TODAY IN HISTORY - July 25th
1944 - Born this day, Bobbie Gentry, in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, singer, (Ode to Billie Joe).
1960 - It's Now or Never, Elvis Presley's hit single, debuted on Billboard's popular record charts on this date. The song, adapted from the 1899 Italian song, O Sole Mio, was on the charts for 16 weeks, was No.1 for 5 weeks, and was later certified gold.
1960 - Roy Orbison reached No.2 on the US singles chart with ‘Only the Lonely,’ his first hit. The song was turned down by The Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley, so Orbison decided to record the song himself.
1964 - The Beatles third album 'A Hard Day's Night' started a twenty-one week run at the top of the UK charts. This was the first Beatles album to be recorded entirely on four-track tape, allowing for good stereo mixes.
1965 - Bob Dylan appeared on stage at the Newport Jazz Festival with an electric guitar. He was not well received, even with the classic folk song, Blowin' in the Wind. Dylan was booed and hissed off the stage.
1966 - Bob Dylan suffered a broken neck vertebrae when he crashed his motorbike near his home in Woodstock, New York.
1969 - Neil Young appeared with Crosby, Stills and Nash for the first time when played at The Fillmore East in New York. Young was initially asked to help out with live material only, but ended up joining the group on and off for the next 30 years.
1970 - (They Long to Be) Close to You by The Carpenters, rocketed to the No.1 spot on Billboard's record charts, and stayed there for 4 weeks. It became a very popular song at weddings. It was the first of three US No.1's and 17 other top 40 hits.
1976 - Elton John and Kiki Dee were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Don't Go Breaking My Heart. It was Elton’s first UK No.1 after 16 Top 40 hits.
1980 - AC/DC released their sixth internationally released studio album 'Back In Black', the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott, who died on 19 February 1980 at the age of 33. The album has sold an estimated 49 million copies worldwide to date, making it the second highest-selling album of all time, and the best-selling hard rock or heavy metal album.
1981 - Air Supply went to No.1 on the US singles chart with The One That I Love, the group's only US No.1.
1987 - Terence Trent D'arby went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Introducing The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'arby.
1990 - Bruce Springsteen became a father when Patti Sciafa gave birth to a baby boy, Evan James.
1995 - Died this day, Charlie Rich, country singer, from a blood clot in his lung. His 1974 The Most Beautiful Girl made No.2 in the UK and Behind Closed Doors, was a No.1 country hit.
1999 - This years Woodstock Festival ended with riots resulting in 120 people being arrested. Three people died during the 3-day festival in separate incidents and many were hospitalised after drinking polluted water.
2006 - George Michael phoned the UK daytime TV Richard and Judy show to talk about the recent story when he was caught 'cruising' for sex and was photographed kissing and groping with a stranger.
2010 - Paul McCartney's former wife, Heather Mills, told the press that the trauma and pain she went through after losing her leg in a traffic accident was nothing compared to the way she felt after she and the former Beatle split up. The two separated in 2006 after four years of marriage and went on to fight an bitter public divorce battle which saw her gain a $38.9 million settlement.
1944 - Born this day, Bobbie Gentry, in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, singer, (Ode to Billie Joe).
1960 - It's Now or Never, Elvis Presley's hit single, debuted on Billboard's popular record charts on this date. The song, adapted from the 1899 Italian song, O Sole Mio, was on the charts for 16 weeks, was No.1 for 5 weeks, and was later certified gold.
1960 - Roy Orbison reached No.2 on the US singles chart with ‘Only the Lonely,’ his first hit. The song was turned down by The Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley, so Orbison decided to record the song himself.
1964 - The Beatles third album 'A Hard Day's Night' started a twenty-one week run at the top of the UK charts. This was the first Beatles album to be recorded entirely on four-track tape, allowing for good stereo mixes.
1965 - Bob Dylan appeared on stage at the Newport Jazz Festival with an electric guitar. He was not well received, even with the classic folk song, Blowin' in the Wind. Dylan was booed and hissed off the stage.
1966 - Bob Dylan suffered a broken neck vertebrae when he crashed his motorbike near his home in Woodstock, New York.
1969 - Neil Young appeared with Crosby, Stills and Nash for the first time when played at The Fillmore East in New York. Young was initially asked to help out with live material only, but ended up joining the group on and off for the next 30 years.
1970 - (They Long to Be) Close to You by The Carpenters, rocketed to the No.1 spot on Billboard's record charts, and stayed there for 4 weeks. It became a very popular song at weddings. It was the first of three US No.1's and 17 other top 40 hits.
1976 - Elton John and Kiki Dee were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Don't Go Breaking My Heart. It was Elton’s first UK No.1 after 16 Top 40 hits.
1980 - AC/DC released their sixth internationally released studio album 'Back In Black', the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott, who died on 19 February 1980 at the age of 33. The album has sold an estimated 49 million copies worldwide to date, making it the second highest-selling album of all time, and the best-selling hard rock or heavy metal album.
1981 - Air Supply went to No.1 on the US singles chart with The One That I Love, the group's only US No.1.
1987 - Terence Trent D'arby went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Introducing The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'arby.
1990 - Bruce Springsteen became a father when Patti Sciafa gave birth to a baby boy, Evan James.
1995 - Died this day, Charlie Rich, country singer, from a blood clot in his lung. His 1974 The Most Beautiful Girl made No.2 in the UK and Behind Closed Doors, was a No.1 country hit.
1999 - This years Woodstock Festival ended with riots resulting in 120 people being arrested. Three people died during the 3-day festival in separate incidents and many were hospitalised after drinking polluted water.
2006 - George Michael phoned the UK daytime TV Richard and Judy show to talk about the recent story when he was caught 'cruising' for sex and was photographed kissing and groping with a stranger.
2010 - Paul McCartney's former wife, Heather Mills, told the press that the trauma and pain she went through after losing her leg in a traffic accident was nothing compared to the way she felt after she and the former Beatle split up. The two separated in 2006 after four years of marriage and went on to fight an bitter public divorce battle which saw her gain a $38.9 million settlement.