December 29th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories and events for December 29 throughout music history

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Elvis Makes History on the Billboard Charts

On this day in music, December 29, 1956, Elvis Presley made chart history by having ten simultaneous singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 (then called the “Top 100”) – an astonishing feat then and now. At the end of the year, Billboard reported that the rock‘n’roll star had placed more songs in the US Top 100 than any other artist since records were first charted. Among them were the No.1 hits “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” and “Love Me Tender.”

In 2012, Adele’s 21 overtook Oasis’ (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? to become the UK’s fourth biggest selling album of all-time. The feat also gave Adele the best-selling album of all time by a solo artist in the UK, while 21’s 23-week run atop the UK album chart is the longest by a female solo artist. In the US, it became the best-performing Billboard 200 album of all time, holding the No.1 spot for 24 weeks, longer than any other album since 1985 and the longest by a female solo artist in chart history.

In 1966, at London’s Abbey Road Studios, Paul McCartney began work on a new song, “Penny Lane.” When it came to the sound of the tune, McCartney found inspiration from the Beach Boys’ new album, Pet Sounds . The lyrics, meanwhile, referenced the Beatles’ Liverpool roots.

In 1967, Dave Mason quit Traffic, citing creative differences. A founding member of the band, Mason rejoined halfway through sessions for Traffic’s 1968 self-titled LP, after which he once again left to pursue solo opportunities.

In 1984, supergroup Band Aid topped the UK chart with their benefit single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Across the Atlantic, in a rather interesting dichotomy, Madonna had the No.1 song with “Like a Virgin.”

In 1980, American singer-songwriter Tim Hardin died at the age of 39. The folk and blues artist wrote a number of songs that became famous in the hands of other artists, including “If I Were a Carpenter” and “Reason to Believe.”

Looking for more things that happened on this day in music?
Keep scrolling for all of the headlines for December 29.

BORN ON DECEMBER 29:

1941: Ray Thomas (The Moody Blues)
1942: Rick Danko (The Band)
1946: Marianne Faithfull
1961: Mark Day (Happy Mondays)
1961: Jim Reid (The Jesus and Mary Chain)
1966: Bryan Holland (The Offspring)

Looking for more artists born on this day?
Keep scrolling for all of our December 29 birthdays.

