TODAY IN HISTORY – MAY 29TH
1942 - Bing Crosby recorded the Irving Berlin song 'White Christmas'. Crosby recorded the song with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers in just 18 minutes. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.
1945 - Born on this day, Gary Brooker, Procol Harum, (1967 UK No.1 and US No.5 single 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale'). Brooker founded The Paramounts in 1962 with his guitarist friend Robin Trower and has also worked with Eric Clapton, Alan Parsons and Ringo Starr.
1949 - Born this day, Francis Rossi, rock musician, singer, songwriter, Status Quo.
1955 - Born this day, Michael Porcaro, rock musician, bass, Toto, 1983 US No.1 and UK No.3 single Africa.
1956 - Born on this day, La Toya Jackson, sister of Michael Jackson. Sang backing vocals with The Jackson 5, has released various singles and albums none of which ever charted in the UK.
1958 - Born on this day, Marie Fredriksson, Roxette, (1990 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'It Must Of Been Love').
1961 - Born this day, Melissa Etheridge, Grammy Award-winning singer.
1962 - Chubby Checker won a Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording for ‘Let's Twist Again’ and Ray Charles won Best Rhythm & Blues Recording for ‘Hit The Road Jack’.
1963 - Priscilla Presley graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Memphis.
1965 - The Beach Boys started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Help Me Rhonda', the group's second US No.1. The recording session was interrupted by the Wilson brothers' drunken father, Murry, who arrived at the studio to criticize the Boys enthusiasm. The recording reel continued to record the confrontation, which still circulates among fans.
1967 - Born this day, Noel Gallagher, rock musician, singer, songwriter, guitar, Oasis, first single 1994 UK No.31 single Supersonic, 1996 single Don't Look Back In Anger, 1994 UK No.1 album Definitely Maybe, fastest selling UK debut album ever.
1969 - Crosby, Stills & Nash released their self-titled debut on Atlantic Records label. It spawned two Top 40 hits: 'Marrakesh Express' and 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes'.
1971 - The Rolling Stones started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Brown Sugar'. The first single released on Rolling Stones Records, it was the bands sixth US No.1, and a No.2 hit in the UK. The songs lyrics, which are essentially a pastiche of a number of taboo subjects, include: interracial sex, cunnilingus, slave rape, and less distinctly, sadomasochism, lost virginity, and heroin.
1971 - Three dozen Grateful Dead fans were treated for hallucinations caused by LSD after they unwittingly drank spiked apple juice served at a gig at San Francisco's Winterland.
1975 - Born this day, (Scary Spice) Melanie Janine Brown [Mel B], singer, The Spice Girls, 1996 UK No.1 and 1997 US No.1 single Wannabe, plus eight other UK No.1 singles, solo, 1998 UK No.1 single I Want You Back.
1983 - Kiss appeared in concert for the last time in makeup (until the inevitable reunion).
1987 - Michael Jackson allegedly offered $50,000 to buy the remains of the 'Elephant Man'.
1992 - Concerned that some pupils were overly identifying with Freddie Mercury, the sacred heart School in Clifton New Jersey decided not to sing We Are The Champions, at their Graduation Ceremony.
1997 - Singer songwriter Jeff Buckley disappeared after talking a swim in the Mississippi River, his body was found on 4 June after being spotted by a passenger on a tourist riverboat.
1997 - The Manic Street Preachers won the best song award for 'A Design For Life' at the 42nd Ivor Novello awards. Other winners included The Spice Girls for Hit of the year with 'Wannabe', Elvis Costello for Outstanding contribution to music, George Michael won Songwriter Of The Year and Most Performed work for 'Fastlove.'
1999 - Skeletal remains were found by photographers looking for old car wrecks to shoot at the bottom of Decker Canyon near Malibu, California. Based on forensic evidence the remains were Philip Kramer former bassist with rock group Iron Butterfly, who had disappeared on his way home from work on February 12, 1995. His death was ruled as a probable suicide.
2002 - Natalie Imbruglia became the new face of L'Oreal, when she signed a deal worth £100,000 with the French cosmetics manufacturer.
2002 - A 16ft by 6ft mosaic designed by John Lennon went on display at The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool. The mosaic had been built into Lennon's swimming pool at his Kenwood home in Surrey where he lived between 1964 and 1968.
2009 - Phil Spector was jailed for at least 19 years for murdering an actress in 2003. The producer, 69, famed for his Wall of Sound recording technique, was last month found guilty of shooting Lana Clarkson at his California home. Spector had pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder during the five-month retrial in Los Angeles. His lawyers said he would appeal. Spector was given a sentence of 15 years to life for second-degree murder and an additional four years for personal use of a gun.
