July 5

Births

1920: Smiley Lewis (R&B singer)

1943: Robbie Robertson (Guitar & Vocals for The Band & Solo)

1945:  Dick Scoppettone (Vocals & Bass in Harpers Bizarre)

1946: Michael Monarch (Lead Guitar for Steppenwolf)

1950: Huey Lewis (Singer & Harmonica in  Huey Lewis and the News)

1959: Marc Cohn (Singer / Songwriter)

1973: Bengt Fredrik Lagerburg (Drums for The Cardigans)

1979: Shane Filan (Vocals for Westlife)

1980: Jason Wade (Guitar & Vocals for Lifehouse)

1985: Nick O'Malley (Bass for Arctic Monkeys)

1986: Adam Young (Keyboards & Vocals for Owl City)

Events

1954: Working together for the first time in a recording studio with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, Elvis Presley fools around during a break with an up-tempo version of 'That's All Right.' Producer Sam Phillips has them repeat the jam and records it. It became Presley's first release on Sun Records.

1966: On the recommendation of Rolling Stone Keith Richards' girlfriend, Chas Chandler from The Animals went to see Jimi Hendrix play at The Cafe Wha in New York City. Chandler suggests that Hendrix should come to England, which he does and Chandler became his manager.

1969: The Rolling Stones gave a free concert in London's Hyde Park before an audience of 250,000, as a tribute to Brian Jones who had died two days earlier. Mick Jagger read an extract from Percy Bysshe Shelley's 'Adonais' and released 3,500 butterflies; it was also guitarist's Mick Taylor's debut with the Stones, King Crimson, Family, The Third Ear Band, Screw and Alexis Korner's New Church also appeared on the day.

1978: The manufacturing of 'Some Girls' the new album by The Rolling Stones was halted at EMI's pressing plant after complaints from celebrities including Lucille Ball who were featured in mock advertisements on the album sleeve.

1980: Bauhaus' farewell concert took place in London

1982: Sun records musical director Bill Justis died of cancer aged 55. He worked with Sam Phillips at Sun Records, worked with also worked with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis. Had the 1957 US No. 2 single 'Raunchy' (the first Rock and Roll instrumental hit).

1999: The Eurythmics announced their first world tour for more than 10 years and that all profits would be given to charity. The duo made the announcement from the Greenpeace boat 'Rainbow Warrior' moored on the River Thames in London.

2000: Cub Koda (Michael "Cub" Koda), founder member of Brownsville Station died of complications from kidney failure. Wrote the 2 million selling 1974 hit 'Smokin' In The Boys Room', (which Motley Crue covered). He took his nickname from Cubby on television's Mickey Mouse Club.

2003: The Daily Star ran a front-page story claiming that the body of Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards had been found. Fishermen in an angling contest discovered bones half buried in mud on the riverbank near Avonmouth. Edwards disappeared in Feb 1995, his car was found at a service station at the Seven Bridge a well-known suicide spot.

2005: Pink Floyd's David Gilmour said artists who had seen album sales soar after the Live 8 concerts should donate their profits to charity, "This is money that should be used to save lives." UK sales figures released two days after the London concert showed Pink Floyd’s Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd had risen by 1343%, The Who’s-Then and Now by 863% and Annie Lennox-Eurythmics Greatest Hits by 500%.

2007: English jazz and blues singer and film critic George Melly died at his London home at the age of 80 of lung cancer and vascular dementia. His final concert took place at the 100 Club in London on 10th June of this year in aid of Admiral Nurses, part of the charity for Dementia.

July 4

Births

1910: William T "Champion Jack" Dupree (Blues Pianist)

1911:  Mitch Miller (Conductor/ Arranger)

1938: Bill Withers (R&B Singer-Songwriter)

1940: Dave Rowberry (Keyboards for The Animals)

1943: Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson (Guitar, Harmonica & Vocals for Canned Heat)

1948: Jeremy Spencer (Guitar for Fleetwood Mac)

1951: Ralph Johnson (Drums for Earth, Wind and Fire)

1952: John Waite (Singer for The Babys & Solo)

1958: Kirk Pengilly (Guitar & Background Vocals for INXS)

1963: Matt Malley (Bass for The Counting Crows)

1094: Mark Allen Slaughter (Singer for Slaughter)

1971: Andy Creeggan (Piano for The Barenaked Ladies)

1972: William Goldsmith (Drummer for Foo Fighters)

1978: Stephen McNally (Singer in BBMak)

1982: Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino

Events

1895: The song "America the Beautiful" was first published.

