Tracy Chapman's 35-year-old song 'Fast Car' was named both song and single of the year at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville. The awards recognised a cover version by Luke Combs, which reached No.2 in the US. This also marked a long overdue milestone: Chapman became the first black songwriter to win Song of the Year in the ceremony's 57-year history.

Scottish session drummer Andy White died aged 82. He was affectionately christened "the fifth Beatle" as he was best known for replacing Ringo Starr on drums on the The Beatles' first single, ‘Love Me Do’. White was featured on the American 7" single release of the song, which also appeared on the band's debut British album, Please Please Me. He also played on ‘P.S. I Love You’, which was the B-side of ‘Love Me Do’. White also worked with Chuck Berry, Billy Fury, Herman's Hermits and Tom Jones.

One Direction were the big winners at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards, held in Glasgow, Scotland, picking up three awards including best pop act. They also won best live and biggest fans. Ariana Grande picked up her first EMA's for best female and best song for 'Problem'. 5 Seconds Of Summer won the Best New Act award.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini become the first British female solo artist to have five No.1 singles in the UK after her latest song, 'I Don't Care', entered the Official Charts in pole position. The 31-year-old overtook Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and Rita Ora, who both had four chart-toppers.

Miriam Makeba, the South African singer who reached No.12 on the Billboard chart in 1967 with 'Pata Pata', suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 76. Among her many notable achievements was becoming the first African woman to win a Grammy, for Best Folk Recording in 1966 with Harry Belafonte for 'An Evening With Belafonte / Makeba'.

Viewers of the UK music channel VH1 voted 'I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston as the number 1 most romantic song ever. In second place Elvis Presley 'You Were Always On My Mind' and third place went to 'My Heart Will Go On' by Celine Dion.

American producer, songwriter and co-founder of Atlantic records Herb Abramson died age 82. He produced Tommy Tucker's 1964 hit 'High Heeled Sneakers.' He was the owner of A-1 Sound studios and clients included Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, The Supremes, Patti Smith and Muddy Waters.

The Dave Matthews Band released their first album, ‘Remember Two Things’ on the Bama Rags label.

Prince and the New Power Generation started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Cream', a No.15 hit in the UK.

Jan Hammer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the 'Miami Vice Theme', a No.5 hit in the UK.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released their debut album on Shelter Records. The album received little attention in the United States. Following a British tour, it climbed to No. 24 on the UK albums chart and the single 'Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll' became a hit in the UK. After nearly a year and many positive reviews, the album reached the US charts, where it peaked at No. 55 in 1978 and eventually went Gold.

Bachman Turner Overdrive went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet'. Randy Bachman stuttered through the lyrics of the demo recording as a private joke about his brother Gary, who had a speech impediment. The record company liked that take better than the non-stammering version and released it.

Simon and Garfunkel record what would become their signature tune, 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' with future member of Bread, Larry Knechtel on piano. Art wanted Paul to sing the song, but Paul insisted that Art's voice was better suited for it. It was a decision that Paul would later say he regretted. The song won five awards at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards in 1971, including Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Elvis Presley's 'Hound Dog', exceeded three million copies sold in the USA, becoming only the third single to do so. Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas' & 'Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer' by Gene Autry being the other two.

The Everly Brothers made their first studio recordings cutting four tracks in 22 minutes, at Nashville's Old Tulane Hotel studios. Family friend Chet Atkins engineered a chance for The Everly Brothers to record for Columbia Records in early 1956. However, their first and only single for the label, 'Keep A' Lovin' Me', was a flop, and they were quickly dropped from Columbia.

South Korean singer Momo Hirai who rose to prominence as a member of the South Korean girl group Twice, created by JYP Entertainment through the reality television show Sixteen (2015). Twice scored the 2024 US No.1 6 track album With You-th.

Delta Goodrem, Australian singer, actress, (Nina Tucker in TV soap opera Neighbours). She had the 2002 Australian No.1 and 2003 UK No. 3 single ‘Born To Try’ plus six other Australian No.1 singles and scored the 2003 UK No.2 album ‘Innocent Eyes’.

