On This Day In History

[Bikkie]

1930
First New Zealand-made 'talkie' screened
Coubray-tone news, the work of the inventive Ted Coubray, had its first public screening at Auckland's Plaza Theatre.



In Music History

2021-Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers dies at 78.

2019-Lifetime airs the first installment of the six-part series Surviving R. Kelly, which documents the singer's alleged sex crimes. John Legend is among those speaking out against Kelly in the series.

2017-Janet Jackson gives birth to her first child, a baby boy named Eissa Al Mana, at age 50. The father is the singer's husband, Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana.

2014-Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers dies of complications from lung disease at age 74.

2008-Britney Spears suffers from a mental breakdown in Beverly Hills, where she refuses to hand over her sons Jayden James and Sean Preston to their father, Kevin Federline. Britney is eventually taken to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center via ambulance and is admitted as a "special needs" patient.


Britney Spears Gets A Quickie Wedding
2004-Britney Spears marries her childhood friend Jason Alexander (not the actor) at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

DMB Debuts "I Did It" On Napster
2001-The Dave Matthews Band become the first major artist to release a song on Napster when "I Did It" debuts on the controversial file-sharing platform.

1997-Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm publish an article called "Nitric Oxide And Inflammation: The Answer Is Blowing In The Wind" in the journal Nature Medicine. The article deals with the detection of mucosal inflammation, and while we can't speak to its medical efficacy, it does reveal a trend of biomedical researchers using Bob Dylan song titles and lyrics in their articles. The Swedish scientists had a friendly bet going to see how many Dylan references they could inject into their published work; a later study reveals hundreds of medical articles that had borrowed from Dylan, with the most popular song being "The Times They Are A-Changin'.

1995-Canadian news anchor Byron MacGregor, who reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 with his version of "Americans," dies of complications from pneumonia in Detroit, Michigan, at age 46.

1989-The Arsenio Hall Show debuts in syndication, bringing a spate of contemporary musical acts - including many hip-hop artists - to late night during its five-season run. Highlights include Mariah Carey's national TV debut in 1990, and a 1992 appearance by Bill Clinton, who uses his airtime to win over young voters on this way to the White House.

1987-The second class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is announced, and it includes the first woman: Aretha Franklin. The Coasters, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, Marvin Gaye, Bill Haley, Clyde McPhatter, Rick Nelson, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Smokey Robinson, and Jackie Wilson also enter.

1981-David Bowie finishes his Broadway run as the title character in the play The Elephant Man.

1980-Mellow rocker Kurt Vile is born in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania.

1980-R&B singer and pianist Amos Milburn dies after a series of strokes in Houston, Texas, at age 52. He is known for the 1953 hit "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer."

1976-American interest in The Bay City Rollers peaks as their song "Saturday Night" hits #1 for one week, which is good enough to get their faces on cereal boxes.

1974-Bob Dylan begins a 6-week tour in Chicago with The Band, who do double duty: backing Dylan and then playing their own set. In July, the double album Before The Flood is released, featuring highlights from the shows.

1970-Davy Jones announces he's leaving The Monkees, essentially dissolving the group, which had dwindled to a duo.

1970-Melody Maker names Al Stewart's Love Chronicles its folk album of the year.

1970-B.J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" hits #1 in the US for the first of four weeks.

1970-Four days after learning that their movie Let It Be will be released in theaters, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr meet at Abbey Road Studios and record "I Me Mine" for the film and soundtrack.

1967-The Bee Gees set sail from Australia, where they've been living the past nine years, and head to England, the land of their birth, where they arrive five weeks later.

1967-Declaring himself a conscientious objector, The Beach Boys' Carl Wilson refuses to be sworn in after receiving an induction notice from the US Army.

1964-A month before The Beatles make their iconic live debut in the US on the Ed Sullivan Show, Americans get their first look at the Fab Four when Jack Paar shows a film clip of the band performing "She Loves You" on his TV show'

1957-Fats Domino records "I'm Walking."

1956-Elvis Presley plays a show at the Von Theater in Booneville, Mississippi, where he is advertised as "The Folk Music Fireball."

1946-Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones is born in Sidcup, Kent, England.

1945-Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield, and later, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, is born in Dallas, Texas. As a solo artist, he has a hit with his 1970 single "Love The One You're With."

1943-Songwriter and musician Van Dyke Parks, known for his work with The Beach Boys, is born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

1926-Beatles producer George Martin is born in London. He signs the group to EMI in 1962 and his expertise as an arranger helps shape the band's unique sound. Upon Martin's death in 2016, Paul McCartney states: "If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George."

1916-Maxene Andrews of The Andrew Sisters is born in Mound, Minnesota, to a family that already includes older sister LaVerne and will welcome younger sister Patty in two years.

1909-Victor Borge - pianist, conductor and comedian - is born Borge Rosenbaum in Copenhagen, Denmark.

1900-Lawyer turned composer Maurice Jaubert is born in Nice, France.

1843-The opera Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti and Giacomo Ruffini premieres in Paris.

[Bikkie]

1869 - Te Kooti is defeated at Ngatapa, Poverty Bay. He and his followers escape, though about 120 are later captured and executed. Te Kooti and his key lieutenants seek sanctuary with Tuhoe in the Urewera Ranges.

1896 - Utah enters the Union as the 45th state of the United States.

1936 - US Billboard magazine prints first popular music chart.

1948 - Burma (now Myanmar) becomes an independent republic.

1951 - North Korean and Communist Chinese forces take Seoul, South Korea.

1958 - Sir Edmund Hillary's team become the first to reach the South Pole overland since Robert Falcon Scott in 1912, and the first to do so in motor vehicles.

1960 - French author Albert Camus dies in a car accident, aged 46.

1964 - Pope Paul VI begins the first visit by a pope to Jerusalem.

