January 30th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories and events for January 30 throughout music history

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The Beatles Perform Impromtu, Final Concert On London Rooftop

On this day in music, January 30, 1969, The Beatles made a media splash when they played an unannounced gig on the roof of the Apple Corps building in London. The lunchtime set marked the legendary band’s final live performance. Joined by keyboardist Billy Preston, the group played 42 minutes of new material, including multiple takes of “Get Back,” “Don’t Let Me Down,” “I’ve Got A Feeling,” “The One After 909,” and “Dig A Pony.” Chaos ensued when fans learned about the impromptu performance and traffic was brought to a standstill, as crowds of people gathered below and watched from the windows and rooftops of nearby buildings. John Lennon ended the performance by saying, “I’d like to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition.”

In 1961, The Shirelles became the first Black girl group to have a No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” The song, penned by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, was also a success in the UK, peaking at No.4.

In 1999, after an 11-week run on the chart, Britney Spears topped the Billboard Hot 100 with her iconic debut single, “…Baby One More Time.” That same day, the pop star’s debut album of the same name also went to No.1.

In 1956, Elvis Presley began a two-day session at New York City’s RCA Studios to record the final tracks for his self-titled debut. The repertoire included a cover of Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes,” a song that would become synonymous with the iconic star.

In 1973, after changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss made their first appearance as KISS at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.

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BORN ON JANUARY 30:

1928: Ruth Brown
1942: Marty Balin (Jefferson Airplane)
1947: Steve Marriott (Small Faces)
1951: Phil Collins
1961: Jody Watley

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January 30th

On this day in music

30 Jan 2022 American session keyboard player Hargus "Pig" Robbins died at the age of 84. He was blind, having poked himself in the eye with a knife at age three and later learned to play piano at age seven, while attending the Nashville School for the Blind. He played his first session in 1957, with his first major recording being George Jones's 'White Lightning'. Robbins played on records for many artists, including Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Rich, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, J.J. Cale, Mark Knopfler, Merle Haggard and Roger Miller.
30 Jan 2016 David Bowie reached No.1 in the American album charts for the first time with Blackstar, released two days before his death on 10 January. His highest-charting US album previously had been The Next Day, which peaked at No.2 in 2013.
30 Jan 2015 Marion "Suge" Knight was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with a fatal traffic incident. The record producer had earlier surrendered to police after he was declared a suspect in a hit-and-run incident where one man died.
30 Jan 2013 Mick Jagger was named the most stylish rock star of all time by lifestyle website Complex. Jagger lead their top 50 list ahead of Prince, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious and Keith Richards. Complex stated, "Even today, he wears silk scarves and suits with more rakish appeal than most men – and he’s pushing 70."
30 Jan 2010 Neil Young was named the Musicares person of the year for his "influential artistic accomplishments and philanthropic work". A string of artist including Elton John, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, John Forgarty, Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crowe performed his songs as he was honoured by the US Recording Academy at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.
30 Jan 2000 Gabrielle went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rise'. The song used a sample from Bob Dylan's 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' giving Dylan his third UK No.1 as a writer, the other two being The Byrds version of 'Mr Tambourine Man' and Manfred Mann's 'The Mighty Quinn'.
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30 Jan 1999 In the NME readers poll results the winner of 'The pop personality that you would like as your doctor' was won by Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia.
30 Jan 1999 After spending 11 weeks on the chart Britney Spears started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with '...Baby One More Time.' The song topped the charts in at least 23 countries and was the best-selling single of 1999. The song is one of the Best Selling Singles of all time, with over 10 million copies sold.
30 Jan 1990 Unhappy with the re-issue of the bands early single 'Sally Cinnaman' The Stone Roses trashed their former record company Revolver FM's offices and threw paint over cars. The band were arrested and charged with criminal damage.
30 Jan 1988 During a court case involving Holly Johnson and ZTT Records it was revealed that Frankie Goes To Hollywood had not played on their hits 'Relax' and 'Two Tribes'. The court was told that top-session musicians were used to make the records. 'Relax' eventually sold a reported two million copies in the UK alone, easily ranking among the ten Best Selling Singles in the UK.
30 Jan 1988 Tiffany was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Think We're Alone Now', the singers only UK No.1 single. The song was a hit for Tommy James & The Shondells in 1967.
30 Jan 1982 Blues singer, songwriter, guitarist Sam Lightnin' Hopkins died of cancer aged 70. In 1968, Hopkins recorded the album Free Form Patterns, backed by the rhythm section of the psychedelic rock band 13th Floor Elevators. Hopkins influenced Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. R.E.M. recorded a song named after him on their Document album.
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30 Jan 1982 Paul McCartney guested on BBC radios Desert Island Discs his selections include, Elvis Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel', Chuck Berry's 'Sweet Little Sixteen', John Lennon's 'Beautiful Boy 'and Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti'.
30 Jan 1976 UK Music weekly Sounds readers Poll Winners included; best album 'A Night At The Opera', by Queen, best single 'Bohemian Rhapsody', by Queen, best band went to Queen, musician Mike Oldfield, female singer Maddy Prior, Steeleye, Span, new band Rainbow, bore of the year went to The Bay City Rollers.
30 Jan 1975 The Bee Gees begin recording 'Jive Talkin', which became their second US chart topper and No.5 UK hit. Barry Gibb's inspiration for the song came when his wife commented on the sound their car made while crossing a bridge over Biscayne Bay into Miami. She noted, "It's our drive talkin'."
30 Jan 1973 After recently changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss made their first appearance as Kiss at the Popcorn Club in Queen's, New York.
30 Jan 1972 Paul McCartney wrote and recorded his protest song 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish' within 24 hours of Bloody Sunday, when 13 Catholics were killed by British paratroopers.
30 Jan 1970 Edison Lighthouse were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes).' The group's only Top 40 hit spent five weeks at the top of the charts.In February 1970, Tony Burrows became the first (and still the only) person to appear on BBC Television's Top Of The Pops fronting three different acts in one show: Edison Lighthouse (who were number one that week), White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.
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30 Jan 1969 The Beatles with Billy Preston, played their lunchtime rooftop gig on top of the Apple building on Savile Row, London. Lasting for just over 40 minutes it was the last time The Beatles performed live. The played ‘Get Back’, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’, ‘The One After 909’ and ‘Dig A Pony’. Traffic was brought to a standstill as crowds of people gathered below and watched from windows in nearby buildings. John Lennon ended the performance by saying "I’d like to say ‘Thank you’ on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition."
30 Jan 1964 The Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Sonny Bono song 'Needles And Pins'. The group's second UK No.1 had originally been recorded by Jackie DeShannon. The song has also been covered by the Ramones and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
30 Jan 1961 The Shirelles became the first all-girl black group to have a No.1 song on the US chart when 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow?' reached the top. The song peaked at No.4 in the UK.
30 Jan 1956 Elvis Presley started recording what would be his first album at RCA's New York Studios. Songs recorded included his version of the Carl Perkins song 'Blue Suede Shoes'. Johnny Cash planted the seed for the song in the fall of 1955, while Perkins, Cash, Elvis Presley and other Louisiana Hayride acts toured throughout the South. Cash told Perkins of a black airman, C. V. White, whom he had met when serving in the military in Germany, who had referred to his military regulation airmen's shoes as "blue suede shoes."

