TODAY IN HISTORY – MAY 16TH
1919 - Born this day, Liberace (Waldziu Valentino), pianist, entertainer, TV presenter, in West Allis, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father wanted him to be an undertaker. Liberace died at the age of sixty-eight on 4 February 1987. Had a 1955 UK No.20 single Unchained Melody
1947 - Born this day, Darrel Sweet, in Bournemouth, England, musician, drummer, singer, Nazareth, 1973 UK No.9 single Broken Down Angel. Died 30 April 1999 in New Albany, Indiana of a heart attack just before a show. He was aged 51. Sweet was a founder member of the group, which was formed in Dunfermline in 1968, along with singer Dan McCafferty, bassist Pete Agnew and guitarist Manny Charlton.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 1971, the first of some 20 albums recorded during their career. Nazareth's most recent album was Boogaloo, released in 1998 on their 30th anniversary. Nazareth took the name from the opening line of the Band's The Weight, from the album Big Pink.
1960 - Motown Records was formed.
1964 - Mary Wells started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'My Guy'. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, it made No.5 in the UK.
1965 - Born this day, Chris Novoselic, bass, Nirvana, 1991 UK No.7 and 1992 US No.6 single Smells Like Teen Spirit, from the 1991 album Nevermind which spent over 2 years on the UK chart.
1965 - Driving away from a gig at the Civic Hall, Long Beach, California, the limo taking the Rolling Stones back to their hotel was besieged by fans who caved in the roof by standing on it. The band attempted to hold the roof up while their chauffeur drove off with bodies falling onto the road.
1966 - The Beach Boys released the album Pet Sounds in the US. The album is now regarded as the masterpiece of composer-producer Brian Wilson. To confirm this, Pet Sounds has been widely ranked as one of the most influential records ever released and has been ranked at No.1 in several music magazines lists of greatest albums of all time, including New Musical Express, The Times and Mojo Magazine. In 2003, it was ranked No.2 in Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, (Sgt. Pepper's came first).
1966 - Born this day, Janet Jackson, singer, 1986 US No.1 and UK No.10 single When I Think Of You, plus 6 other US No.1's and over 20 UK top 40 singles.
1966 - The Castiles (featuring Bruce Springsteen), recorded two songs co-written by Bruce, at the Bricktown Studio in New Jersey. Only five copies of the record were pressed.
1966 - Dylan’s iconic Blonde On Blonde album was released, reaching No.9 in the US charts and No.3 in the UK. Rock's first double album, and Dylan's seventh studio effort, it was recorded with Al Kooper, Robbie Robertson and Nashville country music session players, and had what Dylan later called ‘that wild mercury sound’.
1969 - Pete Townshend spent the night in jail for assaulting a man at The Fillmore East. What Townshend didn't know was the man who jumped onto the stage was a plainclothes policeman trying to warn the audience that a fire had broken out next door. The Who guitarist was later fined £30 for the offence.
1970 - Crosby Stills Nash & Young went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Deja Vu'. The album featured three Top 40 singles: 'Teach Your Children,' 'Our House,' and 'Woodstock.' In 2003, the album was ranked number 148 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
1970 - Born this day, Gabrielle, singer, 1993 UK No.1 single Dreams, and over 10 other UK Top 20 singles, 2000 UK No.1 album Rise.
1974 - Brian May collapsed in New York while Queen were on a US tour and was flown back to England suffering from hepatitis.
1977 - The London Evening Standard reported that Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant had been arrested at Atlanta Airport for being drunk and pulling a knife. Since Plant was at his home in Wales at the time of the incident, the person arrested was a man impersonating Plant and the British paper ran an apology the following night.
1981 - Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes, rocketed to the No.1 spot on Billboard's record charts on this date, and remained there for 9 weeks. Carnes received a personal thank-you letter for the song from actress Bette Davis, saying that it had impressed her young grandson. Carnes was a former New Christy Minstrels member which featured Kenny Rogers. Bette Davis Eyes was the singers' only US No.1, and was also a No.10 hit in the UK.
1983 - Michael Jackson introduced the 'moonwalk' at the taping of the Motown 25th anniversary TV special (don't ask why the 25th anniversary was only 23 years after Motown formed).
1987 - U2 started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart 'With Or Without You', the group's first US No.1. The third track from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree, the song was the group's most successful single at the time.
1990 - Died this day, Sammy Davis Jr., singer and entertainer, of throat cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 64. (What Kind Of Fool Am I).
1998 - Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards fell while reaching for a book of nude art in his Connecticut home. The fall broke his ribs, causing the Stones to postpone many dates on their Bridges To Babylon tour.
2010 - Ronnie James Dio, singer with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio died after a six-month battle with stomach cancer. He was 67 years old. Dio’s career began in 1957 with The Vegas Kings, which later changed to Ronnie and the Rumblers, then Ronnie and the Redcaps, then in 1961, Ronnie Dio and the Prophets. In 1967, Dio and Prophets guitarist Nick Pantas formed the Electric Elves, which shortened its name to Elf. The band’s success eventually landed them an opening slot for Deep Purple, which exposed Dio’s voice to Deep Purple’s guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, who later recruited Dio and other members of Elf for his new band Rainbow.
2013 - It was reported that George Michael had been injured after the car in which he was travelling in crashed on the M1 during the evening rush-hour. Ambulance crews confirmed that the singer had to be airlifted from the scene, near the junction with the M25. Three days later Katherine Fox told The Sun newspaper that she was driving behind a silver Range Rover when the singer tumbled from out the passenger door on to the third lane of the northbound carriageway. She said Michael had “a nasty cut on his forehead and the back of his head. There was blood all down his face and on his teeth. He was breathing and conscious but in shock.”