1965 - Poet TS Eliot dies, aged 76.

2007 - Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

2010 - The world's tallest building, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, opens.

2016 - Robert Stigwood, Australian impresario who produced the Saturday Night Fever and Grease films and soundtracks, dies aged 81.



In Music History

2020-Mariah Carey becomes the first artist to top the Hot 100 in four different decades when "All I Want For Christmas Is You" stays at #1 for a third week.

2013-Rob Caggiano, longtime lead guitarist for the band Anthrax, announces he's quitting the band. The split is affirmed by all members as amicable, with Caggiano hinting that he'd like to work on other projects.

2013-Sammy Johns, who wrote and recorded "Chevy Van," dies at age 66.

2012-Bryan Ferry, 66, marries Amanda Sheppard, 29. Sheppard dated Ferry's son Isaac for a short time.

2011-Gerry Rafferty, who had a huge solo hit with "Baker Street" and was also a member of Stealers Wheel, dies at age 63.

2011-Grady Chapman of The Robins dies at age 81.

2010-After a concert in Paris, Marilyn Manson (40) proposes to his girlfriend, the actress Evan Rachel Wood (22). She accepts but they never get married and Wood later alleges abuse.

2007-Nikki Bacharach, daughter of popular composer Burt Bacharach and actress Angie Dickinson, commits suicide at age 40 after a lifelong battle with Asperger's syndrome. She was the inspiration for her dad's 1969 song "Nikki."

1991-Nirvana sign with Geffen Records. In September, their album Nevermind is released.

1986-After a long battle with addiction, Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott dies at age 36.

1979-Due to renewed interest in The Beatles, the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, reopens to the public. The club had been an important stepping stone for the band, as they played a residency there early on.

1975-Elton John's "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" hits #1 in the US. The Beatles' original, released in 1967 on the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, wasn't released as a single.

1973-Neil Young kicks off his Time Fades Away tour in Madison, Wisconsin with Linda Ronstadt his opening act. Ronstadt is used to playing clubs, but wins over crowds at arenas throughout the tour with her mighty pipes. The following year, she releases her breakthrough album Heart Like A Wheel.

1973-The Allman Brothers Band publicly announce Lamar Williams as their replacement for recently deceased bassist Berry Oakley.

1972-Yes releases "Roundabout."

1970-The Who's Keith Moon accidentally runs over his chauffeur, Neil Boland, killing him. Apparently, Moon's car was under attack from some unruly teenagers, and when Boland jumped out to get them to move, Moon, in a panic, got behind the wheel to drive the car away himself. Unfortunately, the crowd had since pushed Boland under the car.

1968-Jimi Hendrix spends the night in a Swedish jail after trashing a hotel room, reportedly during a fight with his bandmate Noel Redding.

1967-The Doors break on through with their eponymous debut album. The Doors is a hit with listeners and critics alike and produces the single "Light My Fire," which quickly hits #1 in the US.

1966-Deana Carter is born in Nashville. Her dad is country guitarist Fred Carter, Jr.

1965-Leo Fender sells Fender Guitars to CBS for $13 million.

1965-Portishead lead singer Beth Gibbons is born in Devon, England.

1965-David Glasper of Breathe is born in Wales.

1964-Bobby Vinton's "There! I've Said It Again" hits #1 in the US for the first of four weeks.

1962-Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins is born in Grangemouth, Scotland.

1962-Peter Steele, the 6' 8" leader of the doom-rock band Type O Negative, is born in Brooklyn, New York.

1960-Marty Robbins' "El Paso" hits #1 in the US despite running a shocking 4:40.

1960-R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe is born in Decatur, Georgia. In 1980, he befriends Peter Buck, a store clerk at Wuxtry Records in nearby Athens who shares his weird taste in music. They quickly bring Mike Mills and Bill Berry into the fold and just one year later release their debut single, "Radio Free Europe."

1957-Louis Jordan records "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out."

1957-Elvis Presley reports for his pre-induction Army physical in Memphis.

1957-On NBC's Steve Allen Show, former heavyweight boxing champ Joe Louis introduces the world to singer Solomon Burke, who performs Louis' song "You Can Run, But You Can't Hide."

1957-Patty Loveless is born Patty Lee Ramey in Pikeville, Kentucky. Her professional surname takes inspiration from her former married name, Lovelace.

1956-Bernard Sumner of New Order is born in Manchester, England.

1955-Talk Talk leader Mark Hollis is born in London.

1954-A young truck driver named Elvis Presley pays to record two songs at the Memphis Recording Service. It's his second visit, and this time MRS head Sam Phillips gets his number and later calls him to record for his Sun label.

1946-Arthur Conley, famous for his hit "Sweet Soul Music," is born in Georgia.

1942-Jazz guitarist John McLaughlin is born in Doncaster, England.

1936-Billboard magazine publishes their first "Hit Parade," which ranks songs based on sales and airplay. The first #1: "Stop! Look! Listen!" by Joe Venuti & his Orchestra.

1932-NBC begins airing The Carnation Contented Hour (named for the sponsor, Carnation Milk), which features performances by top musical acts. The show runs for 19 years.

1926-Songwriter Irving Berlin marries Ellin Mackay, heiress to the Postal Telegraph Cable Company. They remain married until her death in 1988.

[Bikkie]

1554- Great fire in Eindhoven, Netherlands
1593 -William Louis of Nassau becomes governor/viceroy of Drenthe
1638- Petition in Recife Brazil leads to closing of their 2 synagogues
1649 -Francesco Cavalli's opera "Giasone" premieres in Venice (the most popular opera of the 17th century)

1836- Davy Crockett arrives in Nacogdoches, Texas, to aid the revolution

Ford's $5 Day
1914- Industrialist Henry Ford announces his $5 minimum per-day wage, doubling most workers pay from $2.40 for a 9hr day to $5 for an 8hr day




In Music History

2019-The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne marries Katy Weaver in his hometown of Oklahoma City. The wedding itself takes place inside a plastic bubble like the one Coyne uses to surf crowds.