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December 29th

On this day in music

29 Dec 2019 Neil Innes, the English writer, comedian and musician died aged 75. He was best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, The Rutles and collaborating with Monty Python.
29 Dec 2013 American guitarist, drummer, and songwriter Benjamin Curtis died age 35. He was a founding member of the bands Secret Machines, School of Seven Bells, and UFOFU. He was also drummer for the band Tripping Daisy from 1997 to 1999. It was announced in late February 2013 that he had been diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.
29 Dec 2013 A one-of-a-kind signed hardback copy of Autobiography by Morrissey, the only copy of the full-colour hardback signed by the author, sold on eBay for £8,300, with all proceeds going to PETA as a New Year's present to help prevent the slaughtering of animals for meat. Morrissey signed only one copy of the book – the cover of which pictures the singer-songwriter bare-chested in a swimming pool.
29 Dec 2012 According to sales data, Adele's 21 had overtaken Oasis’ (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? to become the UK’s fourth biggest selling album of all-time. Latest data confirmed that, Oasis’ 1995 second album had sold 4,555,000 copies to date, while Adele’s 21 has surged ahead with sales of over 4,562,000 copies. The news came just over a year since 21 overtook Amy Winehouse's Back To Black to become the UK's biggest selling album of the 21st Century.
29 Dec 2011 Robert Lee Dickey, who performed as Bobby Purify in the '60s Soul duo James And Bobby Purify, passed away at the age of 72. The pair are most often remembered for their 1966, Billboard Top 10 hit, 'I'm Your Puppet'.
29 Dec 2010 Pollstar reported that Bon Jovi were the highest earning touring act of the year, taking in over $200 million (£130.7m). Australian rockers AC/DC landed at number two for the second year in a row, with tickets sales from their recent trek totaling $177m (£115m). U2 which was the top worldwide act in 2009, came in at third place, with ticket sales totaling $160.9m (£104.6m). Lady Gaga followed in fourth place, with Metallica at number five.
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29 Dec 2001 Aretha Franklin was suing a US newspaper which alleged that the star had alcohol problems. The singer's lawyers filed a federal lawsuit against the Florida-based Star claiming she was defamed by an article in the paper in December 2000 and were seeking $50m (£35m) in damages.
29 Dec 1999 Three ferrets named Beckham, Posh Spice and Baby Spice were used to lay power cables for a rock concert being held in Greenwich, London, England, (workers were not allowed to dig up the turf at the Royal Park). Organizers found that rods could not push the cables through the tiny tunnels, which frequently bend and dog-leg. The ferrets were eased into tiny nylon harnesses with wires which where then attached to a rope, the animals ran into a series of ducts which were under the stage like rabbit runs, leading the cables with them. The ferrets instinctively make for any hole in the ground and are enticed to the end of the duct by a slab of smelly meat. The New Years Eve concert featured Simply Red, Eurythmics and Bryan Ferry.
29 Dec 1984 Band Aid were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Do They Know It's Christmas? and Madonna was at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Like A Virgin.' Do They Know It's Christmas? has estimated sales of over 11.5m.
29 Dec 1980 American singer and songwriter Tim Hardin died of a heroin overdose. Hardin wrote the songs 'If I Were A Carpenter' (covered by Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash and June Carter, The Four Tops, Leon Russell, Small Faces, Robert Plant and Bob Seger,) and 'Reason To Believe', (covered by Rod Stewart). Hardin appeared at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
29 Dec 1973 Jim Croce scored his second No.1 US single of the year when 'Time In A Bottle' went to the top of the charts. Croce was killed in a plane crash on the way to a concert on September 20th 1973.
29 Dec 1968 Led Zeppelin appeared at the Civic Auditorium, Portland on their first North American tour opening for Vanilla Fudge.
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29 Dec 1967 British guitarist and singer Dave Mason quit Traffic after differences of musical opinion. Mason wrote 'Hole in My Shoe', a psychedelic pop song that became a hit in for Traffic in 1967.
29 Dec 1966 Working at Abbey Road studios, London, Paul McCartney began work on his new song ‘Penny Lane’, recording six takes of keyboard tracks and various percussion effects. The song's title is derived from the name of a street near John Lennon's house, in the band's hometown, Liverpool. McCartney and Lennon would meet at Penny Lane junction in the Mossley Hill area to catch a bus into the centre of the city.
29 Dec 1966 The Jimi Hendrix Experience made their debut on the UK TV show Top Of The Pops performing 'Hey Joe'.
29 Dec 1964 The Liverpool Youth Employment Service announced that some school leavers were finding it difficult to get jobs because their 'Beatle' style haircuts and clothing were unacceptable to employers.
29 Dec 1962 During his first visit to the UK Bob Dylan performed at The Troubadour in London.
29 Dec 1956 Elvis Presley made chart history by having 10 songs on Billboards Top 100 for week ending Dec 19th.
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Born on this day in music