American R&B singer Sisqo, (a.k.a. Mark Andrews). His debut studio album Unleash the Dragon (1999), peaked at No.2 on the Billboard 200. It spawned the singles 'Incomplete' and 'Thong Song', which peaked at No.1 and No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.

American singer and guitarist Susan Tedeschi. A multiple Grammy Award nominee, she is a member of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, a conglomeration of her band, her husband Derek Trucks' band, and other musicians. In 2000, Just Won't Burn (1998) reached Gold record status for sales of 500,000 in the United States, rare for a blues production.

American rapper and record producer, Scarface, (Brad Terrance Jordan). He had the 1997 US No.1 album The Untouchable and 8 other albums reach the US Top 20. He was a member of the Geto Boys, a hip-hop group from Houston, Texas.

Sandra Denton (Pepa) from American hip-hop/rap trio Salt-N-Pepa who formed in New York City in 1985 from New York City. Their debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious (1986), sold more than 1 million copies in the US, making them the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status. They had the 1991 UK No.2 hit single 'Let's Talk About Sex'.

American singer David Ebo. He replaced Teddy Pendergrass in Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in 1976. Ebo sang lead on four albums, starting with Reaching for the World and ending with All Things Happen In Time (1981). He died of bone cancer on 30 November 1993, 21 days after his 43rd birthday.

Alan Gratzer, drummer from American rock band REO Speedwagon, who had the 1981 US No.1's 'Keep On Loving You' and 'Can't Fight This Feeling'. They named the band REO Speedwagon, from the REO Speed Wagon, a flatbed truck. Their best-selling album, Hi Infidelity (1980), contained four US Top 40 hits and sold more than 10 million copies.

Multi-instrumentalist Joe Bouchard, who was the bassist in American hard rock band Blue Oyster Cult. They scored the 1976 US No.12 & 1978 UK No.16 single '(Don't Fear) The Reaper'. Blue Oyster Cult have sold over 24 million records worldwide.

Phil May, singer with the Pretty Things. He played on all of their charting singles, which included 'Rosalyn', (covered by David Bowie on his Pinups album) 'Don't Bring Me Down', 'Road Runner', and 'Cry to Me'. They took their name from Willie Dixon's 1955 song 'Pretty Thing'. He died on 15 May 2020 age 75 after suffering complications from emergency hip surgery.

Lee Graziano drummer from American rock band American Breed, who scored the 1967 US No.5 single 'Bend Me, Shape Me', (a hit on the British charts for the British group Amen Corner). The band also found themselves in high demand in the lucrative radio jingles market, recording commercials for Coca-Cola, the United States Navy, and Bell Telephone, among others. Their television commercial for American Airlines ('Fly the American Way') was also a big success in the top twenty.

American musician Tom Fogerty, best known as the rhythm guitarist for Creedence Clearwater Revival who scored the 1969 US No.2 & UK No.1 single 'Bad Moon Rising', and the 1970 US & UK No.1 album Cosmo's Factory. The band has sold 26 million albums in the United States alone. The band's most prolific and successful period, between 1969 and 1971, produced 14 consecutive top-10 singles. Fogerty died on 6 September 1990. In the time leading up to his death, Fogerty suffered from AIDS, which his family believed he contracted from a blood transfusion he received while undergoing back surgery.

English poet, performance poet, broadcaster, children's author and playwright Roger McGough, who with The Scaffold had the 1968 UK Christmas No.1 single 'Lily The Pink'. The modernisation of an older folk song titled 'The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham', the lyrics celebrate the "medicinal compound" invented by Lily the Pink.

Mary Travers, singer-songwriter from American folk group Peter Paul and Mary, who had the 1969 US No.1 & 1970 UK No.2 single 'Leaving On A Jet Plane'. The Bob Dylan song 'Blowin' in the Wind' was one of their biggest hit singles. They also sang other Dylan songs, such as 'The Times They Are a-Changin'' and 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right'. They were very successful in the early- and mid-1960s, with their debut album topping the charts for weeks, and helped popularise the folk music revival. She died on 16th Sept 2009 aged 72.