American singer and songwriter Sonny Curtis died from pneumonia at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 88. He was a member of The Crickets, who had the 1957 US No.1 single 'That'll Be The Day' the 1959 UK No.1 single 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles. He wrote 'Walk Right Back', which was a 1960 hit for the Everly Brothers, 'I Fought the Law', notably covered by the Bobby Fuller Four and the Clash. Later, Curtis wrote the theme song of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, 'Love Is All Around, which he also recorded for the show. The song was covered by Hüsker Dü in 1985, and by Joan Jett in 1996.

Ozzy Osbourne’s former drummer, Lee Kerslake, died aged 73 from prostate cancer. He is best known for his performances on the Black Sabbath frontman’s critically-acclaimed debut album, Blizzard of Ozz, and was also the drummer in Uriah Heep appearing on their 1972 album Demons and Wizards and nine studio records, as well as a live album, with the band before departing in 1978.

A dance choreographer sued Cher for racial discrimination claiming the singer stopped him hiring any more black dancers. Kevin Wilson alleged Cher told him the tour had "too much colour" already. Mr Wilson and two other dancers had also alleged they were fired for reporting a sexual assault on a female fan by another dancer. Cher's long-running North American D2K (Dressed to Kill) was ranked one of the top 10-grossing tours of 2014 by Pollstar.

John Lennon's son Julian told the press that he had ended his long-running feud with his half-brother Sean and his step-mother Yoko Ono, which started after the former Beatle was murdered in December, 1980. The trio battled in court for a share of the singer's estate, but Julian now said "Things are good between us. Whenever I'm in New York, we all get together."

George Michael was arrested in a public toilet in the Hampstead Heath area of London for possession of Class A and C drugs. He was taken to a local police station and cautioned for controlled substance possession.

American drummer Earl Palmer died. Worked with The Beach Boys, Little Richard (‘Tutti Frutti’), Frank Sinatra, Ike and Tina Turner (‘River Deep, Mountain High’), The Monkees, Fats Domino (‘I'm Walkin’), Neil Young, The Righteous Brothers (‘You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin’), and Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, Tim Buckley, Little Feat and Elvis Costello.

Research published by Guinness World Records showed that Status Quo have had more hit singles than any other band in UK chart history. The band had scored 61 chart successes, dating from ‘Pictures of Matchstick Men’ in 1968 to ‘You'll Come Around’ in 2004. Queen came second with 52 hits, with The Rolling Stones and UB40 with 51 hits each.

Canadian singer Celine Dion extended her Las Vegas show for another year. Dion was reportedly being paid $100m (£66m) for the original three-year run of five 90-minute concerts a week.

Police were investigating reports that Paul McCartney scuffled with a photographer when the singer went to see magician David Blaine, who was in a plastic box dangling over the River Thames. The London Evening Standard said one of its photographers had clashed with McCartney resulting in a scuffle.

James Brown was being sued by his own daughters for more than £650,000 of song royalties they said they were owed. Deanna Brown Thomas and Dr Yamma Brown Lumar, a Texas physician, said Brown had withheld royalties on 25 co-written songs because of a family grudge. The lawsuit claimed that Brown had held a grudge against his daughters since 1998, when Ms Thomas had her father committed to a psychiatric hospital to be treated for addiction to painkillers.

American musician, songwriter, and record producer, Ed Cobb died. He was a member of the Four Preps and he wrote the northern soul hit Tainted Love for Gloria Jones, (the B-side of her 1965 single 'My Bad Boy's Comin' Home') Soft Cell reworked the song into one of the biggest pop hits of the 1980s.

Robbie Williams scored his first solo UK No.1 single after leaving Take That with 'Millennium', taken from his second album, I've Been Expecting You. The song also became an international success; it managed to break into the Top 40 around the world. It also became Williams' first song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 when it was released in 1999.

P.M. Dawn's DJ JC Eternal was arrested on charges of sexual assault and child abuse after an alleged affair with his 14 year-old cousin. He was released on $10,000 bail.

Pearl Jam released their second studio album Vs. The album set the record for the most copies of an album sold in its first week, a record it held for five years, despite the fact that the group declined to produce music videos for any of the album’s singles.

