TODAY IN HISTORY – JANUARY 27TH
1756 - Born this day, (Johann Chrysostom) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer, born in Salzburg. He went on to compose 20 operas and 17 masses. Died 5 December 1791.
1945 - Born this day, Nick Mason, musician, drums, (group: Pink Floyd: Arnold Lane, Let There be More Light, Atom Heart Mother, Echoes, Wish You Were Here, Shine on You Crazy Diamond; LP: 1973 US No.1 & UK No.2 album The Dark Side Of The Moon, spent a record breaking 741 weeks on the US chart., The Wall).
1948 - Wire Recording Corporation of America announced the first magnetic tape recorder. The ‘Wireway’ machine with a built-in oscillator sold for $149.50.
1951 - Born this day, Seth Justman, musician, keyboard, singer, composer, The J. Geils Band, Give It to Me, Must Have Got Lost, One Last Kiss, Freeze-Frame, 1982 US No.1 and UK No.3 single Centrefold, Angel in Blue, Land of 1000 Dances.
1956 - Elvis Presley's single, 'Heartbreak Hotel' was released by RCA Records, who had just purchased Presley's contract from Sun Records for $35,000. The song sold 300,000 copies in its first week and would eventually sell over a million, becoming Elvis' first Gold record.
1968 - The Bee Gees played their first American concert, as a group. They earned $50,000 to entertain at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. This is identical to what the Beatles were paid to perform at the Hollywood Bowl a few years earlier. They then headed immediately back to England.
1968 - Otis Redding’s (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay was released on this day, seven weeks after the singer’s death. It became No.1 on 16 March 1968 and remained at the top spot for a month. Redding began his recording career in 1960 with Johnny Jenkins and The Pinetoppers (on Confederate Records). He sang duet with Carla Thomas and had 11 chart hits. Redding of Dawson, Georgia was killed in a plane crash at Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. Four members of the Bar-Kays were also killed in the crash. The Dock of the Bay, his only number one song, was recorded just three days before his death.
1968 - Born this day, Mike Patton, singer, Faith No More, 1993 UK No.3 and US No.4 single I'm Easy
1971 - David Bowie arrived in the US for the first time, he couldn't play live because of work permit restrictions, but attracted publicity when he wore a dress at a promotion event.
1972 - Born this day, Mark Owen, vocals, Take That, 1995 UK No.1 single Back For Good, plus seven other UK No.1 singles, and solo 1996 UK No.3 single Child.
1972 - American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson died in Chicago of heart failure and diabetes complications aged 60. Known as the "Queen of Gospel Music" she recorded over 30 albums
1973 - Roxy Music won 'the most promising new name', section in the New Musical Express (NME) readers poll.
1973 - 'Superstition' the lead single from Stevie Wonder's Talking Book album gave him his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1. Jeff Beck created the original drum beat while in the studio with Wonder. After writing the song, Wonder offered it to Beck to record, but at the insistence of Berry Gordy, Wonder himself recorded it first.
1977 - The Clash signed to CBS Records.
1979 - Ian Dury And The Blockheads had their only UK No.1 single with Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.
1984 - Michael Jackson’s hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in Los Angeles. Pyrotechnics did not operate on cue, injuring the singer. Jackson was hospitalised for a few days and fans from around the world sent messages of concern and sympathy.
1990 - Kylie Minogue had her third UK No.1 single with 'Tears On My Pillow', the song was originally a US hit for Little Anthony and The Imperials in 1958.
1991 – In one of the most celebrated Super Bowl performances, Whitney Houston sings “The Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV
1996 - Babylon Zoo started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spaceman', the fastest selling single by a debut artist in the UK, (420,000 copies in 6 days). The song was used for a Levi Jeans TV commercial. The single also went to Number 1 in twenty-three other countries.
1998 - James Brown was charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful use of a firearm after police were called to his South Carolina home. Brown later clamed the drugs were used to help his 'eyesight'.
2000 - Noel Gallagher of Oasis became a dad when Meg Matthew's gave birth to a girl, Anais at Portland Hospital, London.
2002 - Spanish-American Enrique Iglesias scored his first UK No.1 single with 'Hero'. His father, Julio Iglesias, had a UK No.1 hit in 1981.
2004 - R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband were charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana after being arrested in Atlanta, Georgia. Police pulled them over for a suspected licence plate offence
2006 - Gene McFadden, R&B vocalist and songwriter, best known as half of the Philly soul team McFadden & Whitehead, died of cancer at the age of 56. The duo had the 1979 hit 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now', which sold more than 8 million copies and was nominated for a Grammy Award..
2008 – Bon Jovi perform at AMI Stadium in Christchurch in front of 30,000 fans playing all their hits and new songs from the “Lost Highway” album. Jon Bon Jovi excites the fans when he comes on for the encore wearing a “Crusaders” rugby jersey.
2014 – Kiwi singer/songwriter, Lorde, wins 2 Grammy’s (Song of the Year & Best Pop Vocal Performance) for “Royals” to become the darling of the media. Record of the year goes to Daft Punk for “Get Lucky”. Best rock performance goes to Imagine Dragons for “Radioactive”.
