TODAY IN HISTORY – MARCH 30TH
1930 - Born this day, Rolf Harris, artist, entertainer, singer, TV presenter, 1963 US No.3 single Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport, 1969 UK No.1 single Two Little Boys and 1993 UK No.7 Stairway To Heaven. Host vetinary programme Animal Hospital.
1945 - Born this day, Eric Patrick Clapp [Clapton], musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter, born in Ripley, Surrey. Through the years Eric has been a member of The Roosters, Casey Jones and the Engineers, The Yardbirds, John Mayall Bluesbreakers, Cream, Delaney and Bonnie, Travelling Wilburies, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominoes. In 1987, Eric started what became an annual event by playing 6 shows at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
During 1994, he played his 100th Albert Hall performance in aid of the Children In Crisis charity. He had a big hit in 1974 at US No.1 with his version of the Bob Marley song I Shot The Sheriff. He also scored hits with Cream, 1967 UK No.11 single I Feel Free , Derek and the Dominoes 1972 UK No.7 single Layla, 1992 UK No.5 single Tears in Heaven . Eric married Patti Harrison (the ex wife of George), in 1979 at Temple Bethel, Tucson, Arizona.
In 1990, Eric was fined £300 with £10 costs by Walton-on-Thames Magistrates court, after being booked for speeding at 105 mph, Clapton was also banned from driving for 3 months. He sponsored a West Bromwich Albion UEFA cup tie against Galatasarey of Turkey in 1978 and presented each player with a gold copy of his latest album, Slowhand. In 1996, a fire at the guitarists home caused over one and a half million pounds worth of damage. Firemen arrived on the scene to find Clapton braving the blaze to save his collection of guitars.
1963 - Born this day, M.C. Hammer [Stanley Kirk Burrell], rap singer, 1990 US No.1 album Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em, record breaking 21 weeks at the top of the chart. 1990 UK No.3 single U Can't Touch This.
1963 - He's So Fine, recorded by The Chiffons, jumped into the No.1 spot on Billboard's record charts on this date, and stayed in the No.1 spot for 4 weeks. It was a No.16 UK hit. In 1971 George Harrison was taken to court accused of copying the song on his 1970 My Sweet Lord and paid $587,000.
1964 - Born this day, Tracy Chapman, singer, songwriter, 1988 UK No.5 and US No.6 single Fast Car, 1988 US and UK No.1 self titled debut album.
1968 - Born this day, Celine Dion, French-Canadian singer, 1994 US No.1 single The Power Of Love, 1998 UK No.1 single My Heart Will Go On, plus over 10 other UK top 40 singles, won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988. Grammy winner.
1971 - The Bee Gees received a gold record for the single, Lonely Days. When playing it, they heard the song at a faster speed and said, 'Hey, this sounds like disco!' and the rest was Saturday Night Fever music history.
1974 - John Denver reached the No.1 spot on the US music charts for the first time with his hit, Sunshine on My Shoulders. The first of four US No.1's for the singer, the three other singles by Denver that reached the top of the music world were: Annie's Song, Thank God I'm a Country Boy and I'm Sorry. Take Me Home Country Roads made it to the No.2 position, while Rocky Mountain High just cracked the Top 10 at No.9. Denver wrote Leaving on a Jet Plane for Peter, Paul and Mary and won an Emmy for the TV special, An Evening With John Denver. He was killed in a plane crash on 12 October 1997.
1978 - U2 won £500 and a chance to audition for CBS Ireland in a talent contest sponsored by Guinness.
1979 - Born this day, Norah Jones, singer, 2002 US No.5 and UK No.3 album Come Away With Me.
1996 - The Beatles went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Anthology 2.
2000 - Mick Jagger made a nostalgic visit to his old school. He opened the new arts centre that had been named after him at Dartford Grammar. The singer said he had spent the worst years of his life at the school.
2001 - LeAnn Rimes reached an out of court settlement with her father and her former manager. The country star filed a lawsuit claiming the pair had stolen £7m from her.
2010 – The 2011 RWC theme song is announced. “Right here right now” (originally Jesus Jones in 1991) has been remade by Kiwi band The Feelers to a mixed response.