Radiohead filmed the video for their new single 'Creep' during a show at the Venue, in Oxford, England. During its initial release, 'Creep' was not a chart success. However, upon re-release in 1993, it became a worldwide hit.

The Shamen started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Ebeneezer Goode'. One of the most controversial UK chart toppers due to its perceived subliminal endorsement of recreational drug use. The song was initially banned by the BBC.

Kylie Minogue's 'Better The Devil You Know' gave producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman their 100th UK chart entry. The song is credited with maturing Minogue's music career and contributing substantially to ensuring its longevity, and is also noted as a major landmark in her relationship with her gay audience by earning a place as a gay nightclub staple.

The Rolling Stones album 'Tattoo You' started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US chart, the band's ninth US No.1. The group's sixteenth UK and eighteenth US studio album was mostly composed of studio outtakes recorded during the 1970s, and contains one of the band's best-known songs, 'Start Me Up', which hit No.2 on the US Billboard singles charts.

Simon And Garfunkel reunited for a concert in New York's Central Park. Some claim more than 400,000 fans attended the show. Other estimates had it at 48,000. Either way, it was one of the largest live shows of all-time to that point. The performance was recorded for a record and video release.

The No Nukes concert was held at New York's Madison Square Garden. Performers included Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Poco, Tom Petty, Carly Simon, James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen.

Country rock singer, songwriter 26-year-old Gram Parsons formerly of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, died under mysterious conditions in Joshua Tree, California. His death was attributed to heart failure but later was officially announced as a drug overdose. His coffin was stolen by two of his associates, manager Phil Kaufman and Michael Martin, a former roadie for The Byrds, and was taken to Cap Rock in the California desert, where it was set alight, in accordance to Parson's wishes. The two were later arrested by police.

Diana Ross started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. The singers first solo No.1 since leaving The Supremes a No.6 in the UK. Written by American singers and songwriters Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla label. The song was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Ross was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the song.

The first UK Glastonbury Festival took place attended by around 1,500 people. The original headline acts were The Kinks and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, but these acts were replaced at short notice by Tyrannosaurus Rex, Al Stewart, Pink Fairies, Keith Christmas, Quintessence, Amazing Blondel and Sam Apple Pie. Glastonbury is now regarded as a major event in contemporary British culture; the festival is inspired by the ethos of the hippie, the counterculture of the 1960s, and the free festival movement.

Creedence Clearwater Revival scored their only UK No.1 single with 'Bad Moon Rising' a US No.2 hit. Taken as the lead track from their Green River album, in the 1981 film An American Werewolf in London, 'Bad Moon Rising' plays as David nears the moment of changing into a werewolf. Green River.

Oxfam printed half a million Christmas cards in the UK of a drawing by John Lennon called the Fat Budgie, which was taken from his book A Spaniard in the Works. All profits from the cards went to help raise money for charity. Oxfam re-printed the cards in 2007 as a limited edition card which again sold thousands.

Hank Ballard and The Midnighters had the honour of being the first group to have three songs in the US Top 100 at the same time. ‘Finger Poppin’ Time,’ ‘Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go’ and ‘The Twist’ all made the Top 30. Ballard refused to perform ‘The Twist’ on a highly rated US TV show, so Chubby Checker picked it up at the insistence of Dick Clark, and Checker’s version of the song was number 1 this week in 1960.

Former chicken plucker Chubby Checker went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Twist'. It made No.14 in the UK in 1962, version with The Fat Boys made No.2 in the UK in 1988.

16 year-old UK singer Cliff Richard, still known by his real name, Harry Webb, joined the Dick Teague Skiffle Group.

Ryan Dusick drummer, Maroon 5, who had the 2004 UK No.1 album ‘Songs About Jane’, the 2004 US No.1 & UK No.4 single ‘She Will Be Loved’. Dusick left the band in 2006.

Alan Jay "A. Jay" Popoff from the American rock pop punk band Lit. Best known for their 1999 album A Place in the Sun, which featured the hit single 'My Own Worst Enemy'.

Paul Winterhart, drummer with English psychedelic rock band Kula Shaker. Between 1996 and 1999, they had several Top 10 hits on the UK Singles Chart, including 'Tattva', 'Hey Dude', 'Govinda' and 'Hush'. The band's debut album, K, reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.

