March 9th

Musical birthdays today include John Cale (84), former Paul Revere & the Raiders frontman Mark Lindsay (84), Robin Trower (81), former Family bassist Jim Cregan (80), Manfred Mann guitarist Chris Thompson (78), ABC lead singer Martin Fry (68), ex-Big Country & Runrig keyboardist Pete Wishart (64), Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty (60), Ben Folds Five bassist Robert Sledge (58), and Thirty Seconds to Mars drummer Shannon Leto (56). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for hymn composer Phoebe Knapp [best remembered for 'Blessed Assurance'], born on this day in 1839... for composer Samuel Barber, born in 1910... for  Ornette Coleman, born in 1930... for  jazz & pop singer Keely Smith, born in 1932.. for Llloyd ' Mr. Personality' Price, born in 1935... for country singer Mickey Gilley, who would have been 90... for former Hawkwind frontman Robert Calvert, who would have been 80... for swing singer & bandleader Bob Crosby, who died on this date in 1993... for Chris 'Biggie Smalls' Wallace, who was shot to death on this day in 1997 at the age of 24... and for former Boston lead singer Brad Delp, who took his own life today in 2007 at the age of 55.

Also on March 9th: Violin virtuoso Nicolo Paganini makes his Paris debut, with Liszt and Meyerbeer in the audience (1831)... Miles Davis convenes the third and last of the sessions that produce Birth of the Cool (1959)... The Beatles finish filming the train sequences in 'A Hard Day's Night'. Over the last six days, the Fab Four have travelled
 some 2,500 miles on Britain's rail network... Capitol Records release a song called 'Letter To The Beatles' by The Four Preps. The lyrics describe a boy lamenting the fact that he's lost his girlfriend to the Fabs. On its first day, the record shoots to № 85 on the charts and it looks like The Preps are going to have another hit on their hands. Unfortunately they included a few bars from 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' without permission, and Capitol are forced to withdraw the single to avoid a lawsuit (1964)... The Beach Boys begin recording 'God Only Knows' (1966)... Bob Dylan's John Wesley Harding goes to № 1 on the UK album chart, beginning a 10-week run at the top (1968)...  Having recently discarded the band name Earth, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward make their concert debut as Black Sabbath at the Roundhouse, London (1970)... Asylum Records release the album Byrds, a reunion of the group's 5 original members organized by David Geffen's label (1973)... Telly Savalas of 'Kojak' fame has the № 1 single in Britain with his cover of the Bread hit 'If' (1975)... The Jacksons' CBS variety show airs for the last time (1977)... Robert Plant plays an unpublicised show at Keele University in the UK with his new band The Honeydrippers (1981)... Mick Jagger releases his solo single 'Just Another Night'... REO Speedwagon are at the top of the US charts with 'Can't Fight This Feeling' (1985)... U2 release The Joshua Tree (1987)... Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher walks offstage during a concert at the Vernon Valley Gorge ski resort in New Jersey saying that his hands are too cold to play (1996)... Tom Jones announces that he has been banned from wearing skin-tight leather trousers on stage by his son and manager Mark. The younger Jones supposedly told his father that at 63, it was time for him to "start dressing his age" (2004)... Lil' Wayne is sentenced to a year on Rikers Island after pleading guilty to gun possession (2010).

March 8th

Musical birthdays today include jazz pianist Dick Hyman (99), former Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz (81), ex-Eagles bassist Randy Meisner and Three Dog Night guitarist Mike Allsup (79), Bucks Fizz vocalist Cheryl Baker (72), Gary Numan (68), Supergrass lead singer Gareth 'Gaz' Coombes (50), Keane frontman Tom Chaplin (47), and OK Go guitarist Andy Ross (47). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, born on this day in 1714... for folk singer Richard Fariña, who would have been 89 today... for Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, who would have been 67... for composer Hector Berlioz, who died on this date in 1869... for Grateful Dead founding member Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan, who died today in 1973... for jazz singer Billy Eckstine, who passed away in 1993... and for former Hues Corporation vocalist St. Clair Lee and original Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr, both of whom died in 2011... and George Martin, who left us today in 2017. 

