On This Day – January 23 – Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chicago, R Kelly, Ray Charles, Nirvana & more

1956, Rock ‘n’ Roll fans in Cleveland aged under 18 were banned from dancing in public (unless accompanied by an adult), after Ohio Police introduced a law dating back to 1931.

1965, ‘Downtown’ made Petula Clark the first UK female singer to have a No.1 on the US singles chart since Vera Lynn in 1952. A No.2 hit in the UK.

1971, George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a No.1 when ‘My Sweet Lord’ went to the top of the UK single charts. The song from his ‘All Things Must Pass’ album stayed at No.1 for five weeks. The track returned to the top of the UK charts in 2002, following his death.

1977, Patti Smith broke her vertebra when she fell off the stage at a gig in Tampa, Florida.

1978, Terry Kath, guitarist with Chicago accidentally shot himself dead while cleaning (with what he believed) was an unloaded gun. Kath’s last words were “Don’t worry it’s not loaded” as he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The guitarist and singer was killed instantly.

1986, Ray Charles was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the first induction dinner, held in New York City.

1988, Nirvana recorded a 10-song demo with Seattle producer Jack Endino. Sub Pop records boss Jonathan Poneman hears the tape and offers to put out a Nirvana single.

1990, Allen Collins guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd died of pneumonia after being ill for several months. Collins who was one of the founding members also co-wrote most of the band’s songs (including Free Bird), with late front man Ronnie Van Zant. He survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members. Collins was behind the wheel in a car accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down. He later pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.

1990, David Bowie announced his forthcoming and final world tour, ‘Sound And Vision’ 1990, during which he will invite each local audience to decide on a ‘greatest hits’ running order, organised through local radio stations.

1997, Associates singer, songwriter, Billy MacKenzie committed suicide, aged 39.

2001, an English coroner criticised the rap singer Eminem‘s lyrics as depressing during an inquest into the death of a schoolboy who threw himself in front of a train. The 17-year old boy had printed out the lyrics to Eminem’s track ‘Rock Bottom’ before his death.

2003, R Kelly was arrested on new child pornography charges. The singer was detained in Miami after police said digital sex pictures were discovered at his home in Florida last June. The singer was already facing 21 charges relating to producing child pornography and appearing in a video having sex with an underage girl. He was charged with a further 12 counts of possession of child pornography.

2005, one of the biggest charity concerts since Live Aid raised £1.25 million ($2 million) for victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The concert held at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff featured Eric Clapton, Manic Street Preachers, Keane, Charlotte Church, Snow Patrol, Embrace, Feeder, Craig David and Liberty X, who appeared before 60,000 fans at the sold-out concert.

Born on this day

1889, Leadbelly, Blues musician
1910, Django Reinhardt, jazz guitarist
1948, Anita Pointer, singer, The Pointer Sisters
1950, Danny Federici, keyboards, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band
1953, Robin Zander, vocals, Cheap Trick

 

Leave a Reply

powered by radioinfo.com