This Day in Music News: January 14th

Born on this day: 

1938, Alain Toussaint, US singer, songwriter

1944, Linda Jones, US soul singer

1967, Zakk Wylde, Ozzy Osbourne Band

1968, James Todd Smith, (L.L. Cool J)

1969, Dave Grohl, drummer, guitarist, singer, singer, Nirvana, Foo Fighters

1982, Caleb Followill, lead singer, rhythm guitarist, Kings of Leon

1964, The Beatles (minus Ringo Starr, who was fog-bound in Liverpool) departed from Liverpool for Paris, France for an 18-day run at the Olympia Theatre. Arriving in Paris, John, Paul, and George were met by 60 fans. Ringo, accompanied by roadie Neil Aspinall, arrived the next day.

1967, over 25,000 people attend The Human Be-In-A Gathering Of The Tribes at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The event was a forerunner of major, outdoor rock concerts and featured The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Big Brother and The Holding Company.

1970, Diana Ross made her last appearance with The Supremes at The Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas.

1978, The Sex Pistols played their last live gig at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, (they re-formed in 96). See This Day in Music spotlight for more on this story.

1984, Paul McCartney was at #1 on the U.K. singles chart with “Pipes Of Peace.'” With this release McCartney made chart history by becoming the first artist to have a#1 in a group, (The Beatles), in a duo, (with Stevie Wonder), in a trio, (with Wings) and as a solo artist.

1992, Jerry Nolan drummer with The New York Dolls died from a fatal stroke. The influential American band formed in 1972 and made just two albums, the 1973 New York Dolls and 1974’s Too Much Too Soon.

1993, U.S. alternative group The Pixies announced that they had split. (They re-formed in 2004).

1996, Oasis went to #1 on the U.K. album chart with (What's The Story) Morning Glory? It was the group's second U.K. #1 and it spent a total of 145 weeks on the chart.

2005, a $100,000 statue honoring the late punk guitarist Johnny Ramone was unveiled by his widow Linda at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Johnny died from prostate cancer in September 2004 at the age of 55. Hundreds turned out for the ceremony, including Tommy Ramone – the only surviving band member. Dee Dee Ramone died of a drugs overdose in 2002 and Joey died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer.

2007, Amy Winehouse started a two-week run at #1 on the U.K. album chart with Back to Black (which went on to become the biggest-selling album of 2007 with sales over 1.5m copies).