Also on March 8th: Handel's oratorio Jephtha premieres in London (1752)... The London Philharmonic Society gives its first concert (1813)... David Bowie makes his TV debut on the BBC pop music program 'Gadzooks! It's All Happening' as lead singer of The Manish Boys, who perform their recent single 'I Pity the Fool'... Columbia Records releases Bob Dylan's single 'Subterranean Homesick Blues', while Capitol release The Beach Boys' album Today! (1965)... Lulu becomes the first western female pop singer to perform behind the Iron Curtain, opening for The Hollies at a gig in Poznan, Poland... Dylan returns to Nashville, interrupting his world tour to finish Blonde on Blonde. The productive first day includes the definitive version of 'Just like a Woman' (1966)... At the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, Cream record the live tracks that will appear on the album Wheels of Fire (1968)... Steve Marriott announces his departure from The Small Faces. In the coming days, remaining members Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagen and Kenny Jones will join forces with Ron Wood and Rod Stewart and carry on as The Faces (1969)... Paul McCartney is arrested for growing cannabis on his Campbelltown, Scotland farm. A local magistrate is unconvinced by Macca's claim that the seeds were given to him by fans and that he planted them with no idea of what they would yield, and fines the Wings leader £100 (1973)... Bad Company kick off their first UK tour with a show at the Newcastle Town Hall (1974)... Olivia Newton-John has the № 1 single in the US with 'Have You Ever Been Mellow?' (1975)... Diana Ross has her first UK № 1 in 15 years with 'Chain Reaction', which was written and produced by the Bee Gees, who also provided background vocals (1986)... Cher 'wins' Worst Dressed Female Star and Worst Video of the year for 'If I Could Turn Back Time' at the annual Rolling Stone awards (1990)... The Chinese Ministry of Culture issues a stern statement of rebuke to Björk after the Icelandic star yelled "Tibet! Tibet" following a performance of her song 'Declare Independence' at a concert in Shanghai. The spokesman for the Ministry says that the singer will permanently banned from China if she repeats her actions (2008).

March 7th

Musical birthdays today include jazz singer Flora Purim (84),  Kiki Dee (79), Blasters frontman Phil Alvin (73), Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio (72), Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph (62), Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo (58), Megadeath lead guitarist Chris Broderick (56), Bowling for Soup frontman Jaret Reddick (54), Elbow guitarist Guy Garvey (52), rapper Dwight 'Beanie Sigel' Grant (52), and Vampire Weekend drummer Chris Tomson (42). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for bluesman Furry Lewis, born on this day in 1893... for western swing pioneer Bob Wills, born in 1905... for Wes Montgomery, born in 1923... for  conductor Lorin Maazel, born in 1930... for Sugar Hill Records founder Sylvia Robinson, born in 1935... for former Supreme Mary Wilson, who would have been 82...  ... for John Philip Sousa, who died on this date in 1932... for song & dance man Ivor Novello [also the composer of the WWI standard 'Keep the Home Fires Burning'], who passed away in 1951... for British popular singer George Formby, who died in 1961... for singer & actor Nelson Eddy, who died in 1967... for Sparklehorse frontman Mark Linkous, who took his own life in 2010 at the age of 47... and for Ten Years After leader Alvin Lee, who left us today in 2013. 