1966: The Beatles played two shows at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, in the Philippines to over 80,000 fans. The Beatles failed to appear at a palace reception hosted by President Marcos' family, who were not informed that the Beatles had declined their invitation. The Philippine media misrepresent this as a deliberate snub and when Brian Epstein tries to make a televised statement, his comments are disrupted by static. The next day, as The Beatles make their way to the airport they were greeted by angry mobs, the Philippine government had retaliated by refusing police protection for The Beatles.

1968: Elvis Presley donated a Rolls Royce to a Hollywood women's charity, which raised $35,000.

1969: The Doors appeared at the Willingdon Juvenile Detention Home For Girls in Vancouver, Canada.

1970: Casey Kasem hosted radio’s "American Top 40" for the first time.

1971: Donald McPherson lead singer of US soul group Main Ingredient died of leukaemia aged 30. Had the 1972 hit song, ‘Everybody Plays the Fool’.

1973: Slade drummer Don Powell was badly injured in a car crash in which his girlfriend was killed.

1974: Barry White married Glodean James, a member of his backing group Love Unlimited.

1976: The Clash made their live debut supporting The Sex Pistols at the Black Swan, Sheffield, England.

1976: Elton John and Kiki Dee's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" was released.

1977: Bass player Gary Valentine quit Blondie, citing 'artistic integrity', as the cause of his departure. He was replaced by Nigel Harrison.

1982: After being divorced by his first wife Thelma Mayfair a year earlier, Ozzy Osbourne married Sharon Arden, the daughter of music business manager Don Arden.

1985: In Philadelphia, PA, the Beach Boys were joined on stage by Mr. T on drums.

1990: Paul Stanley from Kiss sustained neck and back injuries when he was involved in a car crash in New Jersey.

1992: John Phillips ex of Mamas And The Papas received a liver transplant at the Los Angeles Medical Centre.

1992: Sir Mix-A- Lot started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Baby Got Back'.

1993: The Smashing Pumpkins played an acoustic show at the strip club Raymond's Revue Bar, London.

1995: At Lollapalooza in George, WA, Courtney Love hit Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill). Love received a suspended one-year sentence and was required to take courses in anger management.

1999: Victoria 'Posh Spice' Adams married footballer David Beckham at Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland. The couple had signed a deal worth $2 million for OK magazine to have the exclusive picture rights.

2000: A man fell 80 feet to his death during a Metallica concert at Raven Stadium, Baltimore.

2002: Tony Bennett had to abandon a show at London's Royal Albert Hall after a fire broke out in the building. The audience were evacuated after smoke began to fill the hall.

2003: American record producer and singer-songwriter and five-time Grammy Award-winner Barry White died from Kidney failure aged 58.

2004: Ja Rule (Jeffrey Atkins) was arrested for driving while his license was suspended and being in possession of marijuana. Rule, 28, was stopped by police after changing lanes without signaling, he later pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license but the possession charge was dropped.

2005: U2 won their court fight for the return of items of memorabilia, including a Stetson hat which they accused a former stylist of stealing. Judge Matthew Deery at Dublin's Circuit Court ordered Lola Cashman to return the items, which also include earrings, within seven days. Ms Cashman, had worked as U2's stylist during the 1980s and wrote an unauthorised book called ‘Inside the Zoo’. Judge Deery said he found Ms Cashman's version of how she had been given the items at the end of a US tour doubtful, particularly her description of Bono running around in his underpants backstage.

2007: Former laboratory worker Devon Townsend admitted to a court in Albuquerque, New Mexico of stalking Chester Bennington lead singer with Linkin Park. Townsend used US government computers to obtain his personal information, accessing Bennington's e-mail account and mobile phone voicemail. The court was told how she travelled to Arizona solely for the purpose of trying to see the singer and monitored Chester Bennington's voicemails as a means of trying to locate where he might be eating.

