TODAY IN HISTORY – MAY 19TH
1945 - Born this day, Pete Townshend, rock singer, guitarist, composer, The Who, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, 1965 UK No.2 single My Generation, 1967 US No.9 single I Can See For Miles, plus over 20 other UK top 40 hit singles and rock opera albums Tommy and Quadrophenia.
1949 - Born this day, Dusty Hill, rock musician, bassist, singer, ZZ Top, 1984 US No.8 and 1985 UK No.16 single Legs.
1951 - Born this day, Joey Ramone [Jeffrey Hyman], singer, The Ramones, 1977 UK No.22 single Sheena is a punk rocker. Died 15 April 2001.
1960 - Born this day, Yasmin Evans, singer, Yazz and the Plastic Population, 1988 UK No.1 single The Only Way Is Up.
1960 - Radio disc jockey and TV personality, Alan Freed was arrested on charges of commercial bribery during the industry's payola scandal. Seven other people were also arrested. Freed was the originator of the term 'rock and roll'.
1962 - Marilyn Monroe sang a sultry version of 'Happy Birthday' to President John F. Kennedy at his Madison Square Garden 'Birthday Salute'.
1967 - The Beatles held a press party at manager Brian Epstein's house for the launch of the Sgt. Peppers album.
1972 - Born this day, Jenny Berggren, rock singer, Ace Of Base, 1993 UK No.1 single All That She Wants, 1994 US No.1 single The Sign.
1973 - Stevie Wonder went to No.1 on the US Billboard pop music chart with You are the Sunshine of My Life.
1973 - Wizzard were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'See My Baby Jive,' Roy Wood's (from The Move), latest group spent four weeks at the top of the charts.
1973 - Paul Simon released the single 'Kodachrome' named after the Kodak 35mm film Kodachrome which became a No.2 hit in the US. It was not released as a single in Britain, because the BBC would not play the trademarked name.
1974 - The Rubettes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Sugar Baby Love', the group's only UK No.1.
1976 - Keith Richards crashed his car near Newport Pagnell, in Buckinghamshire, after falling asleep at the wheel, marijuana and cocaine were found in his car resulting in another fine.
1978 - Dire Straits released their first major label single Sultans Of Swing, recorded on a £120 budget.
1979 - Abba started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with Voulez-Vous, the group's fourth No.1 LP.
1979 - Eric Clapton held a party at his Surrey house, celebrating his recent marrage to Patti Boyd. Clapton had set-up a small stage in the garden and as the evening progressed Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr ended up jamming together along with Clapton, Ginger Baker and Mick Jagger. The all star band ran through old Little Richard and Eddie Cochran songs.
1979 - Supertramp went to No.1 on the US album chart with Breakfast In America. It was the group's only US No.1.
1980 - Ringo Starr and his future wife were involved in a car crash less than half a mile from where Marc Bolan was killed, the car was a write-off but Starr and Bach were not seriously injured.
1981 - Sting was named songwriter of the year at the 26th Ivor Novello Awards.
1984 - Bob Marley and The Wailers started a 12 week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the compilation album Legend. It was released to commemorate the third anniversary of Marley's death.
1988 - James Brown was arrested for the fifth time in 12 months, following a car chase near his home, he was charged with assault, resisting arrest and being in charge of illegal weapons, he was given a 6 year jail sentence.
1990 - Madonna started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Vogue. Originally planned as a B-side, it became the singer's eighth US No.1, and also a No.1 in the UK.
2010 - ‘Stairway To Heaven’ was named the UK's favourite rock song in a survey by listeners to radio station Absolute Classic Rock. The band had two other tracks in the top 10; ‘Whole Lotta Love’ was voted at No. 4 and ‘Rock 'n' Roll’, from the group’s fourth album, was at No. 7.
2010 – Most popular song played on the radio over the past week has been a Kiwi track by J.Williams feat Scribe “You Got Me”.
2013 – Rod Stewart returns to the top of the UK Albums Chart for the first time since 1979. “Time” is Rod Stewarts first album of new material in 20 years
2013 - A guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison sold for $408,000 (£269,000) at auction. The custom-made instrument, built in 1966 by VOX was bought by an unidentified US buyer in New York. Harrison played 'I Am The Walrus' on the guitar in a scene from Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. Lennon used it in a video for 'Hello, Goodbye' later that year. After playing the guitar, Lennon gave it as a 25th birthday present to Alexis "Magic Alex" Mardas, a member of The Beatles' inner circle in the 1960s.
