2005, US singer-songwriter Chris Whitley died of lung cancer aged 45. Whitley earned critical success with his 1991 album ‘Living with the Law’ and toured with Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.

1995, US Soul singer Junior Walker died. (1966 US & UK Top 20 single 'How Sweet It Is.' 1969 US No.4 single 'What Does It Take, To Win Your Love').

1994, Tommy Boyce, singer-songwriter, committed suicide. (1968 US No. 8 single with Bobby Hart, 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite', also wrote 'Last Train To Clarksville', 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' and 'Scooby- Doo Where Are You.' Sold…

1998, Irish singer Paddy Clancy of the Clancy Brothers died aged 76, he wrote the classic Irish songs 'Wild Mountain Thyme' and 'Carrickfergus.'

1972, Allman Brothers bass player Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle accident at the same intersection as former band member Duane Allman, who had died a year earlier. Oakley was 24 years old.

1957, Jerry Lee Lewis secretly married his third wife and cousin, Myra Gale Brown in Tennessee.

1955, Elvis Presley was voted the most promising new country & western artist by Billboard magazine.

1953, Born on this day, Andy Partridge, singer, songwriter,…

2005, guitarist Link Wray died aged 76. Wray was credited with inventing 'fuzz' guitar after punching a whole in a speaker giving him a distorted soundguitarist. Famous for his 1958 US No.16 single 'Rumble'.

2003, Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers was found dead in hotel room in Michigan 30 minutes before he was due on stage, aged 63. The autopsy report from the Kalamazoo County Medical Examiner gave the opinion that Hatfield suffered a sudden, unexpected death due to acute cocaine toxicity. The Righteous Brothers had the 1965 UK & US No.1 single 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', and…

1970, Michelle Gilliam from The Mamas and the Papas married actor Dennis Hopper, the marriage lasted eight days.

1963, Born on this day, Johnny Marr, guitarist, songwriter, The Smiths, (1984 UK No.10 single 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now', plus 15 other UK Top 40 singles). Electronic, (1991 UK No.8 single 'Get The Message'). Modest Mouse, (2007 US No.1 album ‘We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank’). Also worked with The The, The Pretenders and Johnny Marr and the Healers.

1963, Born on this day, Mikkey Dee, Motorhead, (1980 UK No.15 single 'Ace…

2003, Elliot Smith, US singer songwriter, committed suicide aged 34.

1990, Pearl Jam played their first ever concert when they appeared at the Off Ramp in Seattle.

1968, Born on this day, US singer, songwriter, Shelby Lynne, (1999 album 'I Am Shelby Lynne'), 2001 Grammy Award winner for Best Newcomer.

1956, Born on this day, Stiv Bators, vocals, Dead Boys, Wanderers, Lords Of The New Church.

This information was taken from:

http://www.thisdayinmusic.com

1995, Shannon Hoon singer from US band Blind Melon died from a cocaine overdose.

1965, Bill Black, Elvis Presley's bass player, (1954-57), died four months after receiving surgery to remove a brain tumour.

1958, Buddy Holly's last recording session took place in New York. The songs recorded included 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore' which became a No.1 hit.

1952, Born on this day, Brent Mydland, The Grateful Dead, (1970 UK No.69 and US No.127 album 'Workingman's Dead'). He was found dead on the floor of his home on 26th July 1990 aged 38 from a drug overdose.

1946,…

1940, Born on this day, John Lennon, singer, songwriter, guitarist, The Beatles who sold over 20m singles worldwide, (1962-1970), and scored more UK & US No.1 albums than any other group. 1967 'Sgt. Pepper's' is the UK's biggest selling album ever. In 1990 Lennon's song 'Imagine' was played simultaneously in 130 countries to commemorate what would've been Lennon's 50th birthday. He was shot dead in New York by Mark Chapman on 8th December 1980.

1965, The Beatles started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the Paul McCartney ballad 'Yesterday', giving the group their…

1970, US singer Janis Joplin was found dead at the Landmark Hotel Hollywood after an accidental heroin overdose. (1971 US No.1 single 'Me And Bobby McGee', 1971 US No.1 album 'Pearl').

1969, The Beatles 'Abbey Road' album went to No.1 on the UK chart. The final studio recordings from the group featured two George Harrison songs 'Something' and 'Here Comes The Sun' plus 'Come Together', 'Sun King' and 'Golden Slumbers.' The cover supposedly contained clues adding to the ‘Paul Is Dead’ phenomenon: Paul is barefoot and the car number plate ‘LMW 281F’ supposedly referred to the fact that McCartney would…

1947, Born on this day, Marc Bolan, guitarist, UK singer, songwriter, T Rex, (1971 UK No.1 single 'Hot Love', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles, 1972 US No.10 single Bang A Gong, (Get It On). Bolan was killed in a car accident on 16th September 1977.

1942, Born on this day, Dewey Martin, The Dillards, Buffalo Springfield, (1967 US No.17 single 'For What It's Worth').

1942, Born on this day, Frankie Lymon, singer, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, (1956 UK No.1 & US No.6 single 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love'). He died…

1986, Metallica bass player Cliff Burton was crushed to death after the bands tour bus crashed between Stockholm and Copenhagen.

1964, The Beach Boys made their TV debut on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' on US TV.

1953, Born on this day, Greg Ham, Men At Work, (1983 UK and US No.1 single 'Down Under').

1953, Born on this day, Robbie Shakespeare, session bass player, as Sly and Robbie worked with Peter Tosh, Robert Palmer, Jimmy Cliff, Grace Jones, Joe Cocker, (1987 UK No.12 single 'Boops, Here To Go').

1943, Born on this day, Randy Bachman, Guess Who, (1970…