2017-Babymetal guitarist Mikio Fujioka dies from injuries resulting from a December 30 fall from an observation deck.

2016-Guns N' Roses confirm that Slash and Duff McKagan, who have not performed with the band since 1993, will join them for their headline set at Coachella. They later announce a full tour with Slash and McKagan.

2015-Good Charlotte's Benji Madden marries actress Cameron Diaz. Nicole Richie and Drew Barrymore are among the bridesmaids.

2010-Record producer Willie Mitchell, who ran Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, dies of a cardiac arrest at age 81.

2009-Sam "The Bluzman" Taylor dies of complications from heart disease in Islandia, New York, at age 74.

2005-Amerie releases "1 Thing."

2005-Danny Sugerman, second manager for The Doors who wrote a number of books about the band, dies of lung cancer at age 50.

2004-Ray Davies of The Kinks is shot in the leg when he pursues two men who snatched his girlfriend's purse. He sings about it on his 2018 track "The Big Guy."

2003-Little Richard guest stars on the "Special Edna" episode of The Simpsons.

Billie Joe Armstrong Arrested For DUI
2003-Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong is arrested for drunk driving in Berkeley, California, after he is caught speeding in his BMW convertible and blows a .18.More

2002-With the Pittsburgh Steelers down 24-7 in a playoff game against the Cleveland Browns, they play "Renegade" by Styx, which fires up the crowd and impels them to a comeback win. The song becomes a regular feature at Steelers home games, played in the second half when the team needs a boost.

1998-Ken Forssi (original bassist for Love) dies of a brain tumor in Tallahassee, Florida, at age 54.

1998-In the Ally McBeal episode "Cro-Magnon," a thirty-something Ally is reminded of her ticking biological clock when she hallucinates a baby dancing to the tune of Blue Swede's "Hooked On A Feeling." By the end of the episode, Ally relents and grooves along with the tot

1998-Sonny Bono (of Sonny & Cher) dies in a skiing accident in Nevada, near South Lake Tahoe, California, at age 62. An advanced skier, he goes off course to do some "tree skiing" when he crashes and dies. His wife and two children are with him on the slopes, but don't witness the accident.

1997-Johnny Cash plays Coyote, Homer Simpson's imaginary guru, on The Simpsons. Coyote tells Homer to buy more material possessions.

1991-Madonna's "Justify My Love," a new song included on her compilation album The Immaculate Collection, goes to #1 in America, her ninth topper on the tally. The song, co-written by Lenny Kravitz, gets a lot of attention thanks to its video, which was banned by MTV and subsequently released on home video.

1981-DJ/producer Deadmau5 is born in Niagara Falls, Canada. His birth name is Joel Zimmerman; he takes the name Deadmau5 (pronounced "Deadmouse") as his chatroom handle after claiming to find a dead mouse in his computer.

1980-"Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang becomes first rap song to hit the Top 40 when it reaches #37 on the chart.

Disco Rules With The Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack
1979-The double-album soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever reaches sales of 25 million worldwide, making it the best-selling LP in history.


1979-Jazz double bassist Charlie Mingus dies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in Cuernavaca, Mexico, at age 56.

1976-Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot and killed by police in Los Angeles after he brandishes an unloaded rifle (some claim it was an air gun) after becoming despondent.

1975-The Wiz premieres at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway. An adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with an all-black cast, it stars future disco diva Stephanie Mills ("Never Knew Love") as Dorothy. In 1978, the production is turned into a movie starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

1974-Bruce Springsteen performs "Rosalita" for the first time at a concert at Joe's Place in Boston. The song becomes a live favorite that Bruce often plays as an encore.

1974-The Carpenters' compilation album The Singles 1969-1973 hits #1.

1969-Marilyn Manson is born Brian Hugh Warner in Canton, Ohio. Contrary to the urban myth, Warner does not start his entertainment career playing Paul on The Wonder Years (that would be Josh Saviano). After a stint as a music journalist, he teams up with guitarist Scott "Daisy Berkowitz" Putesky and reinvents himself as Marilyn Manson i

1968-Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits album is certified gold.

1967-In order to avoid the draft, folk singer Jesse Winchester moves to Canada.

1966-Kate Schellenbach (drummer for Luscious Jackson) is born in New York City, New York.

1965-The Supremes record "Stop! In The Name Of Love" at Motown studios in Detroit. Soon after, they embark on the first Motown revue tour in Europe.

1963-Leonard Chess, co-founder of Chess records, tells Billboard magazine, "As it stands today, there's virtually no difference between rock and roll, pop and rhythm and blues. The music has completely overlapped."

1963-Grant Young (drummer for Soul Asylum) is born in Iowa City, Iowa.

1960-Phil Thornalley, "Torn" songwriter and producer of The Cure's Pornography album, is born in Worlington, near Mildenhall, Suffolk, England.

1950-Chris Stein (guitarist for Blondie) is born in Brooklyn, New York.

1949-George "Funky" Brown (drummer for Kool & the Gang) is born in Jersey City, New Jersey.

1941-Carmen Miranda records "Chica Chica Boom Chic."

1940-The FCC hears the first demonstration of FM radio.

1932-Blues singer Johnny Adams, known for the '60s hits "Release Me" and "Reconsider Me," is born Laten John Adams in New Orleans, Louisiana.

1929-R&B singer Wilbert Harrison - who wrote the 1962 hit "Let's Stick Together," later known as "Let's Work Together" by Canned Heat - is born in Charlotte, North Carolina.

