29 NOVEMBER
In Music History
1968 Jonathan Knight (of New Kids on the Block) is born in Dorcester, Massachusetts. He is the older brother of fellow NKOTB member Jordan Knight and the oldest member of the group.
1968 For his cannabis possession charge, John Lennon is fined $360 in a London court. The judge believes John's explanation that he no longer uses marijuana and had merely forgotten about the stash. Wife Yoko Ono is entirely cleared of charges. Lennon is the first Beatle to be charged with such a crime.
1966 Elvis Presley hears Tom Jones' version of "Green Green Grass Of Home" on the radio just outside Little Rock, and calls the radio station to hear it several times. Elvis later covers the song.
1965 Wallis Buchanan (didgeridoo player for Jamiroquai) is born.
1958 Michael Dempsey, original bassist for The Cure, is born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, but is raised in England.
1952 Joni James' "Why Don't You Believe Me" hits #1.
1951 Rock guitarist Barry Goudreau (of Boston) is born in Boston, Massachusetts.
1947 Ronnie Montrose (of Edgar Winter Group, Montrose) is born in San Francisco, California.
1942 Felix Cavaliere (keyboardist for The Rascals) is born in Pelham, New York.
1940 Denny Doherty (of The Mamas & The Papas, Mugwumps) is born in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1940 Jazz composer and flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione is born in Rochester, New York.
1939 Domenico "Meco" Monardo is born in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania. His space disco version of the Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band hits #1 in 1977.
1938 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra record "Hawaiian War Chant."
1933 John Mayall (founder of The Bluesbreakers) is born in Macclesfield, England.
1932 The Broadway musical The Gay Divorce, featuring Cole Porter's classic "Night And Day," premieres in New York. Two years later, it reaches the big screen as The Gay Divorcee, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
George Harrison Dies
2001George Harrison succumbs to lung cancer at age 58. His final hours are spent with his wife, son, and musician Ravi Shankar at his side.
Read more29 NOVEMBER
Featured Events
2016 Minneapolis-based musicians Lydia Liza and Josiah Lemanski flame a cultural debate about gender roles when they post a reinterpreted version of the Christmas song "Baby It's Cold Outside" with new lyrics: Instead of pressuring her to spend the night, the guy respects her decision to leave and helps her get home safely.More
2014 Taylor Swift replaces herself at #1 on the Hot 100 when "Blank Space" knocks "Shake It Off" from the top spot, making Swift the first female artist to do so.
1986 "You Give Love A Bad Name" by Bon Jovi goes to #1 in the US, giving the group their first big hit. It's written by group leaders Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora along with an outside writer, Desmond Child, whose monster choruses can be heard on "I Was Made For Lovin' You" by Kiss and "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" by Aerosmith. Bon Jovi's next single is "Livin' On A Prayer," written by the same trio.
1975 Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" hits #1 in the UK and stays for a record nine weeks. In America, it becomes the group's first Top 10 hit when it peaks at #9 on April 24, 1976.
1975 Neil Young records "Like a Hurricane" at the Broken Arrow Ranch in Woodside, California. The song is released a couple years later on American Stars 'n Bars. It remains a fan favorite and concert staple for the remainder of Young's career.
1959 At the second Annual Grammy Awards, Bobby Darin wins for Best New Artist and also takes the award for Record of the Year for "Mack The Knife," which is still at #1 on the Hot 100. This is the first time the event is televised, and also the only time the ceremony is held at the end of the year instead of early the following year, meaning nothing in December 1959 is Grammy eligible. This faux pas is rectified with awards for 1960 given out in early 1961.
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