Monday, October 17, 2011

Oct 17 - Today in Rock-n-Roll History...

1960, The Drifters started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Save The Last Dance For Me'.

1962, In between their lunchtime and night shows at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, The Beatles traveled to Granada TV Centre in Manchester to make their television debut. They appeared live on the local magazine program People and Places performing two songs ‘Some Other Guy’ and ‘Love Me Do’.

1964, Manfred Mann started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy'.

1969, Led Zeppelin kicked off their fourth North American tour at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 

1970, The Jackson Five started a five-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I'll Be There'.

1981, Christopher Cross started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Arthur's Theme, (Best That You Can Do)'.

1987, Lisa Lisa and Cold Cut went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Lost In Emotion'.

1987, The Bee Gees became the only group to have a UK No.1 single in each of the three decades, (60's, 70's & 80's).

1991, American singer and television presenter Tennessee Ernie Ford died of liver failure. Had the 1955 US No.1 hit with his version of the Merle Travis song ‘Sixteen Tons'. In the 60’s hosted a daytime talk show, The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show on the ABC television network.

1995, Sting's former accountant Keith Moore was sentenced to six years in jail after being found guilty of embezzling £6 million from the singer's 108 bank accounts. 

1996, Chris Acland drummer with UK indie band Lush committed suicide, aged 30

1998, Phil Collins went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his 'Hits' album, his fifth UK No.1 album. 

1998, The Barenaked Ladies went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'One Week'.

1999, Thomas Durden died aged 79. Wrote the lyrics to 'Heartbreak Hotel' one of Elvis Presley's early hits. Durden had read a newspaper account of a man who had committed suicide, the man had left a note saying, ''I walk a lonely street,'' Durden used the phrase as the basis for 'Heartbreak Hotel.’ 

2001, Songwriter and composer Jay Livingston died of pneumonia. Best known for writing hits with Ray Evans for Doris Day, (‘Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)’ and Nat King Cole, (Mona Lisa).

2008, Four Tops singer Levi Stubbs died at his Detroit home, aged 72. Stubbs had been in ill health since being diagnosed with cancer in 1995 and a stroke and other health problems led him to stop touring in 2000. The group signed with Motown Records in 1963 and produced 20 Top 40 hits over the following 10 years, making music history with other acts in Berry Gordy's Motown stable. 

Happy Rock-n-Roll Birthdays To...

1934, Rico Rodrigues, The Specials

1941, Jim Seals, Seals & Croft

1946, Jim Tucker, The Turtles

1947, David St Hubbins, Spinal Tap

1958, Alan Jackson

1968, Ziggy Marley, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers

1972, Eminem

1972, Wyclef Jean, The Fugees

1977, Chris Kirkpatrick, *NSYNC

No comments:

Post a Comment