1923-Record producer Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records (which launched careers for Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash), is born in Florence, Alabama.

1875-Paris' Palais Garnier, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, is inaugurated. Fourteen years previously, Parisian workers attempting to lay the concrete foundations of the opera house uncovered a vast swampy lake. That lake swirling beneath the building and its surrounding cellars inspire Gaston Leroux to write The Phantom of the Opera in 1910.

1649-The opera Giasone by Francesco Cavalli premieres in Venice.

[Bikkie]

1661- The Fifth Monarchists unsuccessfully attempt to seize control of London

1681- First recorded boxing match is organized by Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, between his butler and his butcher

1690 -Joseph I, later Holy Roman Emperor and son of Emperor Leopold I, becomes King of the Romans and King in Germany

1720- The Committee of Inquiry on the South Sea Bubble publishes its findings

1745- Bonnie Prince Charlies' Jacobite army draws close to Glasgow

1773- Massachusetts slaves petition legislature for freedom

1781- Battle of Jersey: Major Francis Peirson and his men defeat invading French troops

1784- Turkey and Russia sign a treaty in Constantinople

1960-New Zealand's first official TV broadcast
Broadcast from Shortland St in central Auckland, New Zealand’s first official television transmission began at 7.30 p.m.



In Music History

2024-Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan earns his Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt after 20 years of training.

2019-Kanye West debuts his weekly Sunday Service series at his home in Calabasas, California. The event, teased on social media by wife Kim Kardashian, features gospel-soul takes of Kanye's hits with the rapper's celebrity pals rounding out the congregation.

2017-Netflix launches a reboot of the '70s TV series One Day At A Time, this time with a theme song by Gloria Estefan and centered on a Cuban family. Estefan later appears on the show, playing Rita Moreno's sister.

2012-Wiz Khalifa is sued for $2.3 million over his hit song "Black and Yellow." Max Warren, who raps under the name "Maxamillion," claims Khalifa, his producers, and his label stole the song from him. In the lawsuit, Warren states that the idea for the song was taken from his copyrighted 2007 song "Pink and Yellow." Khalifa claims he's never heard of Warren or his music.

2012-NRBQ drummer Tom Ardolino dies of complications from diabetes at age 56.

2009-Ron Asheton (guitarist for The Stooges) is found dead of an apparent heart attack in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at age 60.

2007-"Sneaky Pete" Kleinow (pedal steel guitarist for The Flying Burrito Brothers), suffering from Alzheimer's, dies in Petaluma, California, at age 72.

1999Jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani dies at age 36. Born with a debilitating genetic condition, he became a top performer in his native France.

1999-Photographed by Annie Liebowitz, the Backstreet Boys appear in a print campaign with milk mustaches to promote the beverage.

1998-11-year-old Zac Hanson becomes the youngest songwriter ever nominated for a Grammy when Hanson's debut hit, "MMMbop," is considered for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

1996-Eazy-E's posthumous single "Just Tah Let U Know" hits #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

1993-Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman leaves the group after 30 years of service. "I left because I didn't see anything new happening in the future," he says. "I realized if we played for another 10 years I'd still be playing 'Jumpin' Jack Flash,' 'Honky Tonk Women,' 'Street Fighting Man' until we packed up."

1993-Lucky Thirteen, a Neil Young compilation album with four previously unreleased tracks, hits stores. It's his second compilation album, with the first being the Decade triple album released in 1977.

1993-Jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie dies of pancreatic cancer in Englewood, New Jersey, at age 75.

1992-Steve Gilpin (vocalist for MI-sex) dies after a severe car accident leaves him in a coma in Southport, Queensland, Australia, at age 42.

1987-In Australia, Elton John has throat surgery to remove a lesion on his vocal chords, forcing him to cancel his upcoming US tour. It's good news: the lesion isn't cancerous and he makes a full recovery.

1986-Following a suicide attempt and an alcohol-fueled nervous breakdown, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford finally goes to rehab. He gets out a month later, completes the Turbo album with the band, and manages to stay sober.

1986-Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner is born in Sheffield, England.

1980-Georgeanna Tillman (of The Marvelettes) dies of lupus and sickle cell anemia a month shy of her 36th birthday.

1979-The Bee Gees' "Too Much Heaven" hits #1 for the first of two weeks.

1979-Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits, Volume 2 album hits #1 in America.

1977-KISS' Rock And Roll Over album is certified Platinum.

A Talkbox Of Fun On Frampton Comes Alive
1976-Peter Frampton's live double album, Frampton Comes Alive!, is released. Powered by his trusty talkbox sound, it becomes one of the best-selling live albums in history.

1975-Pink Floyd begin recording their album Wish You Were Here after abandoning an earlier concept of an album recorded entirely with household objects.

1973-Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" hits #1 on the Hot 100. Listeners wonder just who the mystery man with the apricot jacket (high fashion!) is.

1968-Gibson patents their "Flying V" electric guitar.

1964-The Rolling Stones begin their first headlining UK tour. Opening act: The Ronettes.

1964-Mark O'Toole (bass player for Frankie Goes To Hollywood) is born in Liverpool, England.

1959-Neil Simpson (bass player for Climax Blues Band) is born in Stoke-on-Trent, England. At age four, he receives a toy guitar featuring a picture of The Beatles.

1959-Kathy Sledge (of Sister Sledge) rounds out the R&B group when she's born the youngest of the five sisters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1958-Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" hits #2, where it stays for four weeks before dropping down. It is held out of the top spot all four weeks by "At The Hop" by Danny & the Juniors.

1958-Danny and the Juniors' "At The Hop" hits #1 for the first of seven weeks.

1957-Elvis Presley makes his third and final appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, where he performs seven songs in three segments, including "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel" and "Heartbreak Hotel." He is only seen from the waist up, leaving viewers to speculate as to what the screams in the audience are about.