Born on this day in music

30 Jan 1964 American singer, and songwriter Angie Stone. She rose to fame in the late 1970s as a member of the hip-hop trio The Sequence and was later a member of Vertical Hold and is now a solo artist. Stone has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, and has won two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.
30 Jan 1961 Jody Watley, singer with Shalamar who had the 1980 US No. 8 single ‘The Second Time Around’, and the 1982 UK No.5 single ‘A Night To Remember’. Solo hits include the 1987 UK No.13 single, ‘Looking For A New Love’ and the 1989 US No.2 single, ‘Real Love’. Destiny’s Child covered the Watley penned song ‘Sweet Sixteen.’
30 Jan 1959 American musician Mark Eitzel best known as a songwriter and lead singer of the San Francisco band American Music Club who had the 1993 album Mercury. Eitzel is now a solo artist.
30 Jan 1951 English singer, drummer, songwriter, record producer and actor Phil Collins. As a member of Genesis he had the 1986 US No.1 'Invisible Touch', 1992 UK No.7 single 'I Can't Dance' plus six UK No.1 albums. As a solo artist, Colins had the 1988 UK & US No.1 single 'A Groovy Kind Of Love' plus six other US No.1's and four UK No.1 solo albums. Acting roles include Oliver, Buster and Miami Vice. He had an uncredited part as an extra in The Beatles film A Hard Day's Night (1964), where he is amongst the screaming teenagers during the television concert sequence.
30 Jan 1949 American singer, and musician William King who with The Commodores had the 1978 UK & US No.1 single 'Three Times A Lady', as well as hit singles with 'Easy' and 'Nightshift'.
30 Jan 1947 English guitarist, singer and songwriter Steve Marriott. He was a major influence on many UK bands. Marriott was a member of Small Faces who had the 1967 UK No.3 & US No.16 single with ‘Itchycoo Park’ plus the 1968 No.1 UK album Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake. He later formed Humble Pie (with Peter Frampton), who had the 1969 UK No.4 single ‘Natural Born Bugie’. After the departure of Mick Taylor in 1975 from the Rolling Stones, Marriott was considered as his replacement; however, Mick Jagger allegedly blocked the move after Marriott upstaged him during the audition. Marriott died in a house fire on 20 April 1991.
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30 Jan 1943 Sandy Deane, from Jay and the Americans, who had the 1962 hit with 'She Cried' and the 1969 US No.6 single 'This Magic Moment'.
30 Jan 1942 Marty Balin, American singer, songwriter best known as the founder and one of the lead singers of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. who had the 1967 US No.18 single 'White Rabbit'. Balin played with Jefferson Airplane at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. He died on September 27, 2018 at the age of 76.
30 Jan 1941 Joe Terranova, from American doo-wop and rock and roll vocal group Danny and the Juniors famous for their 1958 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'At The Hop' and their follow-up single the anthemic 'Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay'. He died on April 15, 2019, aged 78.
30 Jan 1936 Horst Jankowski, German pianist who had the 1965 UK No.3 & US No.12 single 'A Walk In The Black Forrest'. He died of cancer on 29th June 1998.
30 Jan 1928 Ruth Brown, US singer who had the 1957 US No.25 single, 'Lucky Lips' and was Atlantic Records top selling artist of the 50s scoring hits such as 'Teardrops from My Eyes' and '(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean'. Brown died on November 17, 2006.