 1982 and the song won Best British Single at the 1983 Brit Awards. The "Eileen" as featured in the video is Máire Fahey, sister of Siobhan Fahey, former singer with Bananarama and Shakespears Sister. The American singer Johnnie Ray, mentioned in the opening lyrics, was also featured in the video using old film footage.
1982 - 'Kids From Fame' by The Kids From Fame started an eight week run at No.1 on the UK album chart. The American television series was originally produced between 1982 and 1987, based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. Using a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts.
1984 - Died this day, Esther Phillips, singer, from liver failure. 1975 US No.20 and UK No.6 single What A Difference A Day Makes.
1987 - Lindsey Buckingham quit Fleetwood Mac.
1991 – Kiwi comedian, the much loved, Billy T James, died this day from heart failure. He had a heart transplant in 1988.
1997 - Garth Brooks played to the largest crowd ever to attend a concert in New York’s Central Park. An estimated 1 million people attended the live concert with an additional 14.6 million viewing live on HBO (Home Box Office).
2002 - Three members of Oasis were injured when the taxi they were travelling in was involved in a crash during a US tour in Indianapolis. Noel Gallagher, Andy Bell and Jay Darlington were all taken to hospital and treated for cuts and bruises.
2002 - Former Boyzone Keith Duffy made his acting debut in UK TV soap Coronation Street playing the role of Peter Barlow's old Navy mate Ciaran McCarthy.
2005 - James Blunt was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘You're Beautiful’, Mariah Carey was at No.1 on the US charts with ‘We Belong Together’ and Axel F had ‘Crazy Frog’ at No.1 on the Australian singles charts.
2007 - Lily Allen had her US work visa cancelled after arriving at Los Angeles airport. The 22-year-old, who was due to tour America in September, had flown in for the MTV Video Music Awards launch. She was held at the airport for five hours in connection with an arrest for an alleged assault in London in June.
2008 - Elvis Presley's peacock jumpsuit, was sold at auction for $300,000, making it the most expensive piece of Elvis memorabilia ever sold at an auction. The white outfit with a plunging V-neck and high collar featured a blue-and-gold peacock design, hand-embroidered on the front and back and along the pant legs.