1919 - Born this day, Liberace (Waldziu Valentino), pianist, entertainer, TV presenter, in West Allis, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father wanted him to be an undertaker. Liberace died at the age of sixty-eight on 4 February 1987. Had a 1955 UK No.20 single Unchained Melody
1947 - Born this day, Darrel Sweet, in Bournemouth, England, musician, drummer, singer, Nazareth, 1973 UK No.9 single Broken Down Angel. Died 30 April 1999 in New Albany, Indiana of a heart attack just before a show. He was aged 51. Sweet was a founder member of the group, which was formed in Dunfermline in 1968, along with singer Dan McCafferty, bassist Pete Agnew and guitarist Manny Charlton.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 1971, the first of some 20 albums recorded during their career. Nazareth's most recent album was Boogaloo, released in 1998 on their 30th anniversary. Nazareth took the name from the opening line of the Band's The Weight, from the album Big Pink.
1960 - Motown Records was formed.
1964 - Mary Wells started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'My Guy'. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, it made No.5 in the UK.
1965 - Born this day, Chris Novoselic, bass, Nirvana, 1991 UK No.7 and 1992 US No.6 single Smells Like Teen Spirit, from the 1991 album Nevermind which spent over 2 years on the UK chart.
1965 - Driving away from a gig at the Civic Hall, Long Beach, California, the limo taking the Rolling Stones back to their hotel was besieged by fans who caved in the roof by standing on it. The band attempted to hold the roof up while their chauffeur drove off with bodies falling onto the road.
1966 - The Beach Boys released the album Pet Sounds in the US. The album is now regarded as the masterpiece of composer-producer Brian Wilson. To confirm this, Pet Sounds has been widely ranked as one of the most influential records ever released and has been ranked at No.1 in several music magazines lists of greatest albums of all time, including New Musical Express, The Times and Mojo Magazine. In 2003, it was ranked No.2 in Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, (Sgt. Pepper's came first).
1966 - Born this day, Janet Jackson, singer, 1986 US No.1 and UK No.10 single When I Think Of You, plus 6 other US No.1's and over 20 UK top 40 singles.
1966 - The Castiles (featuring Bruce Springsteen), recorded two songs co-written by Bruce, at the Bricktown Studio in New Jersey. Only five copies of the record were pressed.
1966 - Dylan’s iconic Blonde On Blonde album was released, reaching No.9 in the US charts and No.3 in the UK. Rock's first double album, and Dylan's seventh studio effort, it was recorded with Al Kooper, Robbie Robertson and Nashville country music session players, and had what Dylan later called ‘that wild mercury sound’.
1969 - Pete Townshend spent the night in jail for assaulting a man at The Fillmore East. What Townshend didn't know was the man who jumped onto the stage was a plainclothes policeman trying to warn the audience that a fire had broken out next door. The Who guitarist was later fined £30 for the offence.
1970 - Crosby Stills Nash & Young went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Deja Vu'. The album featured three Top 40 singles: 'Teach Your Children,' 'Our House,' and 'Woodstock.' In 2003, the album was ranked number 148 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
1970 - Born this day, Gabrielle, singer, 1993 UK No.1 single Dreams, and over 10 other UK Top 20 singles, 2000 UK No.1 album Rise.
1974 - Brian May collapsed in New York while Queen were on a US tour and was flown back to England suffering from hepatitis.
1977 - The London Evening Standard reported that Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant had been arrested at Atlanta Airport for being drunk and pulling a knife. Since Plant was at his home in Wales at the time of the incident, the person arrested was a man impersonating Plant and the British paper ran an apology the following night.
1981 - Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes, rocketed to the No.1 spot on Billboard's record charts on this date, and remained there for 9 weeks. Carnes received a personal thank-you letter for the song from actress Bette Davis, saying that it had impressed her young grandson. Carnes was a former New Christy Minstrels member which featured Kenny Rogers. Bette Davis Eyes was the singers' only US No.1, and was also a No.10 hit in the UK.
1983 - Michael Jackson introduced the 'moonwalk' at the taping of the Motown 25th anniversary TV special (don't ask why the 25th anniversary was only 23 years after Motown formed).
1987 - U2 started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart 'With Or Without You', the group's first US No.1. The third track from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree, the song was the group's most successful single at the time.
1990 - Died this day, Sammy Davis Jr., singer and entertainer, of throat cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 64. (What Kind Of Fool Am I).
1998 - Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards fell while reaching for a book of nude art in his Connecticut home. The fall broke his ribs, causing the Stones to postpone many dates on their Bridges To Babylon tour.
2010 - Ronnie James Dio, singer with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio died after a six-month battle with stomach cancer. He was 67 years old. Dio’s career began in 1957 with The Vegas Kings, which later changed to Ronnie and the Rumblers, then Ronnie and the Redcaps, then in 1961, Ronnie Dio and the Prophets. In 1967, Dio and Prophets guitarist Nick Pantas formed the Electric Elves, which shortened its name to Elf. The band’s success eventually landed them an opening slot for Deep Purple, which exposed Dio’s voice to Deep Purple’s guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, who later recruited Dio and other members of Elf for his new band Rainbow.
2013 - It was reported that George Michael had been injured after the car in which he was travelling in crashed on the M1 during the evening rush-hour. Ambulance crews confirmed that the singer had to be airlifted from the scene, near the junction with the M25. Three days later Katherine Fox told The Sun newspaper that she was driving behind a silver Range Rover when the singer tumbled from out the passenger door on to the third lane of the northbound carriageway. She said Michael had “a nasty cut on his forehead and the back of his head. There was blood all down his face and on his teeth. He was breathing and conscious but in shock.”