Born On This Day
1958 – Paul Weller
English singer, songwriter, and musician Paul Weller who with The Jam had the 1980 UK No.1 single ‘Going Underground’ plus 17 other UK Top 40 singles. With The Style Council the 1983 UK No.3 single ‘Long Hot Summer’, plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles. As a solo artist the 1995 UK No.7 single ‘The Changing Man’ and 6 UK No.1 albums. Weller has received four Brit Awards, winning the award for Best British Male twice, and the 2006 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
1980 – The Fray, Joe King, guitarist, vocals, from American rock band The Fray who scored the 2005 US Top 3 single ‘How to Save a Life’. The group’s self-titled, second album, released in 2009, debuted at No.1 on the Billboard charts.
1969 – Jody Porter, American musician, lead guitarist of Grammy Award-nominated power pop band Fountains of Wayne, who had the 2003 Grammy-nominated single ‘Stacy’s Mom’.
1959 – Rick Smith, keyboards, from British electronic music group Underworld, who had the 1996 UK No.2 single ‘Born Slippy’.
1955 – John Grimaldi, from English rock band Argent who had the 1972 UK No.5 single ‘Hold Your Head Up’ and the hit ‘God Gave Rock and Roll to You’.
1951 – Chuck Ruff, American rock drummer well known for his work with Edgar Winter. He appeared on the 1973 US No. 1 instrumental ‘Frankenstein’. He died after a long illness on 14 October 2011, aged 60.
1950 – Jean Millington, from the American all-female band Fanny, who were active in the early 1970s. They were one of the first notable rock groups to be made up entirely of women.
Other Historical Stuff
2006 – Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter Desmond Dekker died of a heart attack at his home in London, England. Had one of the first international Jamaican hits in 1968, with the ‘Israelites’.
2004 – Madonna cancelled three shows in Israel after terrorists threatened to kill her and her kids. A spokesperson said she was targeted because she symbolizes the West and not because she practices the Jewish faith of Kabbalah.
2001 – Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher won a damages settlement from The Daily Mirror after they claimed he lied in court during divorce proceedings with Meg Matthews.
1997 – A report showed that Elvis Presley was now the world’s bestselling posthumous entertainer with worldwide sales of over one billion, over 480 active fan clubs and an estimated 250,000 UK fans who still buy his records. Ironically, he had died owing $3 million (£1.76 million).
