The Beatles had the biggest-selling vinyl single of 2023 in the UK with their record-breaking ‘last’ song, 'Now and Then'. With over 33,000 copies sold since its release, they broke several records including the longest time between an artist’s first and last No.1 and the UK’s fastest-selling vinyl single of the century. The ballad that John Lennon wrote and recorded around 1977 as a home demo was completed by his surviving bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, using overdubs and guitar tracks by George Harrison from the abandoned 1995 Anthology sessions.

English musician Gerry Marsden died age 78 after being diagnosed with a blood infection in his heart. With Gerry And The Pacemakers he had the 1963 UK No.1 single 'How Do You Do It' and the 1965 US No.6 single, 'Ferry Cross The Mersey'. In common with The Beatles they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein, and were recorded by George Martin. Their cover of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was released in 1963, peaking at No.1. After becoming a chart hit the song gained popularity on the Anfield terraces, and the song quickly became the football anthem of Liverpool F.C., which adopted 'You'll Never Walk Alone' as its official motto on its coat of arms.

Vinyl sales topped three million last year, the highest UK total in 25 years. More than 3.2 million records were sold in 2016, a rise of 53% on the previous year, according to the BPI, which represents the music industry. David Bowie's Blackstar was the most popular album on vinyl, selling more than double the number of copies of 2015's biggest-seller, Adele's 25.

Phil Everly, one half of the Everly Brothers, died of complications from lung disease aged 74, in California. In their heyday between 1957 and 1962, the Everly Brothers had 19 Top 40 hits, including 'Bye Bye Love', 'Wake Up Little Susie' and 'All I Have to Do Is Dream' and influenced acts such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys. The Everly Brothers had 35 Billboard Top-100 singles, 26 in the top 40. They hold the record for the most Top-100 singles by any duo. In the UK, they had 30 chart singles, 29 in the top 40, 13 top 10, and 4 at No. 1 between 1957 and 1984.

Zak Foley bassist with British group EMF died aged 31 of a drug overdose. EMF had the 1990 world wide hit single 'Unbelievable' which reached No.3 on the UK singles chart, and was a No.1 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The name EMF is believed to be an abbreviation of Epsom Mad Funkers.

American rhythm and blues singer Amos Milburn died aged 52. Famous for his drinking songs including, 'Let Me Go Home, Whiskey' and 'One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer.'

The Bay City Rollers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Saturday Night.' At the height of their success, the Scottish group signed a deal to promote breakfast cereal and also had their own weekly TV show in the UK.

Bob Dylan's song, 'Hurricane', peaked at No.33 on the Billboard singles chart, helping to cause enough publicity to eventually get former boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter released from jail. The song promoted Carter's innocence and a movie about Carter's life, starring Denzel Washington, was released in 2000.

Two weeks of rehearsals for Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon tour began at the Bermondsey in London, England, (the venue was owned by The Rolling Stones).

Working on the Get Back sessions at Studio Two of EMI Studios, London, three Beatles (Paul, George, and Ringo) record 16 takes of the George Harrison song 'I Me Mine'. John Lennon was away in Denmark at the time. A decade later it became the title of George Harrison's auto-biography.

B J Thomas started a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head', (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David). The song which was featured in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid won an Oscar for Best Original Song.

Appearing live on The Lulu show on UK TV, The Jimi Hendrix Experience were booked to perform two songs, 'Voodoo Child', (which was performed in full), then Hendrix stopped performing his new single 'Hey Joe' after a verse and chorus and instead launched into a version of the Cream song 'Sunshine Of Your Love' as a tribute to the band who had split a few days earlier. Hendrix then proceeded to continuing jamming, running over their allocated time slot on the live show, preventing the show's host Lulu from closing the show properly.

The Beatles were seen for the second time on US TV when a clip from the BBC's 'The Mersey Sound' showing the group playing 'She Loves You' was shown on The Jack Paar Show. The first US airing showing The Beatles was on Nov 18, 1963, on the NBC news program "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" (albeit pre-recorded) of The Beatles in concert.