1956-Lonnie Donegan's cover of "Rock Island Line" enters the UK charts, eventually selling over three million copies and kicking off the national skiffle craze.

1953-Malcolm Mitchell Young (guitarist for AC/DC) is born in Glasgow, Scotland.

1951-Blues singer Kim Wilson (of Fabulous Thunderbirds) is born in Detroit, Michigan, but will be raised in Goleta, California.

1947-Sandy Denny is born Alexandra Denny in London. She becomes lead singer of Fairport Convention and the only guest vocalist to appear on a Led Zeppelin song ("The Battle Of Evermore").

1946-Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett is born Roger Keith Barrett in Cambridge, England. He's the band's leader in their early years but suffers from mental illness that leads to erratic behavior and his ouster in 1968. The band moves forward with Roger Waters and David Gilmour at the helm.

1940-Van McCoy is born in Washington, D.C. Known for the 1975 disco hit "The Hustle," he also writes a string of '60s hits, including "Giving Up" (Gladys Knight & the Pips and, later, Donny Hathaway) and "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" (Jackie Wilson).

1937-R&B singer-songwriter Doris Troy is born Doris Elaine Higginsen in The Bronx, New York.

1935-Nino Tempo is born Antonino LoTempio in Niagara Falls, New York. In 1963, he scores a #1 hit on the pop charts with "Deep Purple," a duet with his sister, April Stevens.

1934-Country musician Bobby Lord is born in Sanford, Florida, but is raised in Tampa. His biggest hit on the country chart is "Without Your Love" (1956) at #10.

1924-Bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs (The Bluegrass Boys, The Foggy Mountain Boys) is born near Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

1838-Romantic composer Max Bruch is born in Cologne, Germany.

[Bikkie]

Guy Menzies’ aeroplane at Harihari
1931
Bumpy landing for Tasman’s first solo flyer
Australian Guy Menzies’ flight from Sydney ended awkwardly when he crash-landed in a swamp at Harihari on the West Coast.



In Music History

2020-Rascal Flatts announce they are breaking up following a farewell tour slated for June. They don't get the chance, as the tour is cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

2020-Rush drummer/lyricist Neil Peart dies of brain cancer at 67.

2013-Justin Bieber fans are the target of an online trolling campaign. Members of the image board 4chan claim to be implementing an awareness campaign to encourage the pop star to say "no" to drugs. The campaign's premise is "Cut for Bieber," and fans are encouraged to cut themselves and post photos of the damage online accompanied by the #CutForBieber tag on Twitter. Several hoax accounts post results in "response," but it appears no actual Bieber fans fall for the ploy. Earlier in October, a similar troll campaign called "Bald for Bieber" fizzled out, too. That one encouraged fans to shave their heads for the pop star based on the false rumor that he had cancer.

2013-Seattle hip-hop artist Freddy E dies at age 22 of an apparent suicide.

2013-R&B singer Sam Pace (of The Esquires) dies at age 68.

2012-"The One That Got Away" from Katy Perry's album Teenage Dream hits #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, making the album the first in history with seven #1s on that tally.

2012-Beyoncé and Jay-Z have their first child: a daughter named Blue Ivy Carter.

2011-Ed Sheeran releases what will be his final independent EP, No.5 Collaborations Project, in the UK. The EP goes on to reach #2 on the UK's iTunes chart, despite Ed having no label.

2011-Bobby Robinson, who did production work for Gladys Knight & the Pips and Elmore James, dies at age 93.

2009-At the People's Choice Awards, Carrie Underwood is the night's big winner, taking home the Favorite Female Singer, Country Song ("Last Name") and Favorite Star Under 35 Awards. Rascal Flatts takes the award for Favorite Group.

2006-Pink marries the motocross rider Carey Hart in Costa Rica.

2004-Chris Robinson (of The Black Crowes) and actress Kate Hudson's son, Ryder Russell, is born.

1999-Rod Stewart and the supermodel Rachel Hunter announce the end of their eight-year marriage.

1997-David Bowie's 50th birthday bash takes place at New York City's Madison Square Garden in the form of a charity concert benefiting Save the Children. Bowie's famous pals - including Sonic Youth, Lou Reed, Robert Smith, Billy Corgan, and Foo Fighters, among others - pay tribute with renditions of the singer's tunes. Bowie closes out the event with his 1969 hit "Space Oddity."

1992-Debbie Gibson makes her Broadway debut, playing Eponine in Les Miserables. It's the beginning of a long stage career for Gibson, who goes on to perform in productions of Grease and Beauty and the Beast.

1981-Eagles Live is certified Platinum; it is 13 years until the next Eagles album is released.

1980-R&B singer Larry Williams dies at age 44 of a gunshot wound to the head in what's eventually deemed a suicide, though some speculate he was murdered. Known for a string of enduring rock 'n roll hits from the mid-'50s, including "Bony Moronie" and "Short Fat Fannie."

1980-Led Zeppelin's In Through The Out Door is certified Platinum; it is the last Zep album issued while drummer John Bonham is alive.

1980-Doo-wop singer Carl White (lead vocalist for The Rivingtons) dies of acute tonsillitis in Los Angeles, California, at age 48.

1974-Carly Simon and James Taylor welcome their first child, Sally Taylor.

1973-Sean Paul is born Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques in Kingston, Jamaica.

1972-Bread's soft rock classic "Baby I'm-A Want You" is certified Gold.

1972-The St. Cleve Chronicle reports that a "Major Beat Group" will put music to the epic poem "Thick As A Brick," written by 8-year-old Gerald Bostock. The Society for Literary Advancement and Gestation (SLAG) had disqualified Bostock's poem from their competition, citing an "extremely unwholesome attitude towards life, his God and Country.

