This Day In Music Search

American singer Casandra Ventura filed an explosive federal lawsuit against her former partner Sean "Diddy" Combs, claiming he had been physically and sexually abusive throughout their relationship. The complaint alleged that Combs’s abuse ranged from beating Ventura and forcing her to have sex with other men to raping her at her home in 2018. The rapper settled the lawsuit within a day.

American songwriter Scott English died age 81, due to complications of hip surgery. He is best known as the co-writer of 'Brandy' which he wrote with Richard Kerr. This song became a No. 1 hit for Barry Manilow (renamed as ‘Mandy’) in 1974.

U2 singer Bono was involved in what doctors called a "high energy bicycle accident." The singer was rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center's emergency department and underwent five hours of surgery. The injury forced the group to postpone a planned weeklong residency on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

The Beatles back catalogue was finally made available on iTunes, after years of negotiations. For the first time consumers would now be able to purchase some of the Fab Four's most popular songs via the store. Apple and record label EMI had been in talks for years about getting the catalogue online. Apple chief executive and Beatles fan Steve Jobs said it had "been a long and winding road to get here. We love the Beatles and are honoured and thrilled to welcome them to iTunes."

Queen's ‘Greatest Hits’ album was declared the Best Selling UK album of all time by The Official UK Charts Company. The chart which was made up of sales figures from the last fifty years showed their Greatest Hits compilation had sold 5,407,587 copies. The Beatles occupied second place with Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band.

Texan multi-billionaire David Bonderman hired The Rolling Stones to play at his 60th birthday party held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The bands fee was £4.4m.

American rapper Joseph Calleja died of chronic intestinal disorder. Calleja had celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that can cause stunted growth, as a result, he reached a maximum height of 3 feet, 9 inches (114 centimeters) by adulthood. He was a member of Kid Rock's band.

Elton John told a London High Court that his former lover and manager John Reid betrayed him over touring costs. The singer said Reid, had been "caught with his hands in the till". Elton was suing Andrew Haydon, former managing director of John Reid Enterprises, his management company alleging Haydon was negligent in allowing JREL to charge him "several millions" in overseas tour expenses.

Grady Owen guitarist with Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps died. Scored the 1956 US No.7 & UK No.16 single with 'Be Bop A Lula'. During his time with the band, Grady can also be seen playing rhythm guitar with the band in the cult classic film Hot Rod Gang.

The Beatles 'Anthology 3' went to No.1 on the UK album chart. The album included rarities and alternative tracks from the final two years of the band's career, ranging from the initial sessions for The Beatles (also known as The White Album) to the last sessions for Let It Be and Abbey Road in later 1969 and early 1970.

Former Beach Boys manager Stephen Love was sentenced to five years probation for embezzling almost $1m from the group's accounts.

Former Clash drummer Topper Headon was jailed for 15 months at Maidstone Crown Court, England for supplying heroin to a man who later died.

Former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey had his only UK No.1 single with the Maria McKee song 'A Good Heart' written about her relationship with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboard player Benmont Tench. Sharkey followed up the single with Tench written 'You Little Thief', this time about Tench's relationship with McKee.

Starship started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'We Built This City', it made No.12 in the UK.

U2 launched their own record label 'Mother Records.' The intent was 'to unearth fresh musical talent in Ireland' and the label released several one-off single releases for The Hothouse Flowers, In Tua Nua and Cactus World News amongst others.

Beach Boy Brian Wilson gave his first formal interview for eight years on the UK BBC 2, TV show 'Old Grey Whistle Test.'

John Lennon was at No.1 in the US singles chart with 'Whatever Gets You Through The Night.' Elton John played on the session and made a deal with Lennon that if the song reached No.1, Lennon would have to appear on stage live with Elton. Lennon kept his side of the deal and appeared live with Elton. They played three songs together: ‘I Saw Her Standing There,’ ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ and ‘Whatever Gets You Through the Night.’ Backstage after the concert, Lennon got back with Yoko Ono after a temporary split.

Frank Zappa appeared on this week's UK TV music show the 'Old Grey Whistle Test', playing live and showing clips from his '200 Motels' film.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience went to No.1 on the US album chart with their third and final studio album Electric Ladyland. The double album included ‘Crosstown Traffic,’ ‘Voodoo Chile’ and a version of Bob Dylan's ‘All Along the Watchtower’. Hendrix expressed displeasure and embarrassment with this "naked lady" cover which was banned by several record dealers as "pornographic", while others sold it with the gatefold cover turned inside out.

Led Zeppelin played their first ever show in the North of England when they appeared at Manchester College of Science & Technology. Zeppelin were paid £225 for the gig.

Brother-sister act Nino Tempo and April Stevens were at No.1 on the US chart with 'Deep Purple'. The song won that year's Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Record.

The Beatles recorded their second appearance on Radio Luxembourg, for the program The Friday Spectacular. The Beatles were interviewed and then they played in front of a live audience both sides of their latest single, 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You'.

Patsy Cline recorded 'I Fall to Pieces' which the following year became Cline's first No.1 hit on the Country charts, and her second hit single to cross over onto the Pop charts. It was the first of a string of songs that would be written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard. The song was ranked at No.7 on CMT's television special of the 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.

Logan Mader, guitarist in melodic death metal band Once Human, as well as former lead guitarist in Machine Head.

Bryan Abrams, from American R&B group Color Me Badd who had the 1991 UK No.1 single 'I Wanna Sex You Up', and the 1991 US No.1 single 'I Adore Mi Amor'.

Dave Kushner, American musician best known as the rhythm guitarist for Velvet Revolver. Kushner has also been a member of Wasted Youth, Electric Love Hogs, Loaded, Danzig, Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro's solo band Sugartooth.

Diana Krall, Canadian singer, songwriter. Krall has become one of the best selling jazz artists of all-time. Nominated for Album of the Year at the 2000 Grammy. Won three Juno awards in 2002, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.

Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, English rock bassist, best known for being a member of the Stone Roses (playing on both of the band's albums) and Primal Scream. Mounfield has a guest role in the movie 24 Hour Party People (2002).

English keyboardist and guitarist Paul Raymond. He joined Plastic Penny in the early 60s as their keyboardist, vocalist, and replaced Christine McVie in British blues band Chicken Shack. He first joined UFO in 1976 and played with the band during four different stints, he was a regular in the UFO lineup since 2003. Raymond had also worked with Michael Schenker in MSG. He died on 13 April 2019 age 73.

Winfred Lovett, singer with American R&B vocal group The Manhattans, who had the 1976 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Kiss And Say Goodbye'. The Manhattans scored 45 hits on the Billboard R&B Chart. He died on 9 December 2014, at the age of 78.

Troy Seals, James Brown Band, (1966 US No.8 and UK No.13 single 'It's A Man's World', 1986 UK No.5 single 'Living In America', 1963 album 'Live At The Apollo').

Grammy-winning record producer Ethel Gabriel. A trailblazer for women in the music industry, she was one of the first women to work as a record producer. "We had a son-of-a-gun president at RCA who was not favourable to women in the industry," she said in 1992. "He put me in charge of the Camden label, the economy line subsidiary, because it was supposed to fold. I’m sure he thought it was a way to get rid of me. Well, I made a multimillion dollar line out of it, conceived, programed and produced everything." Gabriel died in New York on 23 March 2021 aged 99.

Herb Abramson, producer, songwriter and co-founder of Atlantic records. He produced Tommy Tucker's 1964 hit 'High Heeled Sneakers.' Abramson died on 9th November 1999.