TODAY IN HISTORY – JULY 4TH
1938 - Born this day, Bill Withers, in Slab Fork (Raleigh), West Virginia, Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer, 1972 US No.1 and UK No.18 single Lean On Me, 1988 UK No.4 re-mixed single Lovely Day, first released in 1978 when it made it to No.7.
1943 - Born this day, [Alan] Al 'Blind Owl' Wilson, musician, guitarist, harmonica player, singer, in Boston, Massachusetts, Canned Heat, 1968 UK No.8 single On The Road Again, 1969 UK No.19 single Going Up Country, 1970 UK No.2 and US No.26 single Let's Work Together. Died 3 September 1970 aged 27 of a drug overdose, having suffered from heavy depression. He was found in the garden of fellow band member Bob 'The Bear' Hite's house in Topanga Canyon, California.
1952 - Born this day, John Waite, singer, The Babys, 1978 UK No.45 single Isn't It Time, solo, 1984 US No.1 and UK No.9 single Missing You, re-issued in 1993.
1958 - Born this day, Kirk Pengilly, in Sydney, Australia, rock singer, musician, guitar, saxophonist, INXS, 1988 UK No.2 and US No.1 single Need You Tonight.
1958 - The Everly Brothers held the UK No.1 position with 'All I Have To Do Is Dream.' The Duo's first No.1 single was recorded in just two takes and features Chet Atkins on guitar. The song was written by the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.
1963 - Born this day, Matt Malley, rock musician, bass, Counting Crows, 1994 UK No.28 single Mr Jones, 1996 US No.1 album, Recovering The Satellites.
1964 - The Beach Boys started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with I Get Around, it was their first US No.1 and a No.7 hit in the UK.
1966 - The Beatles played two shows at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, in the Philippines to over 80,000 fans. The Beatles failed to appear at a palace reception hosted by President Marcos' family, who were not informed that the Beatles had declined their invitation. The Philippine media misrepresent this as a deliberate snub and when Brian Epstein tries to make a televised statement, his comments are disrupted by static. The next day, as The Beatles make their way to the airport they were greeted by angry mobs, the Philippine government had retaliated by refusing police protection for The Beatles.
1968 - Elvis Presley donated a Rolls Royce to a Hollywood women's charity which raised $35,000.
1974 - Despite the fact that they have the No.4 song in the US with 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' and a current Platinum album with 'Pretzel Logic', Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagan play their final gig together in Santa Monica, California. They would not tour again for the next eighteen years.
1977 - Bass player Gary Valentine quit Blondie, citing 'artistic integrity', as the cause of his departure. Nigel Harrison replaced Gary Valentine.
1982 - Ozzy Osbourne married Sharon Arden, the daughter of music business manager
Don Arden. Sharon recently resigned as manager of The Smashing Pumpkins.
1987 - Pet Shop Boys were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'It's A Sin', the duo's second UK No.1 and lead single from the duo's second album 'Actually'.
1990 - Paul Stanley from Kiss sustained neck and back injuries when he was involved in a car crash in New Jersey.
1992 - John Phillips ex of Mamas And The Papas received a liver transplant at the Los Angeles Medical Center.
1999 - Spice Girl Victoria Adams, better known as Posh Spice, wed English soccer player David Beckham at the 15th-century Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland in a ceremony shielded from the prying eyes of the press and fans. Adams wore a $160,000 gold-and-diamond coronet, The Sunday Times reported, saying it out did the tiara that Queen Elizabeth II lent to her newest daughter-in-law, the former Sophie Rhys-Jones when she married Prince Edward the previous month. Strict security surrounded the wedding, and a long white tent shielded guests and the couple from journalists. The couple signed a deal worth £1million for OK magazine to have the exclusive picture rights.
2002 - George Michael took part in a live phone interview on US news channel CNN, defending his new single Shoot The Dog. Americans were upset by the controversial video, which had President Bush in bed with Tony Blair.
2003 - Died this day, soul legend Barry White, at the age of 58 of liver failure. 1974 UK No.1 single You're The First The Last My Everything.
2005 - U2 won their court fight for the return of items of memorabilia, including a Stetson hat which they accused a former stylist of stealing. Judge Matthew Deery at Dublin's Circuit Court ordered Lola Cashman to return the items, which also include earrings, within seven days. Ms Cashman, had worked as U2's stylist during the 1980s and wrote an unauthorised book called ‘Inside the Zoo’. Judge Deery said he found Ms Cashman's version of how she had been given the items at the end of a US tour doubtful, particularly her description of Bono running around in his underpants backstage.
2009 - 77-year-old Allen Klein, the former manager of The Rolling Stones and later The Beatles, died after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. The assets of his company, ABKCO Music & Records, include recordings by The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Herman's Hermits, Bobby Womack, The Kinks, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and many others.
