TODAY IN HISTORY – September 15th
1956 - Elvis Presley started a five-week run at No.1 on the US charts with 'Don't Be Cruel'. 'Don't Be Cruel' went on to become Presley's biggest selling single recorded in 1956, with sales over six million by 1961.
1962 - The Four Seasons started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Sherry', it made No.8 in the UK. They became the first American group to have three No.1's in succession.
1964 - The Beatles, on tour in the USA, appeared at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. During the performance a group of fans managed to break through the line of police fronting the stage and get up on-stage. Police ordered The Beatles off-stage in the middle of a song, and the concert only resumed after Derek Taylor got on the PA system and pleaded for order to be restored so that the rest of the performance would not be cancelled by the police.
1966 - The Small Faces were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All Or Nothing', their only No.1 hit. According to Kay Marriott, Steve Marriott's mother, Steve wrote the song about his split with ex-fiancee Sue Oliver, though first wife Jenny Rylance states that Marriott told her he wrote the song for her as a result of her split with Rod Stewart.
1970 - Jimi Hendrix gave his last public performance. He appeared with Eric Burdon and War at a London club. Two days later he died.
1973 - Helen Reddy went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Delta Dawn, it was the singer's second US No.1.
1975 - Bob Dylan released 'Slow Train Coming', an album of religious songs, including the Grammy Award winning single, 'Gotta Serve Somebody'. The album alienated many of his long time fans.
1979 - Led Zeppelin scored their sixth US No.1 album when In Through The Out Door started a seven week run at the top of the charts.
1984 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax became the longest running chart hit since Engelbert Humperdink's Release Me after spending 43 weeks on the UK singles chart.
1988 - Mark Knopfler announced the official end of Dire Straits, (they reformed in 1991).
1990 - The Steve Miller Band had a UK No.1 with 'The Joker' 16 years after it's first release. The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1974. More than 16 years later, it reached No.1 in the UK Singles Chart after being used in "Great Deal", a Hugh Johnson-directed television advertisement for Levi's, thus holding the record for the longest gap between transatlantic chart-toppers.
1990 - Wilson Phillips had their second US No.1 with 'Release Me', a No.36 hit in the UK. The group was made up of Carnie and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson, along with Chynna Phillips, the daughter of Mamas and Papas founder John Phillips.
2003 - Abba tribute acts overtook Elvis impersonators in the battle of British covers singers, according to a survey. The Swedish group jumped from third most tributed act in 2001 to top in 2002 with imitators like Abba Fever and Voulez Vous putting on Abba shows. Elvis dropped to number two while the Beatles dropped to three. The Performing Right Society carried out the research.
2004 - Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone (John Cummings) died in Los Angeles after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. Founding member of The Ramones, major influence on many punk and 90’s bands. Scored the 1977 hit single 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker'.
1956 - Elvis Presley started a five-week run at No.1 on the US charts with 'Don't Be Cruel'. 'Don't Be Cruel' went on to become Presley's biggest selling single recorded in 1956, with sales over six million by 1961.
1962 - The Four Seasons started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Sherry', it made No.8 in the UK. They became the first American group to have three No.1's in succession.
1964 - The Beatles, on tour in the USA, appeared at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. During the performance a group of fans managed to break through the line of police fronting the stage and get up on-stage. Police ordered The Beatles off-stage in the middle of a song, and the concert only resumed after Derek Taylor got on the PA system and pleaded for order to be restored so that the rest of the performance would not be cancelled by the police.
1966 - The Small Faces were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All Or Nothing', their only No.1 hit. According to Kay Marriott, Steve Marriott's mother, Steve wrote the song about his split with ex-fiancee Sue Oliver, though first wife Jenny Rylance states that Marriott told her he wrote the song for her as a result of her split with Rod Stewart.
1970 - Jimi Hendrix gave his last public performance. He appeared with Eric Burdon and War at a London club. Two days later he died.
1973 - Helen Reddy went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Delta Dawn, it was the singer's second US No.1.
1975 - Bob Dylan released 'Slow Train Coming', an album of religious songs, including the Grammy Award winning single, 'Gotta Serve Somebody'. The album alienated many of his long time fans.
1979 - Led Zeppelin scored their sixth US No.1 album when In Through The Out Door started a seven week run at the top of the charts.
1984 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax became the longest running chart hit since Engelbert Humperdink's Release Me after spending 43 weeks on the UK singles chart.
1988 - Mark Knopfler announced the official end of Dire Straits, (they reformed in 1991).
1990 - The Steve Miller Band had a UK No.1 with 'The Joker' 16 years after it's first release. The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1974. More than 16 years later, it reached No.1 in the UK Singles Chart after being used in "Great Deal", a Hugh Johnson-directed television advertisement for Levi's, thus holding the record for the longest gap between transatlantic chart-toppers.
1990 - Wilson Phillips had their second US No.1 with 'Release Me', a No.36 hit in the UK. The group was made up of Carnie and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson, along with Chynna Phillips, the daughter of Mamas and Papas founder John Phillips.
2003 - Abba tribute acts overtook Elvis impersonators in the battle of British covers singers, according to a survey. The Swedish group jumped from third most tributed act in 2001 to top in 2002 with imitators like Abba Fever and Voulez Vous putting on Abba shows. Elvis dropped to number two while the Beatles dropped to three. The Performing Right Society carried out the research.
2004 - Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone (John Cummings) died in Los Angeles after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. Founding member of The Ramones, major influence on many punk and 90’s bands. Scored the 1977 hit single 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker'.