1930 - Born this day, Rolf Harris, artist, entertainer, singer, TV presenter, 1963 US No.3 single Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport, 1969 UK No.1 single Two Little Boys and 1993 UK No.7 Stairway To Heaven. Host vetinary programme Animal Hospital.
1945 - Born this day, Eric Patrick Clapp [Clapton], musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter, born in Ripley, Surrey. Through the years Eric has been a member of The Roosters, Casey Jones and the Engineers, The Yardbirds, John Mayall Bluesbreakers, Cream, Delaney and Bonnie, Travelling Wilburies, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominoes. In 1987, Eric started what became an annual event by playing 6 shows at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
During 1994, he played his 100th Albert Hall performance in aid of the Children In Crisis charity. He had a big hit in 1974 at US No.1 with his version of the Bob Marley song I Shot The Sheriff. He also scored hits with Cream, 1967 UK No.11 single I Feel Free , Derek and the Dominoes 1972 UK No.7 single Layla, 1992 UK No.5 single Tears in Heaven . Eric married Patti Harrison (the ex wife of George), in 1979 at Temple Bethel, Tucson, Arizona.
In 1990, Eric was fined £300 with £10 costs by Walton-on-Thames Magistrates court, after being booked for speeding at 105 mph, Clapton was also banned from driving for 3 months. He sponsored a West Bromwich Albion UEFA cup tie against Galatasarey of Turkey in 1978 and presented each player with a gold copy of his latest album, Slowhand. In 1996, a fire at the guitarists home caused over one and a half million pounds worth of damage. Firemen arrived on the scene to find Clapton braving the blaze to save his collection of guitars.
1963 - Born this day, M.C. Hammer [Stanley Kirk Burrell], rap singer, 1990 US No.1 album Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em, record breaking 21 weeks at the top of the chart. 1990 UK No.3 single U Can't Touch This.
1963 - He's So Fine, recorded by The Chiffons, jumped into the No.1 spot on Billboard's record charts on this date, and stayed in the No.1 spot for 4 weeks. It was a No.16 UK hit. In 1971 George Harrison was taken to court accused of copying the song on his 1970 My Sweet Lord and paid $587,000.
1964 - Born this day, Tracy Chapman, singer, songwriter, 1988 UK No.5 and US No.6 single Fast Car, 1988 US and UK No.1 self titled debut album.
1968 - Born this day, Celine Dion, French-Canadian singer, 1994 US No.1 single The Power Of Love, 1998 UK No.1 single My Heart Will Go On, plus over 10 other UK top 40 singles, won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988. Grammy winner.
1971 - The Bee Gees received a gold record for the single, Lonely Days. When playing it, they heard the song at a faster speed and said, 'Hey, this sounds like disco!' and the rest was Saturday Night Fever music history.
1974 - John Denver reached the No.1 spot on the US music charts for the first time with his hit, Sunshine on My Shoulders. The first of four US No.1's for the singer, the three other singles by Denver that reached the top of the music world were: Annie's Song, Thank God I'm a Country Boy and I'm Sorry. Take Me Home Country Roads made it to the No.2 position, while Rocky Mountain High just cracked the Top 10 at No.9. Denver wrote Leaving on a Jet Plane for Peter, Paul and Mary and won an Emmy for the TV special, An Evening With John Denver. He was killed in a plane crash on 12 October 1997.
1978 - U2 won £500 and a chance to audition for CBS Ireland in a talent contest sponsored by Guinness.
1979 - Born this day, Norah Jones, singer, 2002 US No.5 and UK No.3 album Come Away With Me.
1996 - The Beatles went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Anthology 2.
2000 - Mick Jagger made a nostalgic visit to his old school. He opened the new arts centre that had been named after him at Dartford Grammar. The singer said he had spent the worst years of his life at the school.
2001 - LeAnn Rimes reached an out of court settlement with her father and her former manager. The country star filed a lawsuit claiming the pair had stolen £7m from her.
2010 – The 2011 RWC theme song is announced. “Right here right now” (originally Jesus Jones in 1991) has been remade by Kiwi band The Feelers to a mixed response.