1756 - Born this day, (Johann Chrysostom) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer, born in Salzburg. He went on to compose 20 operas and 17 masses. Died 5 December 1791.
1945 - Born this day, Nick Mason, musician, drums, (group: Pink Floyd: Arnold Lane, Let There be More Light, Atom Heart Mother, Echoes, Wish You Were Here, Shine on You Crazy Diamond; LP: 1973 US No.1 & UK No.2 album The Dark Side Of The Moon, spent a record breaking 741 weeks on the US chart., The Wall).
1948 - Wire Recording Corporation of America announced the first magnetic tape recorder. The ‘Wireway’ machine with a built-in oscillator sold for $149.50.
1951 - Born this day, Seth Justman, musician, keyboard, singer, composer, The J. Geils Band, Give It to Me, Must Have Got Lost, One Last Kiss, Freeze-Frame, 1982 US No.1 and UK No.3 single Centrefold, Angel in Blue, Land of 1000 Dances.
1956 - Elvis Presley's single, 'Heartbreak Hotel' was released by RCA Records, who had just purchased Presley's contract from Sun Records for $35,000. The song sold 300,000 copies in its first week and would eventually sell over a million, becoming Elvis' first Gold record.
1968 - The Bee Gees played their first American concert, as a group. They earned $50,000 to entertain at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. This is identical to what the Beatles were paid to perform at the Hollywood Bowl a few years earlier. They then headed immediately back to England.
1968 - Otis Redding’s (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay was released on this day, seven weeks after the singer’s death. It became No.1 on 16 March 1968 and remained at the top spot for a month. Redding began his recording career in 1960 with Johnny Jenkins and The Pinetoppers (on Confederate Records). He sang duet with Carla Thomas and had 11 chart hits. Redding of Dawson, Georgia was killed in a plane crash at Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. Four members of the Bar-Kays were also killed in the crash. The Dock of the Bay, his only number one song, was recorded just three days before his death.
1968 - Born this day, Mike Patton, singer, Faith No More, 1993 UK No.3 and US No.4 single I'm Easy
1971 - David Bowie arrived in the US for the first time, he couldn't play live because of work permit restrictions, but attracted publicity when he wore a dress at a promotion event.
1972 - Born this day, Mark Owen, vocals, Take That, 1995 UK No.1 single Back For Good, plus seven other UK No.1 singles, and solo 1996 UK No.3 single Child.
1972 - American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson died in Chicago of heart failure and diabetes complications aged 60. Known as the "Queen of Gospel Music" she recorded over 30 albums
1973 - Roxy Music won 'the most promising new name', section in the New Musical Express (NME) readers poll.
1973 - 'Superstition' the lead single from Stevie Wonder's Talking Book album gave him his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1. Jeff Beck created the original drum beat while in the studio with Wonder. After writing the song, Wonder offered it to Beck to record, but at the insistence of Berry Gordy, Wonder himself recorded it first.
1977 - The Clash signed to CBS Records.
1979 - Ian Dury And The Blockheads had their only UK No.1 single with Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.
1984 - Michael Jackson’s hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in Los Angeles. Pyrotechnics did not operate on cue, injuring the singer. Jackson was hospitalised for a few days and fans from around the world sent messages of concern and sympathy.
1990 - Kylie Minogue had her third UK No.1 single with 'Tears On My Pillow', the song was originally a US hit for Little Anthony and The Imperials in 1958.
1991 – In one of the most celebrated Super Bowl performances, Whitney Houston sings “The Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV
1996 - Babylon Zoo started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spaceman', the fastest selling single by a debut artist in the UK, (420,000 copies in 6 days). The song was used for a Levi Jeans TV commercial. The single also went to Number 1 in twenty-three other countries.
1998 - James Brown was charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful use of a firearm after police were called to his South Carolina home. Brown later clamed the drugs were used to help his 'eyesight'.
2000 - Noel Gallagher of Oasis became a dad when Meg Matthew's gave birth to a girl, Anais at Portland Hospital, London.
2002 - Spanish-American Enrique Iglesias scored his first UK No.1 single with 'Hero'. His father, Julio Iglesias, had a UK No.1 hit in 1981.
2004 - R&B singer Faith Evans and her husband were charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana after being arrested in Atlanta, Georgia. Police pulled them over for a suspected licence plate offence
2006 - Gene McFadden, R&B vocalist and songwriter, best known as half of the Philly soul team McFadden & Whitehead, died of cancer at the age of 56. The duo had the 1979 hit 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now', which sold more than 8 million copies and was nominated for a Grammy Award..
2008 – Bon Jovi perform at AMI Stadium in Christchurch in front of 30,000 fans playing all their hits and new songs from the “Lost Highway” album. Jon Bon Jovi excites the fans when he comes on for the encore wearing a “Crusaders” rugby jersey.
2014 – Kiwi singer/songwriter, Lorde, wins 2 Grammy’s (Song of the Year & Best Pop Vocal Performance) for “Royals” to become the darling of the media. Record of the year goes to Daft Punk for “Get Lucky”. Best rock performance goes to Imagine Dragons for “Radioactive”.