29 Dec 1995 Cody Wise, American singer best known for featuring on the 2014 UK No.1 hit ‘It's My Birthday’ by will.i.am. The track became will.i.am's tenth chart-topper, (including five as a member of The Black Eyed Peas).
29 Dec 1966 Bryan Holland, vocals, guitar, from American punk rock band The Offspring, who had the 1999 UK No.1 single 'Pretty Fly, (For A White Guy)', and the 1999 US No.6 & UK No.10 album Americana.
29 Dec 1963 Alex Gifford from English electronic duo Propellerheads who scored the 1997 UK No.7 single 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.
29 Dec 1961 Jim Reid from Scottish alternative rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain which he formed with his elder brother and guitarist William Reid in 1983. Their second studio album Darklands peaked at No.5 on the UK chart. The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
29 Dec 1961 Mark Day, guitarist with English alternative rock band Happy Mondays who had the 1990 UK No.5 single 'Step On' and the 1990 hit Kinky Afro'.
29 Dec 1955 American musician, record producer, arranger, and songwriter Neil Giraldo best known as the musical partner of Pat Benatar since 1979 – and spouse since 1982. Giraldo has produced some of Benatar's biggest hits including 'Love Is a Battlefield' and 'We Belong'.
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29 Dec 1954 American drummer and session musician John Robinson known for his work with Quincy Jones, including Michael Jackson's multiplatinum Off the Wall album and the charity single We Are The World. Robinson has also worked with the likes of Eric Clapton, John Fogerty, David Lee Roth, Steve Winwood, Daft Punk and Madonna.
29 Dec 1951 American singer, songwriter, and actress Yvonne Elliman, who had the 1978 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'If I Can't Have You'. In 1977, the Bee Gees were working on Saturday Night Fever and wrote 'How Deep Is Your Love' for her, but the band's manager Robert Stigwood wanted the Bee Gees to perform it. Instead, she recorded 'If I Can't Have You'. She also worked with Eric Clapton performing on his albums from 1974-77, including 461 Ocean Boulevard, There's One in Every Crowd, E. C. Was Here, No Reason to Cry, and Slowhand.
29 Dec 1950 Robert Popwell was an American jazz-funk bass guitarist and percussionist. He also played on albums by Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Ron Wood, Smokey Robinson, Bette Midler, Gregg Allman, Bob Dylan and many others. He died on 27 November 2017.
29 Dec 1948 Charlie Spinosa, from John Fred and His Playboy Band who had the 1968 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)' which was a parodic play on the title of The Beatles' song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'. He died on 24 May 2013 age 64.
29 Dec 1947 English rock drummer Cozy Powell, who worked with The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Gary Moore, Robert Plant, Brian May, Whitesnake, Emerson, Lake & Powell and Black Sabbath. Powell scored the 1973 solo UK No. 3 hit single 'Dance With The Devil'. Powell was killed in a car crash in England on 5 April 1998. According to a report, at the time of the crash Powell's blood-alcohol reading was over the legal limit, and he was not wearing a seat belt, and was talking with his girlfriend on his mobile phone at the time of the crash.
29 Dec 1946 English singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull and one time girlfriend of Mick Jagger. She achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single 'As Tears Go By' (written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham) and became one of the lead female artists during the "British Invasion" in the United States.
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29 Dec 1942 Canadian musician, bassist, songwriter and singer, Rick Danko, member of The Hawks ( Ronnie Hawkins's backing group), and The Band who went on to release ten studio albums. Bob Dylan hired them for his US tour in 1965 and world tour in 1966. Danko died on 10th December 1999 due to heart failure, arising from years of alcoholism, drug addiction and weight gain.
29 Dec 1941 Ray Thomas, English musician, best known as a flautist, singer and composer with English rock band The Moody Blues who had the 1965 UK No.1 & US No.10 single 'Go Now' and the hits singles including 'Go Now', 'Nights in White Satin' and 'Question'. Thomas died on 4 January 2018 six days after his 76th birthday.
29 Dec 1941 American rock and roll and pop singer Bobby Comstock. He had success in the late 1950s and early 1960s both as a solo singer and as a member of Bobby Comstock and the Counts. His biggest hits were a version of 'Tennessee Waltz' in 1959, and 'Let's Stomp' in 1963. He died on 9 January 2020, at the age of 78.
29 Dec 1928 English actor and singer Bernard Cribbins OBE. During the 1960s, Cribbins became known in the UK for his successful novelty records, the UK No.1 'The Hole in the Ground' (1962) and 'Right Said Fred' both of which were produced by Geroge Martin. Cribbins made many appearances in comedy films. Cribbins died at the age of 93 on 27 July 2022.