TODAY IN HISTORY – December 30th
1916 - Russian monk Grigori Rasputin was killed. His life was the topic in the "Bony M" song "Rasputin".
1928 - Born on this day, Bo Diddley, (Elias McDaniel), guitarist, singer, (R&B hits, 'Bo Diddley', 'You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover', 1963 UK No.34 single 'Pretty Thing'). When The Beatles first went to the US, John Lennon was asked what he would like to see; he replied 'Bo Diddley.' Diddley died from heart failure in Archer, Florida aged 79 on 2nd June 2008.
1937 - Born on this day, Paul Stookey, vocals, Peter Paul and Mary, (1969 US No.1 & 1970 UK No.2 single 'Leaving On A Jet Plane').
1939 - Del Shannon was born. His biggest selling song was"Runaway" in1961.
1942 - Born on this day, Mike Nesmith, vocals, guitar, The Monkees, (1967 UK & US No.1 single 'I'm A Believer' plus 10 US & 8 UK Top 40 singles).
1946 - Davy Jones was born in Manchester. He was the only British member of "The Monkees".
1947 - Jeff Lynne was born. He was the vocalist, guitarist, and the driving force behind the band "E.L.O".
1962 - Singer Brenda Lee was hurt when she attempted to rescue her poodle, Cee Cee from her burning house. Cee Cee later died of smoke inhalation.
1967 - The Beatles scored their 15th US No.1 with 'Hello Goodbye', Gladys Knight and the Pips were at No.2 with 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' and The Monkees at No.3 with 'Daydream Believer.'
1969 - Peter Tork quit The Monkees, buying himself out of his contract which left him broke. He went on to form a group called Release and played banjo on George Harrison's soundtrack to the film Wonderwall.
1970 - Elvis Presley was given a private tour of the FBI headquarters in Washington DC. Elvis requested and was given a permit to carry a gun in every US state.
1978 - Emerson Lake and Palmer announced their official break up.
1986 - Elena Jane "Ellie" Goulding (born 30 December 1986)[1] is an English singer-songwriter. In 2010, she became the second artist to both top the BBC's annual Sound of... poll and win the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards in the same year, following Adele's win of both in 2008.
1998 - Johnny Moore, lead singer for The Drifters on their 1960s hit 'Under The Boardwalk', died at the age of 64.
1999 - George Harrison and his wife Olivia were attacked when an intruder broke into their home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Olivia beat off the attacker with a poker and heavy lamp. Harrison who was stabbed in the chest was admitted to hospital and treated for a collapsed lung and various minor stab wounds. His wife, Olivia, was treated for cuts and bruises she had suffered in the struggle with the intruder. Police later arrested Michael Abram from Liverpool who had nursed an irrational obsession with the Beatles
2001 - Nickelback went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'How To Remind Me'.
2002 - Diana Ross was arrested for drink driving by the Arizona highway patrol after a motorist called to report a swerving vehicle in the western state of Arizona. When asked to walk in a straight line she fell over, could not count to 30 or balance on one foot. Police said the singer was twice over the drink drive limit with a blood-alcohol of 0.20, the legal limit is 0.08.
2006 - R&B singer Brandy was involved in a four-car crash that left one woman dead, after the singer failed to slow down and hit the back of another car. Brandy was alone in her car and no alcohol or drugs were involved.
2009 - The most popular song played on NZ radio this past week is “Black Box” by Australian Idol winner, Stan Walker.
2009 - Singer, songwriter Neil Young was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Other Canadian musicians who have been given the award include Bryan Adams, Leonard Cohen and the members of Rush.
2011 - Actor/comedian Russell Brand filed for divorce from pop singer, Katy Perry, citing irreconcilable differences. They were married in a lavish wedding in October 2010.
2012 - Brian May was named animal welfare charity PETA UK's Person of the Year for his efforts to help stop the culling of badgers.
1916 - Russian monk Grigori Rasputin was killed. His life was the topic in the "Bony M" song "Rasputin".
1928 - Born on this day, Bo Diddley, (Elias McDaniel), guitarist, singer, (R&B hits, 'Bo Diddley', 'You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover', 1963 UK No.34 single 'Pretty Thing'). When The Beatles first went to the US, John Lennon was asked what he would like to see; he replied 'Bo Diddley.' Diddley died from heart failure in Archer, Florida aged 79 on 2nd June 2008.
1937 - Born on this day, Paul Stookey, vocals, Peter Paul and Mary, (1969 US No.1 & 1970 UK No.2 single 'Leaving On A Jet Plane').
1939 - Del Shannon was born. His biggest selling song was"Runaway" in1961.
1942 - Born on this day, Mike Nesmith, vocals, guitar, The Monkees, (1967 UK & US No.1 single 'I'm A Believer' plus 10 US & 8 UK Top 40 singles).
1946 - Davy Jones was born in Manchester. He was the only British member of "The Monkees".
1947 - Jeff Lynne was born. He was the vocalist, guitarist, and the driving force behind the band "E.L.O".
1962 - Singer Brenda Lee was hurt when she attempted to rescue her poodle, Cee Cee from her burning house. Cee Cee later died of smoke inhalation.
1967 - The Beatles scored their 15th US No.1 with 'Hello Goodbye', Gladys Knight and the Pips were at No.2 with 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' and The Monkees at No.3 with 'Daydream Believer.'
1969 - Peter Tork quit The Monkees, buying himself out of his contract which left him broke. He went on to form a group called Release and played banjo on George Harrison's soundtrack to the film Wonderwall.
1970 - Elvis Presley was given a private tour of the FBI headquarters in Washington DC. Elvis requested and was given a permit to carry a gun in every US state.
1978 - Emerson Lake and Palmer announced their official break up.
1986 - Elena Jane "Ellie" Goulding (born 30 December 1986)[1] is an English singer-songwriter. In 2010, she became the second artist to both top the BBC's annual Sound of... poll and win the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards in the same year, following Adele's win of both in 2008.
1998 - Johnny Moore, lead singer for The Drifters on their 1960s hit 'Under The Boardwalk', died at the age of 64.
1999 - George Harrison and his wife Olivia were attacked when an intruder broke into their home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Olivia beat off the attacker with a poker and heavy lamp. Harrison who was stabbed in the chest was admitted to hospital and treated for a collapsed lung and various minor stab wounds. His wife, Olivia, was treated for cuts and bruises she had suffered in the struggle with the intruder. Police later arrested Michael Abram from Liverpool who had nursed an irrational obsession with the Beatles
2001 - Nickelback went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'How To Remind Me'.
2002 - Diana Ross was arrested for drink driving by the Arizona highway patrol after a motorist called to report a swerving vehicle in the western state of Arizona. When asked to walk in a straight line she fell over, could not count to 30 or balance on one foot. Police said the singer was twice over the drink drive limit with a blood-alcohol of 0.20, the legal limit is 0.08.
2006 - R&B singer Brandy was involved in a four-car crash that left one woman dead, after the singer failed to slow down and hit the back of another car. Brandy was alone in her car and no alcohol or drugs were involved.
2009 - The most popular song played on NZ radio this past week is “Black Box” by Australian Idol winner, Stan Walker.
2009 - Singer, songwriter Neil Young was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Other Canadian musicians who have been given the award include Bryan Adams, Leonard Cohen and the members of Rush.
2011 - Actor/comedian Russell Brand filed for divorce from pop singer, Katy Perry, citing irreconcilable differences. They were married in a lavish wedding in October 2010.
2012 - Brian May was named animal welfare charity PETA UK's Person of the Year for his efforts to help stop the culling of badgers.