Also on March 7th: The Temptations become the first male Motown act to score a US № 1, with 'My Girl' (1965)... The Rolling Stones record 'Paint It Black' at RCA Studios in Los Angeles (1966)... The Beatles add the sound effects to the opening title track of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band (1967)... Charles Manson releases an album called Lie to help raise money for his defence in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial. The album jacket is modeled on a cover of Life Magazine, with the letter F removed from the word 'Life'. In the mid sixties, Manson was an aspiring singer-songwriter who befriended Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, eventually persuading the group to record one of his songs, 'Cease to Exist'. The title was changed to 'Never Learn Not to Love' and was released as the B side of the single 'Bluebirds over the Mountain', which peaked at № 61 in the US in early 1969... Phil Spector receives the session tapes from the Beatles' Get Back project that he will turn into the first official version of the Let It Be album (1970)... Led Zeppelin play their first show in Ireland, at the National Boxing Stadium in Dublin. It is also the second time that they perform 'Stairway to Heaven' live (1971)... The Miracles have the № 1 single in the US with 'Love Machine (part 1), while Bob Dylan is atop the album chart with Desire (1976)... Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle's 'A Whole New World' (Aladdin's Theme)  finally knocks Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' off the top of the Billboard singles chart after 14 weeks (1993)... David Crosby is arrested and charged with criminal possession of a firearm and marijuana after leaving his bag in a Manhattan hotel. The unmarked case was found by a hotel employee who was looking for identification and instead discovered a revolver and a bag of cannabis. The manager notified the authorities, and Crosby, having discovered the loss of the bag himself, called to say that he would return for it. He is met by officers of the NYPD who take him into custody (2004).

March 6th

Musical birthdays today include former Zombies bassist Chris White (83), operatic soprano Kiri Te Kanawa (82), David Gilmour (80), former Procol Harum organist Matthew Fisher (80), ex-J. Geils band lead singer Peter Wolf (80), Tower of Power bassist Rocco Prestia (75), Isley Brothers guitarist Ernie Isley (74), Taylor Dayne (64), West End musicals singer Ruthie Henshall (59), Tantric lead singer Hugo Ferreira (52), and heavy metal singer & vocal coach Amanda Somerville (47). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Maurice Ravel, born on this day in 1875... for jazz drummer & singer Lee Young, born in 1914... for Townes Van Zandt, who would have been 82... for country singer Pee Wee King, who died on this date in 2000... for Ali Farka Touré,who passed away in 2006... for original Yes guitarist Peter Banks, who died in 2013...  and for McCoy Tyner, who left us five years ago today.

Also on March 7: Verdi's La Traviata has its premiere in Venice (1853)... RCA Victor release what is often considered the first commercial jazz record, 'Livery Stable Blues' by the Original Dixieland Jass Band (1917)... Guy Mitchell has the № 1 single in the UK with 'She Wears Red Feathers', the story of a City banker's love for a hula-hula girl (1953)... The Beatles record their first radio appearance, the BBC program 'Teenagers' Turn ~ Here We Go' at the Playhouse Theatre in Hulme, Manchester. The group also wear what will become their trademark grey suits for the first time (1962)... For the first time ever, the top 10 positions of the UK singles chart are occupied entirely by British acts. Cilla Black is in the № 1 spot with 'Anyone Who Had a Heart' (1964)... Brian Wilson releases his first solo single, 'Caroline No'... Tina Turner goes into the studio to record 'River Deep, Mountain High' with Phil Spector (1966)... The Beatles complete the overdubs and sound effects on 'Lovely Rita' (1967)...  Led Zeppelin appear at the Bluesville 69 Club in the Hornsey Wood Tavern, Finsbury Park, London. The venue is a function room at the back of the pub, and is so small that the stage is only just big enough for John Bonham's drums, while the rest of the group has to stand on the floor at the same level as the crowd (1969)... Before a showcase gig at Max's Kansas City in NYC marking Bruce Springsteen's first public performance since becoming a Columbia recording artist, John Hammond [who signed him] suffers a heart attack (1973)... David Bowie releases the album Young Americans (1975)... Elton John becomes the first rock musician since the Beatles to be immortalised in wax at Madame Tussaud's (1976)... USA for Africa releases the 'We Are the World' single (1985)... The Beastie Boys become the first rap act have a № 1 album in the US when their debut LP Licensed to Ill goes to the top... Capitol Records release The Beatles' first 5 albums on CD for the first time (1987)... The Smiths song 'I Know It's Over' tops a ranking of tunes which people turn to when they are miserable in 'The Songs That Saved Your Life' poll by BBC radio station 6 Music. REM's 'Everybody Hurts' and Radiohead's 'Fake Plastic Trees' also made the Top 10 (2004)...  Sales of albums by The Monkees are soaring following the death of singer Davy Jones. 'Best Of The Monkees' re-enters the Billboard album chart at № 20 with sales of over 17,000 copies (2007).

