1960: The Silver Beetles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Tommy Moore) auditioned for promoter Larry Parnes and singer Billy Fury for a job as Fury's backing group. Parnes was also looking for backing groups for his lesser-known acts, and The Silver Beetles were selected as backing group for singer Johnny Gentle's upcoming tour of Scotland. The group had changed its name from 'The Beatals' to 'The Silver Beetles' after Brian Casser (of Cass and the Cassanovas) remarked that the name 'Beatals' was "ridiculous". He suggested they use the name 'Long John and the Silver Beetles', but John Lennon refused to be referred to as 'Long John'.
1965: The Rolling Stones recorded a version of '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' at Chess Studios in Chicago, with Brian Jones on harmonica. The group re-recorded it two days later at RCA Studios in Hollywood, with a different beat and the Gibson Maestro fuzzbox that Keith Richards had recently aquired, adding sustain to the sound of the guitar riff.
1969: Frank Sinatra's version of 'My Way' made the British Top ten for the first time. Over the next three years it re-entered the Top 50 singles chart on eight different occasions. Paul Anka re-wrote the original French song for Sinatra, after he told Anka he was quitting the music business. Anka changed the melodic structure and lyrics to the song with Sinatra in mind.
1969: The Moody Blues started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'On The Threshold Of A Dream' (their first No.1 album).
2007: A tribute concert to former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett took place at the Barbican Centre in London. The concert featured performances from Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Chrissie Hynde, John Paul Jones, Nick Mason & Rick Wright.
2003: Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler received an honorary doctorate degree in music from the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
1969: Led Zeppelin made their first appearance on the UK album chart when the band's debut album charted at No. 6, going on to spend 71 weeks on the UK chart. It entered the US chart the following week at No. 10. Recorded in around 36 hours, the album is now considered one of the most important debuts in rock, creating an entirely new interpretation of the Rock And Roll genre, with groundbreaking musical styles and recording techniques.
1969: The Turtles gave a special performance at the White House as guests of Tricia Nixon. Stories circulate concerning members of the group allegedly snorted cocaine on Abraham Lincoln's desk. Volman fell off the stage 5 times.
1968: Jim Morrison (Doors) incited a riot during a Chicago concert. Morrison was at the point where he despised the band and was pushing all the buttons in a self destructive path that didn't end until his death in 1971. Reacting to alleged abuse of audience members by policemen, Morrison took the stage and was greeted by an eruption from the crowd and one teen got so excited he did a swan dive off the balcony onto the stage and was badly injured.
1964: Dusty Springfield made her U.S. television debut on the "Ed Sullivan Show."
1974: Eric Clapton recorded "I Shot the Sheriff."
1963: The Rolling Stones recorded the Chuck Berry song 'Come On', at Olympic Studios, London. This the bands first release was issued on the 7th June 1963 by Decca Records.
1964: Bob Dylan arrived in Britain for his first major UK tour including a show at London's Royal Festival Hall on the 17th of this month.
1999: American singer, songwriter poet, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books Shel Silverstein died of a heart attack aged 57. Wrote, 'A Boy Named Sue' for Johnny Cash (which Silverstein won a Grammy for in 1970) and many songs for Dr Hook including 'Sylvia's Mother' and 'The Cover of the Rolling Stone.'
2011: The ornate iron gates of a children's home which inspired John Lennon's psychedelic Beatles anthem Strawberry Fields Forever were removed after The Salvation Army, which owned the former home, decided to put the red Victorian gates into storage. Beatles fans who passed the Liverpool site on tours would now be met with 10ft (3m) high replicas. The original gates were being taken to a secret location for storage, and would eventually be auctioned off.
2013: Two men were arrested in Dublin after the city centre statue of Phil Lynott was pushed over and seriously damaged. The memorial to the Thin Lizzy icon has been removed from its Harry Street location for repairs, and the men were later released without charge. The life-size bronze sculpture was unveiled in 2005 and had become a tourist destination and landmark since then.
♫ They Say It's Your Birthday, Happy Birthday To You ♫
1920: English guitarist Bert Weedon who had the 1959 UK No.10 single 'Guitar Boogie Shuffle'. His best-selling tutorial guides, Play in a Day, were a major influence on many British musicians, such as Eric Clapton, Brian May, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Pete Townshend and Jimmy Page. Weedon died on 20th April 2012 aged 91.
1935: American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer Larry Williams. The Beatles and The Jam covered his songs. He scored the 1957 US No.5 hit single 'Short Fat Fannie' and a hit with 'Dizzy, Miss Lizzy'. Williams died from gunshot wounds on 2nd January 1980 aged 45.
1935: American musician and composer Julius Wechter. He composed the song 'Spanish Flea' for Herb Alpert and was leader of The Baja Marimba Band. As a session musician he worked for the likes of The Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher and various Phil Spector productions. His vibraphone solo work is featured on the Beach Boys' acclaimed album, Pet Sounds ('Let's Go Away for Awhile'). He died of lung cancer on February 1 1999, a day after his song 'Spanish Flea' was used in the Simpsons episode Sunday, Cruddy Sunday.
1937: American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Mike Melvoin who worked as a prolific studio musician, recording with Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, Tom Waits, Barbra Streisand, The Jackson 5, Natalie Cole, and The Beach Boys on Pet Sounds. He worked in the early 1970s as a music director on The Partridge Family recordings and also composed for film and television including contributing scores to Fame. Melvoin died in Burbank, California on February 22, 2012 of cancer, aged 74.
1938: Henry Fambrough, from American rhythm and blues vocal group the Detroit Spinners who had the 1980 UK No.1 & US No.2 single 'Working My Way Back To You'.
1946: Donovan, Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist, who scored the 1966 US No.1 & 1967 UK No.2 single 'Sunshine Superman'. 'Mellow Yellow' reached US No.2 the following year, with 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' reaching the Top 5 on both shores in 1968.
1947: English singer-songwriter Dave Mason who with Traffic had the 1967 UK No.2 single 'Hole In My Shoe' and the solo, 1977 US No.12 single 'We Just Disagree'. Mason has worked with many notable musicians including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix (twelve-string guitar on 'All Along the Watchtower' and Fleetwood Mac.
1947: Jay Ferguson, from American group Spirit who had the 1969 US No.25 single 'I Got A Line On You'. And with Jo Jo Gunne had the 1972 UK No.6 & US No. 27 single 'Run Run Run'.
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