2010 - George Michael was arrested after he crashed his car into the front of a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, North London. The singer was returning home from a Gay Pride parade when the incident was spotted on CCTV. He was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive and charged with possession of cannabis and with driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
1938 - Born this day, Bill Withers, in Slab Fork (Raleigh), West Virginia, Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer, 1972 US No.1 and UK No.18 single Lean On Me, 1988 UK No.4 re-mixed single Lovely Day, first released in 1978 when it made it to No.7.
1943 - Born this day, [Alan] Al 'Blind Owl' Wilson, musician, guitarist, harmonica player, singer, in Boston, Massachusetts, Canned Heat, 1968 UK No.8 single On The Road Again, 1969 UK No.19 single Going Up Country, 1970 UK No.2 and US No.26 single Let's Work Together. Died 3 September 1970 aged 27 of a drug overdose, having suffered from heavy depression. He was found in the garden of fellow band member Bob 'The Bear' Hite's house in Topanga Canyon, California.
1952 - Born this day, John Waite, singer, The Babys, 1978 UK No.45 single Isn't It Time, solo, 1984 US No.1 and UK No.9 single Missing You, re-issued in 1993.
1958 - Born this day, Kirk Pengilly, in Sydney, Australia, rock singer, musician, guitar, saxophonist, INXS, 1988 UK No.2 and US No.1 single Need You Tonight.
1958 - The Everly Brothers held the UK No.1 position with 'All I Have To Do Is Dream.' The Duo's first No.1 single was recorded in just two takes and features Chet Atkins on guitar. The song was written by the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.
1963 - Born this day, Matt Malley, rock musician, bass, Counting Crows, 1994 UK No.28 single Mr Jones, 1996 US No.1 album, Recovering The Satellites.
1964 - The Beach Boys started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with I Get Around, it was their first US No.1 and a No.7 hit in the UK.
1966 - The Beatles played two shows at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, in the Philippines to over 80,000 fans. The Beatles failed to appear at a palace reception hosted by President Marcos' family, who were not informed that the Beatles had declined their invitation. The Philippine media misrepresent this as a deliberate snub and when Brian Epstein tries to make a televised statement, his comments are disrupted by static. The next day, as The Beatles make their way to the airport they were greeted by angry mobs, the Philippine government had retaliated by refusing police protection for The Beatles.
1968 - Elvis Presley donated a Rolls Royce to a Hollywood women's charity which raised $35,000.
1974 - Despite the fact that they have the No.4 song in the US with 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' and a current Platinum album with 'Pretzel Logic', Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagan play their final gig together in Santa Monica, California. They would not tour again for the next eighteen years.
1977 - Bass player Gary Valentine quit Blondie, citing 'artistic integrity', as the cause of his departure. Nigel Harrison replaced Gary Valentine.
1982 - Ozzy Osbourne married Sharon Arden, the daughter of music business manager
Don Arden. Sharon recently resigned as manager of The Smashing Pumpkins.
1987 - Pet Shop Boys were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'It's A Sin', the duo's second UK No.1 and lead single from the duo's second album 'Actually'.
1990 - Paul Stanley from Kiss sustained neck and back injuries when he was involved in a car crash in New Jersey.
1992 - John Phillips ex of Mamas And The Papas received a liver transplant at the Los Angeles Medical Center.
1999 - Spice Girl Victoria Adams, better known as Posh Spice, wed English soccer player David Beckham at the 15th-century Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland in a ceremony shielded from the prying eyes of the press and fans. Adams wore a $160,000 gold-and-diamond coronet, The Sunday Times reported, saying it out did the tiara that Queen Elizabeth II lent to her newest daughter-in-law, the former Sophie Rhys-Jones when she married Prince Edward the previous month. Strict security surrounded the wedding, and a long white tent shielded guests and the couple from journalists. The couple signed a deal worth £1million for OK magazine to have the exclusive picture rights.
2002 - George Michael took part in a live phone interview on US news channel CNN, defending his new single Shoot The Dog. Americans were upset by the controversial video, which had President Bush in bed with Tony Blair.
2003 - Died this day, soul legend Barry White, at the age of 58 of liver failure. 1974 UK No.1 single You're The First The Last My Everything.
2005 - U2 won their court fight for the return of items of memorabilia, including a Stetson hat which they accused a former stylist of stealing. Judge Matthew Deery at Dublin's Circuit Court ordered Lola Cashman to return the items, which also include earrings, within seven days. Ms Cashman, had worked as U2's stylist during the 1980s and wrote an unauthorised book called ‘Inside the Zoo’. Judge Deery said he found Ms Cashman's version of how she had been given the items at the end of a US tour doubtful, particularly her description of Bono running around in his underpants backstage.
2009 - 77-year-old Allen Klein, the former manager of The Rolling Stones and later The Beatles, died after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. The assets of his company, ABKCO Music & Records, include recordings by The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Herman's Hermits, Bobby Womack, The Kinks, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and many others.
2010 - George Michael was arrested after he crashed his car into the front of a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, North London. The singer was returning home from a Gay Pride parade when the incident was spotted on CCTV. He was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive and charged with possession of cannabis and with driving while unfit through drink or drugs.