1971-The film Performance, starring Mick Jagger, premieres in London two years after its completion.

1970-Max Yasgur, whose farm in upstate New York hosted the original Woodstock Festival, is sued for $35,000 in property damages by neighboring farmers.

Charley Pride Plays The Grand Ole Opry
1967-Charley Pride becomes the first African American solo singer to perform at the Grand Old Opry in Nashville. He is invited to perform at the venerable country music mecca after the success of his hit "Just Between You and Me," which makes it to #9 on the Country music chart.

1964-Blues musician Cyril Davies (of Blues Incorporated) dies of endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, at age 31, a year after contracting pleurisy, an inflammation of the lining of the lungs.

1963-Gary U.S. Bonds sues Chubby Checker, claiming that Checker's "Dancing Party" is essentially a rewrite of Bonds' hit "Quarter To Three." The case is settled out of court.

1959-Go-Go's guitarist/bassist Kathy Valentine is born in Austin, Texas.

1956-Dean Martin's "Memories Are Made of This" hits #1 in America for the first of six weeks, proving there's still room for crooners in the rock era.

1955-Marian Anderson is the first African-American singer to appear at the Metropolitan Opera. Her performance as Ulrica in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera breaks barriers for black artists in the States.

1954-Muddy Waters records "Hoochie Coochie Man" at Chess Records in Chicago. It becomes a blues standard, with a feral energy that influences a new sound that's emerging: rock and roll.

1950-Ernest Tubb makes his first appearance at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

1950-Gene Autry's "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," based on a children's book written in 1939, hits #1 on the Billboard singles chart.

1948-Kenny Loggins is born in Everett, Washington, but eventually settles with his family in Alhambra, California.

1946-Andy Brown (drummer for The Fortunes) is born in Birmingham, England.

1946-Magazine magnate Jann Wenner, most famous for his work with Rolling Stone and for his role in establishing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is born in New York City.

1945-Dave Cousins (lead singer for The Strawbs) is born David Joseph Hindson in Hounslow, Middlesex, England.

1944-Michael McCartney is born in Liverpool, England. As "Mike McGear," he forms a band called The Scaffold, but he's best known as the younger brother of Paul McCartney.

1943-Country singer Leona Williams is born Leona Belle Helton in Vienna, Missouri. She writes the Merle Haggard hits "Someday When Things Are Good" and "You Take Me For Granted."

1942-Pop singer Danny Williams is born in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

1939-Lefty Baker (guitarist, vocalist for Spanky & Our Gang) is born Eustace Britchforth in Roanoke, Virginia.

1938-Rory Storm (lead singer of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes) is born Alan Caldwell in Liverpool, England.

1937-Paul Revere (keyboardist for Paul Revere & the Raiders) is born Paul Revere Dick in Harvard, Nebraska.

1936-Jazz double-bass and cello player Eldee Young (Young/Holt Unlimited, The Ramsey Lewis Trio) is born Chicago, Illinois.

1930-Country musician Jack Greene, known for the 1966 hit "There Goes My Everything," is born in Maryville, Tennessee.

1924-George Gershwin finishes work on "Rhapsody In Blue."

1899-Composer and pianist Francis Poulenc is born in Paris, France.

1842-The opera Stabat Mater by Gioacchino Rossini premieres in Paris.

[Bikkie]

1863
Haast begins West Coast expedition
In January 1863, geologist Julius von Haast led an expedition in search of an overland route from the east to the west coast of the South Island.



In Music History

2024-21 Savage releases the official trailer for his movie American Dream: The 21 Savage Story, starring Donald Glover and Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas from Stranger Things). There is no film: It's later revealed to be a marketing ploy to promote his American Dream album, which drops four days later and debuts at #1.

2021-Morgan Wallen releases Dangerous: The Double Album, with the hit "7 Summers." It debuts at #1 in America and stays there for 10 weeks, the longest run at the top since Drake's Views in 2016.

2021-Seventeen-year-old Olivia Rodrigo, known as an actress on various Disney shows, releases her debut single, "Drivers License," a heart-rending song that tops the charts in many territories, including America, where it stays at #1 for eight weeks.

2018-The college football national championship game stages a halftime show for the first time, with Kendrick Lamar taking the stage. Georgia is up 13-0 at the break, but Alabama comes back to win 26-23.

Blackstar Is Released Two Days Before David Bowie Dies
2016-David Bowie's Blackstar album is released on his 69th birthday. When Bowie dies two days later, it becomes clear that his ruminations on mortality are his parting words.

2015-Gospel singer Andraé Crouch dies of complications from a heart attack at age 72.

2014-Reather Dixon Turner of The Bobbettes dies at age 69.

2013-Enigmatic pop icon David Bowie releases the single "Where Are We Now?," from his upcoming album The Next Day. The date of the release also coincides with his birthday. It is his first release in over a decade.

2013-Twenty One Pilots release their breakthrough album, Vessel.

2012-Blues singer Dave Alexander, who sometimes recorded as Omar Shariff, dies at age 73.

2012-Rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard's FBI file is released. The report details nine arrests for the rapper, and says his group Wu-Tang Clan is "heavily involved in the sale of drugs, illegal guns, weapons possession, murder, carjacking and other types of violent crime."

2004-George Harrison's estate sues Dr. Gilbert Lederman of Staten Island University Hospital for $10 million, alleging he forced a dying Harrison to sign souvenirs for him.

2002-Fabian is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7065 Hollywood Blvd.

1997-Chuck D guest stars on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio episode "Rap," to face off against Phil Hartman's Bill McNeal, who is convinced rap music will destroy society.

Elvis Stamp Goes Into Circulation
1993-Shortly after midnight on what would have been Elvis's 58th birthday, a 29-cent stamp with his image is officially dedicated at a Graceland ceremony.