Cliff Richard was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his sixth UK No.1 'The Next Time / Bachelor Boy.' Both songs were taken from the film Summer Holiday.

Guy Mitchell was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Singing The Blues.' (Tommy Steele and Marty Robbins had also released versions and Steele would replace this version at No.1). Also a US No.1.

Elvis Presley appeared in Boonesville, Virginia. The 20 year-old singer was still a regional star, but by the end of 1956 he had become a national sensation, recording two albums, (which included 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Blue Suede Shoes'), appeared on national television 11 times, played over 100 concerts and signed a seven year contract with Paramount Pictures.

American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer Kurt Vile. He is known for his solo work, music released under the name "Kurt Vile and The Violators," and as the former lead guitarist of rock band the War on Drugs. His single 'Pretty Pimpin' topped the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart in March 2016.

French musician and record producer Thomas Bangalter, who with Daft Punk had the 1997 UK No.5 single 'Around The World' and the 2013 UK No.1 hit 'Get Lucky' featuring Pharrell Williams. He has also recorded and released music as a member of the trio Stardust, (1998 UK No.2 'Music Sounds Better With You"), the duo Together, and as a solo artist.

Raymond McGinley, guitar and vocals with Scottish alternative rock band Teenage Fanclub. They have released over 12 albums and scored the 1992 UK No.31 single 'What You Do To Me.'

English musician and record producer John Paul Jones, who with Led Zeppelin had the 1969 US No.4 single 'Whole Lotta Love'. The band's fourth album, released in 1971 featured the rock classic Stairway to Heaven, which has sold over 37 million copies. As a session player in the 1960s he worked with The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, The Yardbirds, Donovan, Jeff Beck, Hermans Hermits, Lulu, Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart and Tom Jones. In recent years, Jones has worked with R.E.M. on the 1992 Automatic For The People album and is a member of Them Crooked Vultures.

Robert John, American singer-songwriter best known for his 1979 US No.1 hit single, 'Sad Eyes'. He also had a No. 3 hit with a cover version of The Tokens' 1961 hit, 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight', in 1972. John died on 24 February 2025, at the age of 79. Several years prior, he had suffered a severe stroke from which he had never fully recovered.

American singer, songwriter Stephen Stills who was a member of Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Manassas. With CS&N he had the 1969 UK No.17 single 'Marrakesh Express' and the 1970 US No.1 album Deja Vu plus the 1971 solo UK No.37 single 'Love The One Your With.' Stills's first solo album, Stephen Stills, (1970) went gold and is the only album to feature both Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.

American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, singer, and former Warner Bros. Records executive Van Dyke Parks. He worked with Brian Wilson on the Smile album, played keyboards on The Byrds 'Eight Miles High', and produced records by Harry Nilsson, Ry Cooder, Randy Newman and Judy Collins. Parks was also briefly a member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention before the recording of their album Freak Out! (1966). Parks contributed arrangements to TV and film soundtracks, including 'The Bare Necessities' for The Jungle Book (1967).

English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer and musician Sir George Martin. He worked as EMI Records' in-house record producer (working with comedy acts The Goons and Beyond The Fringe). He became the so-called fifth Beatle, producing all but one of The Beatles albums, giving him 30 No.1 hit singles in the UK and 23 No.1 hits in the US, winning six Grammy Awards. He later collaborated with Paul McCartney extensively for the latter's studio albums and compositions and oversaw post-production on The Beatles Anthology project in 1994 and 1995. Other artists that Martin worked with include Celine Dion, Kenny Rogers and Jeff Beck. In 1997, Martin produced 'Candle in the Wind 1997', Elton John's tribute single to Diana, Princess of Wales, which became the best-selling British single of all time. Martin received a Knighthood in 1996. He died on March 8 2016, aged 90.

Maxene Andrews from The Andrews Sisters who were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. Throughout their long career, the sister's sold over 75 million records. Their 1941 hit ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ can be considered an early example of rhythm and blues. She died on 21 October 1995.