TODAY IN HISTORY - MAY 7th
1943 - Born this day, Thelma Houston, US soul singer, 1977 US No.1 & UK No.13 single Don't Leave Me This Way.
1966 - The Mamas and The Papas made the climb to the top of the Billboard pop music chart with Monday, Monday. For three weeks Monday, Monday stayed at the top of the pop music world. The tune was the second hit by the group - just two months after their first, California Dreamin'. These two songs would be the only number one hits for the group, though they made it to number two with Dedicated to the One I Love. It made No.3 in the UK. The group was reported as saying they all hated the song except for its writer John Phillips. (Another source says that the record only entered the Billboard charts on this day.)
1967 - Pearls Before Swine begin recording an album called 'One Nation Underground'. The LP included a song called 'Miss Morse', which would be banned in New York when it was discovered that lead singer Tom Rapp was singing F-U-C-K in Morse code. After disc jockey Murray The K played the record on the air, local Boy Scouts correctly interpreted the chorus and phoned in a complaint.
1967 – Owen Jackson “OJ” was born this day at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Christchurch, NZ. The son of Peter and Sharyn Jackson, he would become a fixture on the radio airwaves in South Canterbury. Husband of Rebecca and father of beautiful boys, Adam and Liam and gorgeous daughter, Ruby. Big fan of John Mellencamp and John Fogerty. Likes to dress up in the weekend as either “Tony Sinatra” or “Billy Ray Cougar” and perform for anyone who’ll listen. Got a Tattoo for his 40th Birthday, a Brazillian for his 41st and made morning tea of Chocolate Cup Cakes and Sausage Rolls for 42nd. Playing cards with Pete Valentine and co on his birthday eve 2010. 2012 celebrating 45th birthday with a day off!! In 2013, OJ got a special bout of “gout” in his foot for his birthday – bummer!
1969 - Born this day, Eagle Eye Cherry, singer, 1998 UK No.6 single Save Tonight.
1972 - Reginald Dwight changed his name by deed poll to Elton Hercules John.
1972 - The Rolling Stones released the second album on their own label, 'Exile on Main Street' featuring two hit singles, 'Tumbling Dice' and 'Happy'. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 7 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, the highest of any Stones album on the list.
1977 - The Eagles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hotel California', the group's fourth US No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK. The Eagles also won the 1977 Grammy Award for Record of the Year for 'Hotel California' at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978. The song's guitar solo is ranked 8th on Guitar Magazine's Top 100 Guitar Solos and was voted the best solo of all time by readers of Guitarist magazine.
1982 - Diana Ross received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1983 - Paul Weller unveiled his new group Style Council at an anti nuclear benefit gig in London.
1988 - 20 year old actress Sadie Frost married Spandau Ballet star Gary Kemp. The couple divorced in 1997, the year she married heartthrob actor Jude Law. Her screen credits include Bram Stoker's Dracula and Shopping and a starring role opposite David Schwimmer and James Woods in the TV movie Uprising.
1988 - Terence Trent D'arby went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Wishing Well. It was a No.4 hit in the UK.
1989 - Officials at a Baton Rouge, Louisiana concert arena got a court order to seize Hank Williams, Jr.'s private jet to cover the expenses of a disastrous, profanity-filled appearance by the 39-year-old country music star. According to reports, Williams failed to finish a single song, cutting each off with mumbled swearing. After only 20 minutes of performing, Williams threw his fiddle into the air and stumbled off the stage. Fans were told they could get their money back at the box office, but the box office didn't have enough cash on hand. Later, Williams apologised for the fiasco, and promised to pay for all ticket refunds. He claimed he was 'slipped a mickey' before the concert.
1991 - Wilson Pickett was arrested after running into an 86 year old man and yelling death threats whilst driving his car over the mayor's front lawn in Englewood, New Jersey. Pickett was charged with driving with open bottles of alcohol in his car.
1992 - A leather jacket worn by John Lennon during 1960-1963, was sold at Christies, London, for £24,200.
1992 - Nigel Preston drummer with The Cult died in London, England aged 32. Was a founding member of The Death Cult, he also played and recorded with Sex Gang Children, Theatre of Hate and The Gun Club.
1998 - Died this day, Eddie Rabbitt, singer (Suspicions), of lung cancer. 1981 US No.1 & UK No.53 single I Love A Rainy Night. Elvis, Dr Hook and Tom Jones recorded his songs.
2000 - Britney Spears went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Oops! I Did It Again.
2004 - A planning inquiry hearing Madonna's appeal to ban ramblers from parts of her £9m country estate heard details of the land's make-up. The pop star claimed 100 acres of land at the 1,200-acre Ashcombe House estate had been inaccurately classified as open country. Madonna was appealing against the classification in a hearing. Under the act, people would have the right to access any land registered on the final map as open country-mountain, moor, heath or down.
2006 - Snow Patrol went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Eyes Open' the bands fourth album. Also a No.1 in Ireland, and Australia and a No. 27 hit on the US Chart. The bands first album 'Songs For Polarbears' peaked at No.143 when released in 1998.
2009 - Trina Johnson-Finn was in custody awaiting her trial in Suriname, South America, after being accused of trying to pass herself as singer Toni Braxton at a concert. The singer was booed off stage in Paramaribo in March and pelted with rubbish when a huge crowd realised she was not the award-winning artist. Ms Johnson-Finn's husband, Raymond Finn made a statement saying his wife had been duped by the promoter who had booked her and had advertised her as the real Braxton.
