4 JANUARY
In Music History
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.
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.
Jimi Hendrix Goes Stone Free On Live TV, Is Banned By The BBC
1969Jimi Hendrix is banned from the BBC after going off-script when he and his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, appear on the show Happening for Lulu, hosted by the "To Sir With Love" singer Lulu.
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Featured Events
2011 Gerry Rafferty, who had a huge solo hit with "Baker Street" and was also a member of Stealers Wheel, dies at age 63.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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