1991-Jeremy Delle, a 15-year-old student at Richardson High School in Texas, shoots himself in his English class. When Eddie Vedder reads about it, he writes the song "Jeremy" about Delle and other young people who have committed suicide in schools.

1991-Steve Clark of Def Leppard dies of an accidental drug overdose at age 30.

1989-Richard Marx marries Dirty Dancing actress Cynthia Rhodes, subject of his song "Right Here Waiting." They divorce in 2014.

1981-Linda Ronstadt makes her Broadway debut alongside Rex Smith and Kevin Kline in the revival of The Pirates of Penzance, which runs for 787 performances.

1980-Prince makes his national television debut, performing "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and "Why You Want To Treat Me So Bad" on the NBC variety show Midnight Special.

1979-Rush are named Canada's Official Ambassadors Of Music by the Canadian government.

1974-Kiss sign their first recording deal, with Casablanca Records.

1972-Dennis Coffey becomes the first white performer on Soul Train, performing his hit "Scorpio."

1969-Jeff Abercrombie of Fuel is born in Tennessee.

1968-Stax Records releases Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" and Sam & Dave's "I Thank You." Both are very successful, but neither artist scores another hit (Redding had died about a month earlier).

1967-R. Kelly is born Robert Sylvester Kelly in Chicago. He performs with the groups MGM (Musically Gifted Men) and Public Announcement before releasing his solo debut, 12 Play, in 1994, featuring the #1 hit "Bump N' Grind."

1966-Rubber Soul becomes The Beatles' seventh #1 US album. It stays at the top for six weeks.

1966-The last episode of Shindig on ABC features The Who and The Kinks.

1966-Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood is born in Columbus, Mississippi.

1960-Harry Gifford dies at his London home, aged 82. He co-wrote "When I'm Cleaning Windows" with Fred Cliffe & George Formby.

1960-Eddie Cochran records "Three Steps To Heaven," which turns out to be his final recording session and his only #1 hit single in the UK.

1957-Rock and roll comes to Australia when Bill Haley, LaVern Baker and The Platters kick off a tour at Newcastle Stadium that continues on to West Melbourne Stadium and Sydney Stadium. It's the first rock stadium show, pre-dating the Beatles Shea Stadium concert by eight years.

1955-Loverboy frontman Mike Reno is born Joseph Michael Rynoski in New Westminster, Canada.

David Bowie Is Born
1947-David Jones is born in London. At age 18, he changes his name to David Bowie (after the Bowie knife) to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees.

1947-Terry Sylvester of The Hollies is born.

1946-The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger is born in Los Angeles.

1943-Marcus Hutson of The Whispers is born in St. Louis, Missouri.

1943-Lee Jackson of The Nice is born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

1940-Jerome "Little Anthony" Gourdine of Little Anthony & the Imperials is born in Brooklyn, New York.

1937-Shirley Bassey is born in Cardiff, Wales. Known for recording several of the James Bond themes in the '60s and '70s.

1935-The King is born: Elvis Aaron Presley

[Bikkie]

1900 -Founding of Lazio Football Club: On January 9, 1900, nine young athletes founded Società Podistica Lazio in Rome's Prati district, initially as a running club. The club later expanded to include football in 1901. source: sslazio.it

1901- Millionaires' Dinner and U.S. Steel Formation: On January 9, 1901, steel magnate Charles M. Schwab hosted the "Millionaire's Dinner" at the Hotel Schenley in Pittsburgh, bringing together 89 wealthy individuals to discuss the formation of U.S. Steel, a consolidation of major steel companies into a single corporation. source: en.wikipedia.org

1902- Discovery Expedition reaches Cape Adare: On January 9, 1902, the British National Antarctic Expedition, led by Robert Falcon Scott aboard the ship Discovery, arrived at Cape Adare in Victoria Land, Antarctica. The crew conducted a brief landing and examined the remains of Borchgrevink's camp before continuing their journey along the Victoria Land coast. source: en.wikipedia.org

1903- Wind Cave National Park established: Wind Cave National Park, located in South Dakota, was established on January 9, 1903, as the seventh national park in the United States. source: nps.gov

1905- Bloody Sunday: Spark of the 1905 Russian Revolution: On 9 January 1905, following the Bloody Sunday massacre on 5 January, widespread unrest and strikes erupted across Russia, marking the beginning of the 1905 Russian Revolution.

1907 George Pardee concludes gubernatorial term in California: George Pardee served as the 22nd Governor of California from 1903 to 1907. His term concluded on January 9, 1907. source: en.wikipedia.org

1909- First pilot's licenses issued in France: On January 9, 1909, France issued its first pilot's licenses, marking a significant development in aviation history. source: en.wikipedia.org

1913- Birth of Richard Nixon: Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, was born on January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California. source: archives.gov

1915- Woman's Peace Party Established: The Woman's Peace Party was established at an organizational convention held in Washington, D.C., on January 9–10, 1915. The gathering was attended by more than 100 delegates representing women's organizations from around the United States. Jane Addams was elected President of the new organization. source: britannica.com

1917- Battle of Rafa in World War I: On January 9, 1917, British forces captured the Ottoman garrison at El Magruntein, near Rafa, marking the completion of the Sinai Peninsula's recapture. The Desert Column, including the ANZAC Mounted Division and Imperial Camel Corps Brigade, faced strong resistance but succeeded after intense fighting. British casualties were 487, with 71 killed; Ottoman losses included 200 killed and 1,434 captured. source: en.wikipedia.org

1919 -Freikorps Deployment in Berlin: On January 9, 1919, the Freikorps, a paramilitary organization composed of World War I veterans, were deployed in Berlin. The Freikorps were mobilized to suppress the Spartacist uprising, a left-wing revolt aimed at establishing a socialist government in Germany. Their deployment marked a significant escalation in the use of paramilitary forces to maintain order during the volatile post-war period. source: en.wikipedia.org

1920 -Tragic shipwreck of the Treveal: On January 9, 1920, the ship Treveal sank, resulting in a significant loss of life. The incident highlighted the dangers of maritime travel during this period and led to discussions on improving safety regulations.

