Birthdays

1925: Born on this day, Paul Mauriat, French, conductor, arranger, (1968 US No.1 single chart 'Love Is Blue', a No.12 hit in the UK).

1934: Bassist Jimmy Garrison is born.

1947: Jennifer Warnes is born in Anaheim, California.

Musical History, Notes, Charts, Releases and more

1794: 1st performance of Joseph Haydn's 101st Symphony in D.

1842: 1st performance of Felix Mendelssohn's 3rd "Scottish" Symphony.

1875: George Bizet's Carmen premieres in Paris.

1966: Buffalo Springfield forms (Neil Young, Steven Stills, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin, Bruce Palmer).

1966, John Lennon's statement that The Beatles were 'more popular than Jesus Christ' was published in The London Evening Standard. "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. We’re more popular then Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was alright, but his disciples were thick and ordinary." Christian groups in the US were outraged resulting in some states burning Beatles records. Lennon later apologised.

1967: The Jeff Beck Group, with an unknown vocalist named Rod Stewart, make their live performance debut, in London.

1967: The Rolling Stones went to No. 1 on the US Singles chart with "Ruby Tuesday," the group's fourth US No. 1 single. "Let's Spend the Night Together" was the original A-side but after radio stations banned the song, "Tuesday" became the A-side.

1986: American songwriter Howard Greenfield died of a brain tumour aged 50. Working out of the famous Brill Building with Neil Sedaka he co-wrote many hits including "Calendar Girl', Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,: and "Crying In The Rain"with Carole King. Also wrote TV theme songs including the theme to "Bewitched."

1986: After just completing a two set show with The Band in Winter Park, Florida, 41 year old Richard Manuel of The Band hung himself from a shower curtain rod in a hotel room in Florida. His band mate, Robbie Robertson honoured his friend with the song, 'Fallen Angel' in 1987.

1994: Kurt Cobainwas rushed to hospital after overdosing on alcohol and drugs in a Rome hotel during a Nirvana European tour. Cobain had taken 50-60 pills of Rohypnol mixed with champagne; rumours on the internet claimed that Kurt was dead.

Sad Notes:

1706: German composer Johann Pachelbel dies at age 52.

2012: Rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose (Montrose) dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 64.