2010: George Michael was arrested after he crashed his car into the front of a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, North London. The singer was returning home from a Gay Pride parade when the incident was spotted on CCTV. He was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive and charged with possession of cannabis and with driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

July 2

Births

1925: Marvin Rainwater (Country Singer)

1934: Tom Springfield (Folk Artist)

1939: Paul Williams (Baritone for The Temptations)

1948: Gene McFadden (Singer in McFadden and Whitehead)

1949: Roy Bittan (Keyboards for The E Street Band)

1951: Joe Puerta (Bass & Vocals for Ambrosia)

1952: Johnny Colla (Guitar & Sax for Huey Lewis and the News)

1954: Pete Briquette (Patrick Andrew Cusack) (Bass & vocals for The Boomtown Rats)

1956: Jeffrey Cooper (Guitarist for Midnight Star)

1970: Monie Love (Simone Riscoe) (Rapper)

1974: Rocky Gray (Drummer for Evanescence)

1983: Michelle Branch (Singer/Songwriter)

1985: Ashley Michelle Tisdale (Pop Singer)

1986: Lindsay Lohan

Events

1955: ABC-TV premieres a new musical variety program called Dodge Dancing Party, which had already been airing locally in Los Angeles for four years; it would later be retitled The Lawrence Welk Show after its bandleader and host.

1956: Elvis Presley recorded "Hound Dog" & "Don't Be Cruel”.  Take 31 being the version of “Hound Dog” that they released.

1958: Elvis Presley's fourth movie, King Creole, opens in US theaters, though Elvis himself is currently stationed in Germany with the US Army.

1962: Jim Reeves records what would be his last songs for RCA before his fatal plane crash just over one month later.

1962: After breaking his ankle during a jump with the 101st Airborne, James (later Jimi) Hendrix receives an honorary discharge from the US Army.

1966: While touring in Japan, the Beatles wire EMI their choice for the next album title: Revolver.

1967: Rick Nelson's new TV series, Malibu U, premieres on ABC-TV. It is not a hit.

1969: Leslie West forms Mountain, named after his recent solo album.

1969: Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell leave the Jimi Hendrix Experience after completing the three-day Denver Pop Festival. Hendrix and drummer Mitch Mitchell would later team with bassist Billy Cox to form the short-lived Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, who played at the Woodstock Festival.

1971: Queen appeared at Surrey College, England. This was the group's first gig with the line-up of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.

1973: After endless disputes with leader Bryan Ferry over the direction of the group, keyboardist Brian Eno leaves Roxy Music.

1976: After twelve years of staying at home while the band tours, Beach Boy resident genius Brian Wilson finally joins his band onstage at a gig in Anaheim, CA. Though he mostly stares at the piano in front of him, he does sing lead on the group's rendition of "In My Room."

1979: The Walkman, the world's first portable cassette player, is introduced by Sony.

1980: The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, along with manager Danny Rifken, are arrested in San Diego after allegedly interfering with a drug bust during the band's concert there.

1986: For the first time, Bob Dylan joins The Grateful Dead onstage for a rendition of his own "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" at a gig in Akron, OH.

1986: The Prince movie "Under The Cherry Moon" was released. It was his second movie.

1988: Michael Jackson became the first artist to have five number one singles from one album when ‘Dirty Diana’ went to the top of the US charts. The other four chart-toppers from the LP ‘Bad’ were the title track, ‘I Just Can't Stop Loving You’, ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ and ‘Man in the Mirror’.

1991: Axl Rose caused a riot to break out during a Guns N' Roses gig after leaping into the crowd to remove a camera from a fan at the Riverpoint Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights. Over 50 people were injured and 15 fans were arrested.

1992: Mick Jagger becomes a grandfather with the birth of Assisi Lola Jackson by his daughter Jade.

2001: Liverpool Airport is renamed John Lennon Airport in honor of its native son, sporting a new logo that features a Lennon self-portrait and the words "Above Us Only Sky" from his solo song "Imagine."

2005: The Live 8 concerts are held simultaneously all over the world to benefit impoverished African nations, featuring performances by Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Brian Wilson, Chuck Berry, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, The Who, and a reunited Pink Floyd which was their first time playing together in 24 years.

2008: The gravestone of former Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis was stolen. Cheshire Police said his memorial stone was taken from where he is buried in Macclesfield Cemetery. Officers were appealing for anyone with information on its whereabouts, detectives said the stone, had the inscription ‘Ian Curtis 18 - 5 - 80’ and the words ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’.