1945 - Born this day, Pete Townshend, rock singer, guitarist, composer, The Who, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, 1965 UK No.2 single My Generation, 1967 US No.9 single I Can See For Miles, plus over 20 other UK top 40 hit singles and rock opera albums Tommy and Quadrophenia.
1949 - Born this day, Dusty Hill, rock musician, bassist, singer, ZZ Top, 1984 US No.8 and 1985 UK No.16 single Legs.
1951 - Born this day, Joey Ramone [Jeffrey Hyman], singer, The Ramones, 1977 UK No.22 single Sheena is a punk rocker. Died 15 April 2001.
1960 - Born this day, Yasmin Evans, singer, Yazz and the Plastic Population, 1988 UK No.1 single The Only Way Is Up.
1960 - Radio disc jockey and TV personality, Alan Freed was arrested on charges of commercial bribery during the industry's payola scandal. Seven other people were also arrested. Freed was the originator of the term 'rock and roll'.
1962 - Marilyn Monroe sang a sultry version of 'Happy Birthday' to President John F. Kennedy at his Madison Square Garden 'Birthday Salute'.
1967 - The Beatles held a press party at manager Brian Epstein's house for the launch of the Sgt. Peppers album.
1972 - Born this day, Jenny Berggren, rock singer, Ace Of Base, 1993 UK No.1 single All That She Wants, 1994 US No.1 single The Sign.
1973 - Stevie Wonder went to No.1 on the US Billboard pop music chart with You are the Sunshine of My Life.
1973 - Wizzard were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'See My Baby Jive,' Roy Wood's (from The Move), latest group spent four weeks at the top of the charts.
1973 - Paul Simon released the single 'Kodachrome' named after the Kodak 35mm film Kodachrome which became a No.2 hit in the US. It was not released as a single in Britain, because the BBC would not play the trademarked name.
1974 - The Rubettes were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Sugar Baby Love', the group's only UK No.1.
1976 - Keith Richards crashed his car near Newport Pagnell, in Buckinghamshire, after falling asleep at the wheel, marijuana and cocaine were found in his car resulting in another fine.
1978 - Dire Straits released their first major label single Sultans Of Swing, recorded on a £120 budget.
1979 - Abba started a four week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with Voulez-Vous, the group's fourth No.1 LP.
1979 - Eric Clapton held a party at his Surrey house, celebrating his recent marrage to Patti Boyd. Clapton had set-up a small stage in the garden and as the evening progressed Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr ended up jamming together along with Clapton, Ginger Baker and Mick Jagger. The all star band ran through old Little Richard and Eddie Cochran songs.
1979 - Supertramp went to No.1 on the US album chart with Breakfast In America. It was the group's only US No.1.
1980 - Ringo Starr and his future wife were involved in a car crash less than half a mile from where Marc Bolan was killed, the car was a write-off but Starr and Bach were not seriously injured.
1981 - Sting was named songwriter of the year at the 26th Ivor Novello Awards.
1984 - Bob Marley and The Wailers started a 12 week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with the compilation album Legend. It was released to commemorate the third anniversary of Marley's death.
1988 - James Brown was arrested for the fifth time in 12 months, following a car chase near his home, he was charged with assault, resisting arrest and being in charge of illegal weapons, he was given a 6 year jail sentence.
1990 - Madonna started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Vogue. Originally planned as a B-side, it became the singer's eighth US No.1, and also a No.1 in the UK.
2010 - ‘Stairway To Heaven’ was named the UK's favourite rock song in a survey by listeners to radio station Absolute Classic Rock. The band had two other tracks in the top 10; ‘Whole Lotta Love’ was voted at No. 4 and ‘Rock 'n' Roll’, from the group’s fourth album, was at No. 7.
2010 – Most popular song played on the radio over the past week has been a Kiwi track by J.Williams feat Scribe “You Got Me”.
2013 – Rod Stewart returns to the top of the UK Albums Chart for the first time since 1979. “Time” is Rod Stewarts first album of new material in 20 years
2013 - A guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison sold for $408,000 (£269,000) at auction. The custom-made instrument, built in 1966 by VOX was bought by an unidentified US buyer in New York. Harrison played 'I Am The Walrus' on the guitar in a scene from Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. Lennon used it in a video for 'Hello, Goodbye' later that year. After playing the guitar, Lennon gave it as a 25th birthday present to Alexis "Magic Alex" Mardas, a member of The Beatles' inner circle in the 1960s.