March 8th

Musical birthdays today include jazz pianist Dick Hyman (93), former Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz (75), ex-Eagles bassist Randy Meisner, and Three Dog Night guitarist Mike Allsup (73), Bucks Fizz vocalist Cheryl Baker (66), Gary Numan (62), Supergrass lead singer Gareth 'Gaz' Coombes (44), Keane frontman Tom Chaplin (41), and OK Go guitarist Andy Ross (41). 

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 83 today... for former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, who would have been 61... 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 four years ago today. 

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 female 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).