July 1

Births

1915: Willie Dixon (Blues Musician)

1928: Bobby Day (Pop Singer)

1939: Delaney Bramlett (Delaney and Bonnie)

1945: Deborah Harry (Singer for Blondie & Solo)

1948: John Ford (Bass for The Strawbs)

1951: Fred Schneider (Vocals for The B-52)

1954: Keith Whitley (Country Singer)

1956: Phil Solem (Singer for The Rembrandts)

1960: Evelyn "Champagne" King (R&B Singer)

1960: Ted Key (Housemartins)

1963: Roddy Bottum (Keyboards for Faith No More)

1967: Pamela Anderson (…Just because)

1971: Missy Elliott (Hip-Hop Artist)

Events

1897: The trade paper Billboard Advertising renames itself The Billboard.

1956: NBC's Steve Allen Show capitalizes on the outrage engendered by Elvis Presley's recent version of "Hound Dog" on The Milton Berle Show by winkingly presenting a new, "clean" Elvis, dressed in a tuxedo and singing "Hound Dog" to an actual basset hound perched on a stool. Backstage, a humiliated Elvis explodes in fury at the Colonel for agreeing to the stunt. The next day, however, fans protest the show, demanding "The REAL Elvis."

1956: An 11-year-old Brenda Lee signs her first recording contract with Decca Records.

1959: Dave Brubeck recorded "Take Five".

1962: Gene Vincent plays the Cavern Club in Liverpool, opening for a house band called The Beatles.

1964: Married only four days before, Michael Nesmith of The Monkees leaves his San Antonio home to make a name for himself as a folk singer in Los Angeles.

1969: John Lennon and Yoko Ono, along with his son Julian and her daughter Kyoko, are injured in a car crash near Golspie, Scotland. John gets 17 stitches in his face while Yoko has 14; soon, he will bring a cot into Abbey Road studios so she can rest comfortably while he records "Come Together."

1969: The Doors released the Album “The Soft Parade”

1969: Legendary producer Sam Phillips sells his Sun Records Studio in Memphis.

1970: Jimi Hendrix' Electric Ladyland Studios in New York are opened for the first time.

1970: Casey Kasem begins his weekly Billboard countdown on the nationally syndicated radio show American Top 40.

1974: Bob Marley and the Wailers released the Album “Burnin'”

1975: Ringo Starr divorces his first wife Maureen Cox after a decade of marriage.

1976: Connie Francis is awarded $2.5 million from the motel where she was sexually assaulted two years earlier.

1981: Rushton Moreve (Bass for Steppenwolf) died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Santa Barbara, California. He was 32.

1983: A New Jersey based quintet calling themselves Bon Jovi signed to Phonogram's Mercury records.

1989: Milli Vanilli scored their first US No.1 single with 'Baby Don't Forget My Number'.

1995: Wolfman Jack died of a heart attack at 57 years old.

1998: In her Malibu home, Barbra Streisand marries her second husband, actor James Brolin.

1999: Reggae artist Dennis Brown was rushed to Kingston's University Hospital, suffering from cardiac arrest on June 30^th. Brown died on this day in 1999 and the official cause of his death was a collapsed lung, although his cocaine habit was considered a contributing factor. He was 42 years old.

2003: Jazz flutist Herbie Mann died after a long battle with prostate cancer at 73 years old.

2004: Glen Campbell began serving 10 nights in jail along with two years of probation for a November 2003 drink-driving, hit-and-run collision. The 68 year old entertainer was also sentenced to 75 hours of community service and fined $900.

2005: Four Tops singer Renaldo "Obie" Benson died aged 69 in a Detroit hospital from lung cancer. He was diagnosed after having a leg amputated due to circulation problems.

2005: American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer Luther Vandross died at the age of 54 at the JFK Medical Centre in New Jersey, two years after suffering a major stroke.

2008: The BBC broadcasts an unseen film interview with John Lennon and Paul McCartney that had been discovered languishing in a London garage.

2008: Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley, died at the age of 60 from cancer of the oesophagus. Galley also played with Trapeze, Glenn Hughes, Cozy Powell and the Blue Jays.

2009: Michael Jackson's untimely death a week earlier sends all his albums back into the Billboard Top Ten, including, at #5, The Jackson 5's Ultimate Collection.