1943 - Born this day, Thelma Houston, US soul singer, 1977 US No.1 & UK No.13 single Don't Leave Me This Way.
1966 - The Mamas and The Papas made the climb to the top of the Billboard pop music chart with Monday, Monday. For three weeks Monday, Monday stayed at the top of the pop music world. The tune was the second hit by the group - just two months after their first, California Dreamin'. These two songs would be the only number one hits for the group, though they made it to number two with Dedicated to the One I Love. It made No.3 in the UK. The group was reported as saying they all hated the song except for its writer John Phillips. (Another source says that the record only entered the Billboard charts on this day.)
1967 - Pearls Before Swine begin recording an album called 'One Nation Underground'. The LP included a song called 'Miss Morse', which would be banned in New York when it was discovered that lead singer Tom Rapp was singing F-U-C-K in Morse code. After disc jockey Murray The K played the record on the air, local Boy Scouts correctly interpreted the chorus and phoned in a complaint.
1967 – Owen Jackson “OJ” was born this day at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Christchurch, NZ. The son of Peter and Sharyn Jackson, he would become a fixture on the radio airwaves in South Canterbury. Husband of Rebecca and father of beautiful boys, Adam and Liam and gorgeous daughter, Ruby. Big fan of John Mellencamp and John Fogerty. Likes to dress up in the weekend as either “Tony Sinatra” or “Billy Ray Cougar” and perform for anyone who’ll listen. Got a Tattoo for his 40th Birthday, a Brazillian for his 41st and made morning tea of Chocolate Cup Cakes and Sausage Rolls for 42nd. Playing cards with Pete Valentine and co on his birthday eve 2010. 2012 celebrating 45th birthday with a day off!! In 2013, OJ got a special bout of “gout” in his foot for his birthday – bummer!
1969 - Born this day, Eagle Eye Cherry, singer, 1998 UK No.6 single Save Tonight.
1972 - Reginald Dwight changed his name by deed poll to Elton Hercules John.
1972 - The Rolling Stones released the second album on their own label, 'Exile on Main Street' featuring two hit singles, 'Tumbling Dice' and 'Happy'. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 7 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, the highest of any Stones album on the list.
1977 - The Eagles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hotel California', the group's fourth US No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK. The Eagles also won the 1977 Grammy Award for Record of the Year for 'Hotel California' at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978. The song's guitar solo is ranked 8th on Guitar Magazine's Top 100 Guitar Solos and was voted the best solo of all time by readers of Guitarist magazine.
1982 - Diana Ross received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1983 - Paul Weller unveiled his new group Style Council at an anti nuclear benefit gig in London.
1988 - 20 year old actress Sadie Frost married Spandau Ballet star Gary Kemp. The couple divorced in 1997, the year she married heartthrob actor Jude Law. Her screen credits include Bram Stoker's Dracula and Shopping and a starring role opposite David Schwimmer and James Woods in the TV movie Uprising.
1988 - Terence Trent D'arby went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Wishing Well. It was a No.4 hit in the UK.
1989 - Officials at a Baton Rouge, Louisiana concert arena got a court order to seize Hank Williams, Jr.'s private jet to cover the expenses of a disastrous, profanity-filled appearance by the 39-year-old country music star. According to reports, Williams failed to finish a single song, cutting each off with mumbled swearing. After only 20 minutes of performing, Williams threw his fiddle into the air and stumbled off the stage. Fans were told they could get their money back at the box office, but the box office didn't have enough cash on hand. Later, Williams apologised for the fiasco, and promised to pay for all ticket refunds. He claimed he was 'slipped a mickey' before the concert.
1991 - Wilson Pickett was arrested after running into an 86 year old man and yelling death threats whilst driving his car over the mayor's front lawn in Englewood, New Jersey. Pickett was charged with driving with open bottles of alcohol in his car.
1992 - A leather jacket worn by John Lennon during 1960-1963, was sold at Christies, London, for £24,200.
1992 - Nigel Preston drummer with The Cult died in London, England aged 32. Was a founding member of The Death Cult, he also played and recorded with Sex Gang Children, Theatre of Hate and The Gun Club.
1998 - Died this day, Eddie Rabbitt, singer (Suspicions), of lung cancer. 1981 US No.1 & UK No.53 single I Love A Rainy Night. Elvis, Dr Hook and Tom Jones recorded his songs.
2000 - Britney Spears went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Oops! I Did It Again.
2004 - A planning inquiry hearing Madonna's appeal to ban ramblers from parts of her £9m country estate heard details of the land's make-up. The pop star claimed 100 acres of land at the 1,200-acre Ashcombe House estate had been inaccurately classified as open country. Madonna was appealing against the classification in a hearing. Under the act, people would have the right to access any land registered on the final map as open country-mountain, moor, heath or down.
2006 - Snow Patrol went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Eyes Open' the bands fourth album. Also a No.1 in Ireland, and Australia and a No. 27 hit on the US Chart. The bands first album 'Songs For Polarbears' peaked at No.143 when released in 1998.
2009 - Trina Johnson-Finn was in custody awaiting her trial in Suriname, South America, after being accused of trying to pass herself as singer Toni Braxton at a concert. The singer was booed off stage in Paramaribo in March and pelted with rubbish when a huge crowd realised she was not the award-winning artist. Ms Johnson-Finn's husband, Raymond Finn made a statement saying his wife had been duped by the promoter who had booked her and had advertised her as the real Braxton.