This Day in Music
 
March 12th: On this Day
1955, American jazz saxophonist and composer Charlie Parker died of a heart attack in New York City while watching Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra on television. He was 34. The coroner who performed his autopsy mistakenly estimated Parker's 34-year-old body to be between 50 and 60 years of age. (After years of drug and alcohol abuse).
1958, a Philadelphia court sentenced jazz singer Billie Holiday to a year's probation after being found guilty of narcotics possession.
1963, The Beatles played at the Granada Cinema in Bedford. Also on the bill, Chris Montez and Tommy Roe. John Lennon, suffering from a heavy cold, was unable to perform, so The Beatles set was rearranged so that George and Paul could sing the parts that John usually sang.
1966, Sgt Barry Sadler started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Ballads Of The Green Berets'.
1968, The Rolling Stones started recording their next single ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ with new producer Jimmy Miller at Olympic studios in London.
1973, The Eagles appeared at Oxford Polytechnic during a UK tour, JD Souther was the support act.
1974, David Essex supported by Brinsley Schwarz appeared at The Kings Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, England, tickets cost 40p.
1974, John Lennon made the headlines after an incident at the Troubadour Club, LA. Out on a drinking binge with Harry Nilsson, Lennon hurled insults at the performing Smothers Brothers and punched their manager before being forcibly removed.
1977, The Sex Pistols were involved in a fight at London's Speakeasy Club with Bob Harris, presenter of BBC 2's The Old Grey Whistle Test resulting in one of the show's engineers needing 14 stitches in his head. Two days later Harris's solicitors contact Derek Green at A&M the bands record label. Harris's management also managed Peter Frampton, one of the label's top acts at A&M. Green discussed the matter with the company's two founders, Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert and the decision is made to cancel the Pistols contract and halt production of the bands first single, 'God Save The Queen'.
1981, Bow Wow Wow were forced to cancel the first dates of a UK tour after Greater London Council stated that singer Annabella Lwin aged 15 would be guilty of truancy.
1983, U2 scored their first UK No.1 album with 'War', which went on to spend a total of 147 weeks on the chart. The album featured the singles 'New Years Day' and 'Two Hearts Beat As One'.
1983, Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler had her only UK No.1 single with a song written by Meatloaf's producer, Jim Steinman, 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'. Also No.1 in the US, (the only Welsh artist to score a US No.1), Canada and Australia, the single sold over 5 million copies.
1988, Rick Astley started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Never Gonna Give You Up', also a No.1 in the UK.
1990, Nirvana and Tad appeared at the Town Pump in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
1993, Oasis played at the Le Bateau, Liverpool, England in front of 20 people.
1993, the first of a 2 show day tripper with Ride and The Charlatans at Brighton Centre, the following night was at the Blackpool Empress Ballroom, tickets £12.
1994, Swedish group Ace Of Base started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Sign', a No.2 hit in the UK.
1995, The Spin Doctors played a gig at singer Chris Barron’s old School in Princeton and raised $10,000 (£5,882) towards a trip to France and the UK for the school choir.
1995, Boyz II Men were at No.1 on the US album chart with 'II.'
2000, Chicane went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Give Up'. The song featured the vocals of Bryan Adams. Chicane is UK producer Nick Bracegirdle.
2001, Judy Garland's 'Over The Rainbow' was voted the Song Of The Century in a poll published in America. Musicians, critics and fans compiled the list by the RIA. The highest placed UK act was The Rolling Stones 'Satisfaction' in 16th place. The Beatles had 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' at No. 28.
2001, Divine Comedy kicked off a 10-date UK tour at Sheffield Foundry.
2006, VH1 aired the first episode of ‘My Reality Breakdown’ on UK TV featuring the former Partridge Family and child star Danny Bonaduce.
2006, former Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his third solo album 'On An Island.'
2009, Hundreds of fans queued at the O2 arena in London as Michael Jackson tickets went on sale to the public. The 50-year-old pop veteran had confirmed he would be playing a 50-date residency at the venue, beginning on 8 July 2009. Some 360,000 pre-sale tickets had already sold. Organisers said the This Is It tour had become the fastest-selling in history, with 33 seats sold each minute. Prices ranged from £170 to £10,000, but tickets bought directly from the singer's website cost up to £75. Jackson had said this would be the last time he would perform in the UK.
March 12th: Born on this day
1917, Born on this day, Leonard Chess, the founder of the Chess record label, home to John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Jimmy Reed. Chess died of a heart attack on October 16th 1969, aged 52.
1942, Born on this day, Brian O'Hara, The Fourmost, (1964 UK No.6 single 'A Little Loving'). Hung himself on 27th June 1999.
1942, Born on this day, Paul Kantner, guitar, Jefferson Airplane, (1967 US No.18 single 'White Rabbit').
1946, Born on this day, Liza Minnelli, singer, actress, dancer, daughter of Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli. (1970 film 'Cabaret', 1989 UK No.6 single 'Losing My Mind').
1948, Born on this day, James Taylor, US singer, songwriter, (1971 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'You've Got A Friend'. His first album was released on The Beatles Apple label. Married Carly Simon in 1972.
1948, Born on this day, Les Holroyd, Barclay James Harvest, 8 UK Top 40 albums from 1974-87.
1949, Born on this day, Bill Payne, Little Feat, two Top 40 albums during the 70's, best-known songs 'Dixie Chicken' and 'Sailin Shoes'.
1949, Born on this day, Mike Gibbins, drummer with Badfinger, (1970 UK No.4 & US No.7 single 'Come And Get It'). Gibbins died on 4th Oct 2005.
1951, Born on this day, Jack Green, The Pretty Things, (1964 UK No. 10 with 'Don't Bring Me Down').
1956, Born on this day, Steve Harris, bass, Iron Maiden, (1982 UK No.1 album 'The Number Of The Beast', 1991 UK No.1 with 'Bring Your Daughter ...To The Slaughter' & 25 other Top 40 hits).
1957, Born on this day, Marlon Jackson, The Jackson Five, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'I Want You Back', The Jacksons, 1977 UK No.1 single 'Show You The Way To Go').
1965, Born on this day, Coleen Nolan, Nolan Sisters, (1980 UK No.3 single 'I'm In The Mood For Dancing').
1969, Born on this day, Graham Coxon, guitar, Blur, (1994 UK No.1 album 'Parklife' spent over 2 years on the UK chart, 1995 UK No.1 single 'Country House', plus over 12 other UK Top 40 singles).
1975, Born on this day, Kelle Bryan, vocals, Eternal, (1997 UK No.1 single 'I Wanna Be The Only One').
1977, Born on this day, Ben Kenny, bassist, Incubus, (2004 US No.2 and UK No.6 album ‘A Crow Left of the Murder…’, 2006 US No.1 album ‘Light Grenades’).
1979, Born on this day, Pete Doherty, guitar, vocals, The Libertines, (2004 UK No.1 album ‘The Libertines’). Now fronts Babyshambles
1986, Born on this day, Danny Jones, guitar, vocals, McFly, (2004 UK No.1 single ‘Colours In Her Hair’, 2004 UK No.1 album ‘Room On The 3rd Floor’).
March 12th: I knew the bride
1969, Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman at Marylebone Register Office. They then held a reception lunch at The Ritz Hotel, Paul then went to Abbey Road studios in the evening to work. George Harrison and his wife Patti were arrested on the same day and charged with possession of 120 joints of marijuana.

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