TODAY IN HISTORY – MAY 3RD
1933 - Born on this day, James Brown, 'Soul Brother No.1', (1966 US No.8 and UK No.13 single 'It's A Man's World', 1986 UK No.5 single 'Living In America', 1963 album 'Live At The Apollo'). Brown demanded extreme discipline from his musicians and dancers, and had the practice of assessing fines on members of his band who broke his rules, such as wearing un-shined shoes, dancing out of sync or showing up late on stage. Brown died on 25th Dec 2006 at the age of 73.
1937 – Frankie Valli was born this day. He was the lead singer of “The Four Seasons” and also had a successful solo career. Best known for his song “Grease” from the movie of the same name.
1944 - Born this day, Pete Staples, musician, bassist, The Troggs, 1966 US No.1 and UK No.2 single Wild Thing.
1950 - Born on this day, Mary Hopkin, (1968 UK No.1 and US No.2 single 'Those Were The Days', released on The Beatles Apple label and produced by Paul McCartney, winner of TV Talent show 'Opportunity Knocks.
1951 - Born on this day, Christopher Cross, singer, songwriter, (1981 US No.1 single 'Arthur's Theme', a No.7 UK hit in 1982).
1953 - Born this day, Bruce Hall, musician, bassist, REO Speedwagon, 1981 US No.1 and UK No.7 single Keep On Loving You.
1955 - Born this day, Steve Jones, rock guitarist, Sex Pistols, 1977 UK No.2 single God Save The Queen and 1977 UK No.1 album Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols.
1959 - Born this day, David Ball, musician, keyboardist, Soft Cell, 1981 UK No.1 single Tainted Love.
1965 - The Beatles spent the day filming for their forthcoming film Help!, on Salisbury Plain, England, with the British Army's Third Tank Division.
1968 - The Beach Boys opened their US tour on which the co-headliner was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The second half of the concert which featured the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, lectured the audience on "spiritual regeneration." The reaction was so negative, more than half of the remaining tour dates were cancelled.
1968 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded 'Voodoo Chile.' It was featured on the 'Electric Ladyland' double album and became a UK No.1 single on 21st November 1970 two months after the guitarist's death. Hendrix's solo on the track was named the 11th greatest solo of all-time in Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.
1972 - Les Harvey guitarist with Stone The Crows died after being electrocuted on stage during a gig at Swansea University, Wales. He was the brother of Scottish singer Alex Harvey and a member of the Alex Harvey Soul Band.
1976 - Paul McCartney made his first concert appearance in America in almost ten years when Wings kicked off their 31-date 'Wings Over America' tour at the Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas.
1980 - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band started a six week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Against The Wind'.
1980 - Dexy's Midnight Runners were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Geno', a song written about US soul singer Geno Washington.
1986 - Robert Palmer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Addicted To Love', it made No.5 in the UK. Palmer originally recorded the song as a duet with Chaka Khan but due to contractual problems her voice was removed.
1997 - Michael Jackson went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Blood On The Dance Floor'. The singers 7th UK No.1 peaked at No.42 on the US charts.
1997 - The Notorious B.I.G. started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with his posthumous hit 'Hypnotize', a No.10 hit in the UK, the rapper was gunned down and killed on March 9th, 1997.
2004 - The US Supreme Court rejected an appeal by two musicians who claimed they were owed royalties from Ozzy Osbourne. Bassist Robert Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake had fought a long-running battle since 1997 with the Osbourne family claiming they were entitled to money from the albums ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ and ‘Diary of a Madman.’ Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager, said that the pair had "harassed" her family and had had their contributions removed from the albums because of their "abusive and unjust behaviour".
2008 - Rap star Sean 'Diddy' Combs was honoured with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. The 38-year-old dedicated the star to his father, who was shot dead in 1972.
1933 - Born on this day, James Brown, 'Soul Brother No.1', (1966 US No.8 and UK No.13 single 'It's A Man's World', 1986 UK No.5 single 'Living In America', 1963 album 'Live At The Apollo'). Brown demanded extreme discipline from his musicians and dancers, and had the practice of assessing fines on members of his band who broke his rules, such as wearing un-shined shoes, dancing out of sync or showing up late on stage. Brown died on 25th Dec 2006 at the age of 73.
1937 – Frankie Valli was born this day. He was the lead singer of “The Four Seasons” and also had a successful solo career. Best known for his song “Grease” from the movie of the same name.
1944 - Born this day, Pete Staples, musician, bassist, The Troggs, 1966 US No.1 and UK No.2 single Wild Thing.
1950 - Born on this day, Mary Hopkin, (1968 UK No.1 and US No.2 single 'Those Were The Days', released on The Beatles Apple label and produced by Paul McCartney, winner of TV Talent show 'Opportunity Knocks.
1951 - Born on this day, Christopher Cross, singer, songwriter, (1981 US No.1 single 'Arthur's Theme', a No.7 UK hit in 1982).
1953 - Born this day, Bruce Hall, musician, bassist, REO Speedwagon, 1981 US No.1 and UK No.7 single Keep On Loving You.
1955 - Born this day, Steve Jones, rock guitarist, Sex Pistols, 1977 UK No.2 single God Save The Queen and 1977 UK No.1 album Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols.
1959 - Born this day, David Ball, musician, keyboardist, Soft Cell, 1981 UK No.1 single Tainted Love.
1965 - The Beatles spent the day filming for their forthcoming film Help!, on Salisbury Plain, England, with the British Army's Third Tank Division.
1968 - The Beach Boys opened their US tour on which the co-headliner was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The second half of the concert which featured the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, lectured the audience on "spiritual regeneration." The reaction was so negative, more than half of the remaining tour dates were cancelled.
1968 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded 'Voodoo Chile.' It was featured on the 'Electric Ladyland' double album and became a UK No.1 single on 21st November 1970 two months after the guitarist's death. Hendrix's solo on the track was named the 11th greatest solo of all-time in Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.
1972 - Les Harvey guitarist with Stone The Crows died after being electrocuted on stage during a gig at Swansea University, Wales. He was the brother of Scottish singer Alex Harvey and a member of the Alex Harvey Soul Band.
1976 - Paul McCartney made his first concert appearance in America in almost ten years when Wings kicked off their 31-date 'Wings Over America' tour at the Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas.
1980 - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band started a six week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Against The Wind'.
1980 - Dexy's Midnight Runners were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Geno', a song written about US soul singer Geno Washington.
1986 - Robert Palmer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Addicted To Love', it made No.5 in the UK. Palmer originally recorded the song as a duet with Chaka Khan but due to contractual problems her voice was removed.
1997 - Michael Jackson went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Blood On The Dance Floor'. The singers 7th UK No.1 peaked at No.42 on the US charts.
1997 - The Notorious B.I.G. started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with his posthumous hit 'Hypnotize', a No.10 hit in the UK, the rapper was gunned down and killed on March 9th, 1997.
2004 - The US Supreme Court rejected an appeal by two musicians who claimed they were owed royalties from Ozzy Osbourne. Bassist Robert Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake had fought a long-running battle since 1997 with the Osbourne family claiming they were entitled to money from the albums ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ and ‘Diary of a Madman.’ Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager, said that the pair had "harassed" her family and had had their contributions removed from the albums because of their "abusive and unjust behaviour".
2008 - Rap star Sean 'Diddy' Combs was honoured with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. The 38-year-old dedicated the star to his father, who was shot dead in 1972.