June 30

Births

1917: Lena Horne (Jazz Singer)

1943: Florence Ballard (Vocals for The Supremes)

1944: Glenn Shorrock (Vocals for Little River Band)

1949: Andrew Scott (Guitarist for Sweet)

1951: Stanley Clarke (Jazz Bass player)

1953: Hal Lindes (Dire Straits)

1956: Adrian Wright (Singer for The Human League)

1957: Doug Sampson (Drummer for Iron Maiden)

1967: Peter James Camell (Guitar for The La's)

1984: Fantasia Barrino (Singer & American Idol winner)

Events

1939 : Frank Sinatra made his first appearance with Harry James’ band.

1966: The Beatles played the first of three concerts at the Nippon Budokan Hall, Japan. The concert was filmed with The Beatles wearing black suits. The following day's first performance was also filmed; with The Beatles wearing white suits. There was a strict police presence with 3,000 police observing each concert played in front of 10,000 fans.

1966: The Supremes made the studio recording of "You Keep Me Hangin' On."

1975: Cher married Greg Allman four days after her divorcing Sonny Bono, the couple split after ten days, followed by a three year on and off marriage.

1975: The Jackson Five announced that they were leaving Motown Records for Epic Records. The brothers were forced to change their name to The Jacksons since Motown owned the other name.

1976: Police raided the home of Neil Diamond searching for drugs, they found less than one ounce of marijuana.

1976: Stuart Goddard, (Adam Ant), placed the following ad in the classified section of the Melody Maker, 'Beat on a bass, with the B-Sides.' Andy Warren answered the ad and the pair went on to form Adam and The Ants.

1977: Marvel Comics launched a comic book based on the rock group Kiss.

1978: United Artists released The Buzzcocks single 'Love You More', at 1 minute 29 seconds it was the second shortest single ever released. Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs 1960 hit 'Stay' was the shortest hit at one minute 28 seconds.

1978: The Sex Pistols' "My Way" was released.

1983: The Everly Brothers announced plans for a reunion tour, ten years after they had split up.

1989: Police were called in to control over 4,000 Bobby Brown fans trying to see him at the HMV Record store in London's Oxford Street, six fans were hospitalised and one had to be given the kiss of life.

1989: The Stone Roses played at Leeds Polytechnic in England. The gig almost didn't take place after a security man wouldn't let singer Ian Brown into the gig.

1990: Police raided Chuck Berry's estate and seized homemade porn videos, drugs and guns.

1995: American soul singer Phyllis Hyman committed suicide by overdosing on pentobarbital and secobarbital in her New York City apartment aged 45. She was found hours before she was scheduled to perform at the Apollo Theatre, in New York.

1995: Garth Brooks was given a star on Hollywood's Walk Of Fame. The Country singer buried the master tapes of his 'Hits' album under the star.

2000: Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones) checked into a rehabilitation clinic in London to be treated for alcohol abuse.

2001: American guitarist and producer Chet Atkins died in Nashville aged 77. Recorded over 100 albums during his career, produced records for Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves and Waylon Jennings. Was a major influence on George Harrison and Mark Knopfler.

2001: Beach Boys member Al Jardine went to court in a bid to sue his former band mates, claiming he had been frozen out of the Beach Boys. The $4 million suit was filed against Mike Love, Brian Wilson, the Carl Wilson Trust and Brother Records Incorporated in a New York Superior Court. In 1998 a US judge temporarily barred Jardine from performing under the name “Beach Boys Family And Friends” after representations from Mike Love and Brother Records. Jardine lost the case in 2003.

2001: Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lady Marmalade.' A hit for LaBelle in 1975; then it was at No 1 in 1998 for All Saints. This version was from the Baz Luhrmann film Moulin Rouge.

2004: Kinks founder member Dave Davies was left paralysed on the right-hand side of his body after suffering a stroke. The 57-year-old guitarist and brother of fellow Kinks star Ray Davies had been promoting his solo material when he collapsed.

2004: Pete Doherty was kicked out of from The Libertines due to his well known addiction problems specifically with crack cocaine and heroin.

2005: Nick Carter from The Backstreet Boys was fined $1,200 after admitting to drink-driving in California. The 25-year-old singer was also put on probation for three years, ordered to attend an alcohol education course and banned from driving for 90 days.