March 5th

Musical birthdays today include early rocker Paul Evans (88), Irish pop singer Clodagh Rodgers (79), Eddy Grant (78), former Dire Straits keyboardist Alan Clark (74), Current 93 lead singer David Tibet (66), Proclaimers frontmen Charlie & Craig Reid (64), former Noir Désir lead singer Bertrand Cantat (62), rapper MC Solaar (57), ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers lead guitarist John Frusciante (55), and classical pianist Daniil Trifonov (34). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, born on this day in 1887... for French horn virtuoso Philip Farkas, born in 1914... for bluesman J.B. Lenoir, born in 1930... for singer-songwriter Tommy Tucker, born in 1934... for pianist and former Janis Joplin sideman Richard Bell, who would have been 80... for Teena Marie, ' the Ivory Queen of Soul', who would have been 70...  for The Fall frontman Mark E. Smith, who would have been 69... for Andy Gibb, who would have been 68... for composer Sergei Prokofiev, who died on this date in 1953... for Patsy Cline, killed in a plane crash today in 1963 at the age of 30 along with fellow musicians Lloyd 'Cowboy' Copas and Harold 'Hawkshaw' Hawkins... for Blues Brother John Belushi, who died of a drug overdose today in 1982 at the age of 33... and for Disney songwriter Robert B. Sherman [best remembered for 'It's a Small Word (after All)], who left us today in 2014.

Also on March 5th: Beethoven's 4th Symphony receives its premiere in Vienna (1807)... The Covent Garden opera house is destroyed in a fire (1856)... Arrigo Boito's opera Mefistofele premieres at La Scala (1887)... The first known transmission of music by radio occurs at Graz University in Austria when Dr. Siegfried Nussbaumer yodels a folk song from his native region into a transmitter whose signal is received in a neighbouring room and heard by his colleagues in the physics department (1904)... Elvis makes his debut television appearance when he performs on the weekend show 'Louisiana Hayride' on KWKH-TV in Shreveport, LA (1955)... The Beatles record their third single 'From Me to You' (1963)... Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler goes to № 1 on the Billboard singles chart with 'The Ballad of the Green Berets' (1966)... Bob Dylan concludes the sessions at Columbia Studio B in NYC that will yield the Self Portrait album (1970)... Led Zeppelin launch a 12-date 'Thank you' tour, appearing at the same clubs that they played in their early days and charging the same admission prices as 1968. Opening night is at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, where the group play most of the songs from their forthcoming officially untitled album, including 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Going to California' (1971)... Rod Stewart meets Britt Ekland at a party in Los Angeles, sparking one of the most high-profile celebrity love affairs of the '70s (1975)... Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' is the № 1 single in the US, whilst the Thriller album tops the UK album chart for the first time... Wham! make their US television debut on American Bandstand (1983)... R.E.M. sweep the Rolling Stone Music Awards, winning Album of the Year for Out of Time, Best single for 'Losing My Religion' and best band (1992)... Grace Slick is arrested for pointing a loaded 12-gauge shotgun at Marin Co. sheriffs' deputies in her home in Tiburon, CA, just north of San Francisco (1994)... MC Hammer is ordained as a preacher at the Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, CA (2000)... 'The Osbournes' premieres on MTV (2002)... Records by the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon are chosen for preservation by the US Library of Congress. The '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' single and the Graceland LP enter the National Recordings Registry, which preserves historic recordings for posterity. Other recordings chosen this year include Carl Perkins' 'Blue Suede Shoes', The Ronettes' 'Be My Baby', 'A Change Is Gonna Come' by Sam Cooke, and the eponymous The Velvet Underground and Nico album (2007).