1942 - Bing Crosby recorded the Irving Berlin song 'White Christmas'. Crosby recorded the song with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers in just 18 minutes. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.
1945 - Born on this day, Gary Brooker, Procol Harum, (1967 UK No.1 and US No.5 single 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale'). Brooker founded The Paramounts in 1962 with his guitarist friend Robin Trower and has also worked with Eric Clapton, Alan Parsons and Ringo Starr.
1949 - Born this day, Francis Rossi, rock musician, singer, songwriter, Status Quo.
1955 - Born this day, Michael Porcaro, rock musician, bass, Toto, 1983 US No.1 and UK No.3 single Africa.
1956 - Born on this day, La Toya Jackson, sister of Michael Jackson. Sang backing vocals with The Jackson 5, has released various singles and albums none of which ever charted in the UK.
1958 - Born on this day, Marie Fredriksson, Roxette, (1990 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'It Must Of Been Love').
1961 - Born this day, Melissa Etheridge, Grammy Award-winning singer.
1962 - Chubby Checker won a Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording for ‘Let's Twist Again’ and Ray Charles won Best Rhythm & Blues Recording for ‘Hit The Road Jack’.
1963 - Priscilla Presley graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Memphis.
1965 - The Beach Boys started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Help Me Rhonda', the group's second US No.1. The recording session was interrupted by the Wilson brothers' drunken father, Murry, who arrived at the studio to criticize the Boys enthusiasm. The recording reel continued to record the confrontation, which still circulates among fans.
1967 - Born this day, Noel Gallagher, rock musician, singer, songwriter, guitar, Oasis, first single 1994 UK No.31 single Supersonic, 1996 single Don't Look Back In Anger, 1994 UK No.1 album Definitely Maybe, fastest selling UK debut album ever.
1969 - Crosby, Stills & Nash released their self-titled debut on Atlantic Records label. It spawned two Top 40 hits: 'Marrakesh Express' and 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes'.
1971 - The Rolling Stones started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Brown Sugar'. The first single released on Rolling Stones Records, it was the bands sixth US No.1, and a No.2 hit in the UK. The songs lyrics, which are essentially a pastiche of a number of taboo subjects, include: interracial sex, cunnilingus, slave rape, and less distinctly, sadomasochism, lost virginity, and heroin.
1971 - Three dozen Grateful Dead fans were treated for hallucinations caused by LSD after they unwittingly drank spiked apple juice served at a gig at San Francisco's Winterland.
1975 - Born this day, (Scary Spice) Melanie Janine Brown [Mel B], singer, The Spice Girls, 1996 UK No.1 and 1997 US No.1 single Wannabe, plus eight other UK No.1 singles, solo, 1998 UK No.1 single I Want You Back.
1983 - Kiss appeared in concert for the last time in makeup (until the inevitable reunion).
1987 - Michael Jackson allegedly offered $50,000 to buy the remains of the 'Elephant Man'.
1992 - Concerned that some pupils were overly identifying with Freddie Mercury, the sacred heart School in Clifton New Jersey decided not to sing We Are The Champions, at their Graduation Ceremony.
1997 - Singer songwriter Jeff Buckley disappeared after talking a swim in the Mississippi River, his body was found on 4 June after being spotted by a passenger on a tourist riverboat.
1997 - The Manic Street Preachers won the best song award for 'A Design For Life' at the 42nd Ivor Novello awards. Other winners included The Spice Girls for Hit of the year with 'Wannabe', Elvis Costello for Outstanding contribution to music, George Michael won Songwriter Of The Year and Most Performed work for 'Fastlove.'
1999 - Skeletal remains were found by photographers looking for old car wrecks to shoot at the bottom of Decker Canyon near Malibu, California. Based on forensic evidence the remains were Philip Kramer former bassist with rock group Iron Butterfly, who had disappeared on his way home from work on February 12, 1995. His death was ruled as a probable suicide.
2002 - Natalie Imbruglia became the new face of L'Oreal, when she signed a deal worth £100,000 with the French cosmetics manufacturer.
2002 - A 16ft by 6ft mosaic designed by John Lennon went on display at The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool. The mosaic had been built into Lennon's swimming pool at his Kenwood home in Surrey where he lived between 1964 and 1968.
2009 - Phil Spector was jailed for at least 19 years for murdering an actress in 2003. The producer, 69, famed for his Wall of Sound recording technique, was last month found guilty of shooting Lana Clarkson at his California home. Spector had pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder during the five-month retrial in Los Angeles. His lawyers said he would appeal. Spector was given a sentence of 15 years to life for second-degree murder and an additional four years for personal use of a gun.