1921- First Battle of İnönü in Greco-Turkish War: The First Battle of İnönü occurred on January 9, 1921, during the Greco-Turkish War. Turkish forces successfully repelled Greek troops, marking a significant turning point in the conflict and boosting Turkish morale



In Music History

2013-At the People's Choice Awards, One Direction win Favorite Album (Up All Night) and Favorite Song ("What Makes You Beautiful"). Katy Perry gets Favorite Music Video ("Part of Me"), Favorite Female Artist, Favorite Pop Artist, and Favorite Music Fan Following for her fan club, the Katycats.

2012-The White Stripes frontman Jack White appears on the History Channel show American Pickers. In the episode, White buys a stuffed elephant head for the sticker price of $12,500.

Steve Jobs Announces The iPhone
2007-John Mayer joins Steve Jobs onstage at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco to introduce Apple's latest invention: the iPhone.

2006-The Phantom of the Opera becomes the longest-running Broadway show when it marks its 7,486th performance at the Majestic theater, breaking the record held by Cats, another Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

2005-Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil marries Lia Gerardini at a ceremony in Las Vegas officiated by MC Hammer, who shared a house with Neil on the reality show The Surreal Life. Among the guests are his bandmates Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx, and basketball star Dennis Rodman. It's Neil's fourth marriage.

2005-D'Angelo is arrested for drunk driving in his Richmond, Virginia, hometown. He is also charged with possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. The reclusive singer hasn't toured since 2000 and doesn't do so again until 2012.

2004-Miley Cyrus makes her movie debut in Tim Burton's Big Fish, playing 8-year-old Ruthie. She's credited as "Destiny Cyrus."

2003-MC Hammer and Vince Neil star in the first season of The Surreal Life on the WB network.

2002-MTV Cribs tours Mariah Carey's New York penthouse in a special one-hour episode. The pop star, who shows off her personal salon and department-store-sized closet, also demonstrates an elliptical workout in stilettos and enjoys a chaste bubble bath.

1999-Just seven months after hitting the top spot with his debut, DMX' second album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, goes to #1 in America.

1991-Sinead O'Connor is named Worst-Dressed Woman of 1990 in Mr. Blackwell's annual list.

1984-Van Halen release their sixth album, 1984, which finds Eddie Van Halen playing synthesizer as well as guitar. It's their most popular album, reeling in new fans with radio-friendly songs like "Jump" and "I'll Wait" while feeding their faithful with rockers like "Panama" and "Hot For Teacher." Lead singer David Lee Roth leaves the next year, replaced by Sammy Hagar.

1981-Jazz drummer Cozy Cole, known for the 1958 hits "Topsy" and "Topsy II," dies of cancer at age 71.

1980-At The Fast Lane in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen takes the stage with the cover band Atlantic City Expressway to perform his song "The Promised Land." The group's lead singer is a 17-year-old high school kid named John Bongiovi, who later forms the band Bon Jovi.

1979-The Bee Gees perform "Too Much Heaven," the #1 song in America, at the Music For UNICEF Concert at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, and also donate royalties from the song to the charity. Other performers include Donna Summer, Rod Stewart and John Denver. It airs on NBC the next night, and later, a soundtrack album is released.

1978-A.J. McLean of Backstreet Boys is born in West Palm Beach, Florida.

1973-Lou Reed marries a cocktail waitress named Betty. Not much is known of this union, but apparently it doesn't last very long.

1968-Carl Bell of Fuel is born in Kenton, Tennessee.

1967-Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell is born in Santa Clara, California.

1967-Dave Matthews is born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He eventually settles in Charlottesville, Virginia, and forms The Dave Matthews Band.

1965-The Beatles' Beatles 65 jumps from #98 to #1 on the Billboard albums chart in one week. The group has two other entries in the Top 10 as well: A Hard Day's Night (#6) and The Beatles' Story (#7).

1963-Charlie Watts joins The Rolling Stones, replacing Tony Chapman as their drummer.

1963-Eric Erlandson of Hole is born in Los Angeles, California.

1962-Sam Cooke releases "Twistin' the Night Away."

1960-Patsy Cline becomes a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

1951-Crystal Gayle ("Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue") is born in Paintsville, Kentucky. She's the younger sister of country singer Loretta Lynn.

1950-David Johansen, lead singer of New York Dolls, is born in Staten Island, New York.

1948-Paul King of Mungo Jerry is born in Dagenham, Essex, England.

1947--Frank Sinatra records the Irving Berlin ballad "Always."

1944-James Patrick "Jimmy" Page is born in Heston, Middlesex, England. He is a session musician in England before forming The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.

1943-Scott Walker is born in Hamilton, Ohio. In the '60s, he has a number of UK hits as a solo artist and as a member of The Walker Brothers, who aren't actually brothers.

1943-Kenneth "Wally" Kelly, tenor vocalist in The Manhattans, is born in Jersey City, New Jersey.

1941-Singer Roy Head is born in Three Rivers, Texas. Known for the 1965 soul song "Treat Her Right."

1941-Joan Baez is born in Staten Island, New York. An unrelenting activist, she lends her voice and music to the Civil Rights Movement, leads protests against the Vietnam War, and fights to abolish the death penalty.

1898-Music hall star Gracie Fields is born Grace Stansfield at Rochdale, Lancashire, England.

1839-Composer John Knowles Paine is born in Maine.