March 4th

Musical birthdays today include Shakin' Stevens (78), former Harmonium frontman Serge Fiori (74), Emilio Estefan (73), ex-level 42 lead guitarist Boon Gould (71), jazz bassist Kermit Driscoll (70), former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted (63), Lemonheads frontman Evan Dando (59), country singer Jason Sellers (55), ex-beautiful South vocalist Alison Wheeler (54), producer & multi-instrumentalist Kevin 'Linus of Hollywood' Dotson (53), Star Fucking Hipsters frontman Scott 'Stza Crack' Sturgeon (50), Modest Mouse drummer Jeremiah Green (49), jazz drummer Jason Marsalis (49), Fratellis frontman John 'Jon Fratelli' Lawler (47), Towers of London lead singer Patrick 'Donny Tourette' Brannan (45), and singer-songwriter Raven Quinn (42). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for Antonio Vivaldi, born on this day in 1678... for Avery Fisher, born in 1906... for electric blues guitarist Willie Johnson, born in 1923... for  jazz saxophonist & bandleader Don Rendell, born in 1925... for Miriam Makeba, born in 1932... for bluegrass musician John Duffey, born in 1934... for jazz trombonist Eric Allendale, who would have been 90... for original Velvet Underground drummer Angus MacLise, who would have been 88... for Bobby Womack, who would have been 82... for Yes bassist Chris Squire, who would have been 78... for former Climax Blues Band frontman Pete Haycock, who would have been 75... for ex-Spooky Tooth lead singer Mike Patto, who died on this date in 1978... for Richard Manuel of The Band, who took his own life today in 1986 at the age of 43... for Glenn 'The Biker' Hughes of the Village People, who passed away in 2001... for former Siouxie and the Banshees guitarist John McGeoch, who died in 2004... and for Alfredo José da Silva, AKA Johnny Alf, 'the Father of Boss Nova', who left us today in 2010. 

Also on March 4th: Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado premieres at Covent Garden (1885)... Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps release their self-titled second album (1957)... John Lennon's interview with Maureen Cleave containing the statement that the Beatles are "more popular than Jesus now" is published in the London Evening Standard (1966)... The Rolling Stones have the № 1 single in the US with 'Ruby Tuesday'. The song was originally the B side of the 'Let's Spend the Night Together' single, but became a hit when numerous US radio stations refused to play the latter song (1967)... The Stones announce that they are becoming the UK's first rock 'n' roll tax exiles, and have already purchased residences in the south of France (1971)... Pink Floyd kick off the 19-date US leg of the Dark Side of the Moon tour at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum in Madison, WI (1973)... CBS Records UK release the eponymous debut album by The Clash in the band's home country.  Since the parent company delay release in the US [continuing to do so until 1979, in fact], the album will go on to sell more than 100,o00 copies stateside as an import, one of the biggest such success stories ever (1977)... The IRS carries out a dawn raid on the home of Jerry Lee Lewis and seize nearly $200,000 worth of cars to help pay off the singer's tax debt... On tour in Japan, Bob Dylan records the concert that will become the Live at Budokan album (1978)... Frank Zappa's children Dweezil and Moon Unit form the band Fred Zeppelin. Their first single will be 'My Mother Is a Space Cadet' (1982)... Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown become parents when Whitney gives birth to their daughter Bobbi (1993)... Kurt Cobain is rushed to hospital after combining champagne and Rohypnol pills in a near-fatal combination in his Rome hotel room; rumours circulate widely on the Internet that the Nirvana frontman is dead (1994)... A noisy neighbour is banned from playing her music and has her stereo system impounded after playing Cliff Richard's music too loudly. 23 year-old Siân Davies is fined £1,000 plus court costs after environmental protection officers raided her flat in Porth, Rhondda, Wales and seized 15 amplifiers and speakers, plus 135 CDs and cassette tapes. The disc found in her CD player was the Cliff Richard single, 'Peace in Our Time'. A spokesman for the Cliff Richard Organization says that the singer is delighted to hear of somebody in their early 20s owning one of his recordings. He also adds that Sir Cliff would not want anyone to play his music so that it caused a nuisance (2003)... Brian Wilson performs 'Smile' for the first time in public at London's Royal Festival Hall, 37 years after it was first conceived. An 11-date UK tour will follow (2004)... In New Orleans, Britney Spears kicks off her first world tour in five years (2009).

