August 10

Births

1909: Leo Fender (Founder of Fender Guitar)

1928: Jimmy Dean (Country Singer)

1928: Eddie Fisher (Pop Singer)

1940: Bobby Hatfield (Singer in The Righteous Brothers)

1943: Ronnie Spector (Lead Singer in The Ronettes)

1943: James Griffin (Singer & Guitar for Bread)

1947: Ian Anderson (Vocals & Flute for Jethro Tull)

1950: Patti Austin (R&B Singer)

1961: Jon Farriss (Drummer for INXS)

1962: Julia Fordham (Singer / Songwriter)

1964: Aaron Hall (Singer for Guy & Solo)

1967: Todd Nichols (Guitar for Toad The Wet Sprocket)

1968: Michael Bivins (Singer for New Edition & Bell Biv DeVoe)

Events

1959: Four members of the Platters -- the male four -- are arrested in Cincinnati and charged with "aiding and abetting prostitution, lewdness, and assignation" after local police found the singers in a Sheraton Gibson Hotel after-show party entertaining four scantily-clad nineteen-year-olds, including three white girls. The members would be acquitted of the charges in December, but in the meantime, the arrest led to the Platters being banned in several major radio markets.

1963: 13 year-old Little Stevie Wonder started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Fingertips part II', making him the youngest singer to top the charts at the time.

1964: On his way to visit two injured fans in Liverpool, England, Mick Jagger is pulled over and fined $50 for speeding and driving without insurance.

1970: Jim Morrison of the Doors goes on trial in Miami, FL, for an infamous incident on March 1, 1969, where he allegedly exposed himself on stage. (Though no doubt drunk, disinterested, and verbally taunting the audience, according to firsthand accounts, Morrison is generally thought these days to have been innocent of the major charge, sparking talk of a posthumous public vindication by Florida officials.)

1972: Paul and Linda McCartney are arrested backstage in Gothenburg, Sweden, for possession of six ounces of marijuana. The couple are released after paying a combined fine of $1,200.

1976: Elton John begins a historic record-breaking ten-night run of concerts at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

1983: Kajagoogoo fired their lead singer Limahl who took up a solo career with the theme to “The Neverending Story”. The group scored the 1983 UK No.1 single 'Too Shy'.

1985: Madonna's "Like A Virgin" became the first album by a female to be certified for 5 million sales.

1985: Canadian singer / guitarist Bryan Adams scored his first US No.1 album with 'Reckless.'

1985: 'Money for Nothing' by Dire Straits peaked at No.4 on the UK singles chart. Notable for its groundbreaking music video and a cameo appearance by Sting singing the song's falsetto introduction and backing chorus, "I want my MTV," who also co-wrote the song with Mark Knopfler. The video was also the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network started on 1 August 1987.

1985: Michael Jackson buys ATV Music (every Beatle songs) for $47 Million after out-bidding Paul McCartney.

1985: Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran was air lifted to safety when his boat 'Drum' overturned while racing off the English coast. Le Bon was trapped under the hull with five other crew members for twenty minutes, until being rescued by the Royal Navy.

1987: Wilson Pickett is found guilty of threatening patrons at a New Jersey bar with a loaded shotgun after a brawl inside the club. He is given two years' probation and fined $1,000.

1993: The Dave Matthews Band played at The Flood Zone in Richmond, Virginia. The gig was recorded with some of tonight’s songs ending up on the bands first major label album ‘Remember Two Things.’

1995: Jimmy Buffett led a birthday celebration for U.S. President Clinton's birthday at the White House.

1999: it was announced that Oasis rhythm guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthur's had quit the band after finishing his guitar parts on the bands new album.

2001: The Dixie Chicks' Martie Seidel marries Gareth Maguire in Kailua, Hawaii.

2002: When The Dixie Chicks perform on the Grand Ole Opry, Natalie Maines interrupts the proceedings to announce the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame: Opry members Porter Wagoner and "Jumpin'" Bill Carlisle.

2004: The Rolling Stones' Charlie Watts confirms that he is undergoing treatment for throat cancer, which will eventually go into remission.

2007: Spice Girl Emma Bunton gave birth to a baby boy called Beau at London's private Portland Hospital. Bunton and her partner Jade Jones, a former member of defunct boy band Damage, had been together for eight years.

2008: Singer / songwriter Isaac Hayes died at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 65. Police were called to his home after his wife found him unconscious. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Hayes won an Oscar for the 1971 hit Theme From Shaft as was also known as the voice of Chef from the hit cartoon show, South Park. He was married four times and had 12 children.

2009: Brooks & Dunn announce in a five-sentence note to their fans that they're ending their run as a duo after one last tour. "It's time to call it a day".

2011: Rebecca Black withdrew from her school after teasing from her classmates over her YouTube phenomenon, "Friday," became too pervasive to ignore.

2011: The Grand Ole Opry’s Billy Graham died of natural causes at age 85.  He had been a Nashville studio musician singing and playing guitar.