March 3rd

Musical birthdays today include former Searchers lead singer Mike Pender (84), Jennifer Warnes (79), Roger Waters sideman and former Thin Lizzy guitarist Terry 'Snowy' White (78), Robyn Hitchcock (73), Hooters guitarist John Lilley (72), Ronan Keating (49), and rapper Wesley 'Lil' Flip' Weston, Jr. (45). 

Shoutout to the Great Beyond for bluegrass legend Doc Watson, born today in 1923... for double bassist and John Coltrane sideman Jimmy Garrison, born in 1934... for ex-Henry Cow woodwinds player Lindsay Cooper, who would have been 75... for composer Johann Pachelbel, who died on this date in 1706... for classical pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who died in 1961... for Danny Kaye, who passed away in 1987... for flamenco guitarist Carlos Montoya, who died in 1993... for Beatles recording engineer Norman Smith, who passed away in 2008... for Ronnie Montrose, who lost a long battle with cancer in 2012... and for former Miracles vocalist Bobby Rogers, who left us today in 2013. 

Also on March 3rd: Bizet's Carmen receives its premiere at the Opéra Comique in Paris (1875)... Cab Calloway records 'Minnie the Moocher', which will become the first million-selling jazz single (1930)... President Herbert Hoover signs the bill making The Star-Spangled Banner the official US national anthem (1931)... Jackie Brenston, backed by Ike Turner and his band, records 'Rocket 88' [often cited as the first ever rock 'n' roll record] at Sam Phillips' studio in Memphis, TN (1951)... In Los Angeles, Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay form Buffalo Springfield (1966)... Led Zeppelin record their first BBC Radio 1 'Top Gear' session at the Playhouse Theatre in London (1969)... The South African Broadcasting Corporation lifts its ban on The Beatles (1971)... Slade debut on the UK single chart at № 1 with 'Com on Feel the Noize', making them the first act since the Beatles to achieve the feat... Robert Flack takes home the Grammy for Song of the Year for 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (1973)... Patti Smith's album Easter is released (1978)... The Bee Gees have the № 1 album in the US with Spirits Having Flown (1979)... Michael Jackson personally unveils his waxwork lookalike at Madame Tussaud's (1985)... The Smashing Pumpkins are banned from performing their new single 'Disarm' on the BBC's Top of the Pops because of the song's lyrical content (1994)... Foo Fighters make their live debut during a benefit show at the Satyricon in Portland, OR (1995)... Ray Jackson files suit against Rod Stewart over the latter's 1971 hit 'Maggie May'. Jackson claims that he came up with the tune's classic mandolin 'hook', and may have lost as much as £1 million because he did not receive credit for it. The musician, who later found fame with Lindisfarne, was payed just £15 for the session in 1971 (2003)... Elton John announces that he intends to marry his longtime partner David Furnish if a change in UK law will allow it (2004)... To celebrate the release of their new album No Line on the Horizon and their appearance every night for a week on the Late Show with David Letterman, NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg announces that part of 53rd street in Midtown Manhattan will temporarily be renamed U2 Way (2009).