Dutch jazz and pop saxophonist Candy Dulfer, who had the 1990 UK No. 6 single 'Lily Was Here' with David A Stewart. She has performed and recorded with Prince, Van Morrison and Angie Stone and has performed live with Alan Parsons (1995), Pink Floyd (1990), and Tower of Power (2014). She hosted the Dutch television series Candy Meets... (2007), in which she interviewed musicians. In 2013, she became a judge in the fifth season of the Dutch version of X Factor.

American country singer Trisha Yearwood. Her 1991 debut single 'She's in Love with the Boy', became a No.1 hit on the Billboard country singles chart and her self-titled debut album sold over two million copies. Yearwood's 1997 single 'How Do I Live' reached No.2 on the US country singles chart and was internationally successful.

Jarvis Cocker, singer, from English rock band Pulp, who had the 1995 UK No.2 single 'Common People'. He quit the band in January 1997. Pulp were regarded among the Britpop "big four", along with Oasis, Blur and Suede. He later presented a BBC Radio 6 Music show called Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service.

American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Lita Ford. She was a member of The Runaways and then embarked on a successful glam metal solo career that hit its peak in the late 1980s. The 1989 single 'Close My Eyes Forever, a duet with Ozzy Osbourne, remains Ford's most successful song, reaching No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. (1989 UK No.47 single with Ozzy Osbourne 'Close My Eyes Forever').

British-Irish musician Rusty Egan, who, with The Rich Kids, had the 1978 UK No. 24 single 'Rich Kids', and later with Visage, the 1981 UK No. 8 single 'Fade To Grey'. He played drums on a remixed version of Phil Lynott's song 'Yellow Pearl', which the BBC used as the Top of the Pops theme tune from 1981 to 1986.

American musician, songwriter, guitarist and record producer Nile Rodgers. He was the lead guitarist and co-founding member (with Bernard Edwards) of the band Chic, who had the 1978 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Le Freak'. With Edwards, Rodgers wrote and produced music for other artists, including Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, David Bowie (Let's Dance album), INXS, Duran Duran and Madonna. Rodgers has also worked with many artists including Kylie Minogue, Jeff Beck, Avicii, Daft Punk, Mick Jagger, Coldplay, Grace Jones, Bryan Ferry, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.

Daniel Lanois, producer, singer. He produced the 1986 Peter Gabriel album, So, along with albums by Brian Eno, U2, (The Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby), (Bob Dylan, (Oh Mercy) Neil Young, Robbie Robertson, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson. Lanois released the 1990 solo album Acadie. Three albums produced or co-produced by Lanois have won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

English musician and music video director Lol Creme. With 10cc, he scored the UK No.1 & US No.2 single 'I'm Not In Love', plus 10 other UK Top 30 hits. From 1972 to 1978, 10cc had five consecutive UK top-ten albums: Sheet Music (1974), The Original Soundtrack (1975), How Dare You! (1976), Deceptive Bends (1977) and Bloody Tourists (1978). As one half of Godley & Creme, he had the 1981 UK No.3 single 'Under Your Thumb'. In 1988, Creme became a member of the band Art of Noise, with Anne Dudley and Trevor Horn.

English virtuoso percussionist Ray Cooper who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Rick Wakeman, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Blue Mink, America, Carly Simon and David Essex.

John Coghlan drummer with English rock band Status Quo, (he left in 1982), who had the 1977 UK No.3 single 'Rockin' All Over The World'. Other hits include 'Pictures of Matchstick Men' in 1968, and 'Whatever You Want' in 1979.

American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter David Bromberg. He has played and recorded with many famous musicians, including Richie Havens, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Jerry Garcia and Bob Dylan. He co-wrote the song 'The Holdup' with George Harrison, who played on Bromberg's self-titled 1972 album.

Freda Payne, US soul singer, who had the 1970 US No.3 & UK No.1 single 'Band Of Gold'. Payne is the older sister of Scherrie Payne, a former singer with The Supremes.

Cass Elliott, singer, Mamas and the Papas, who scored the 1966 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Monday Monday'. After the breakup of The Mamas & the Papas, Elliot embarked on a solo career and had the 1968 hit 'Dream a Little Dream of Me' from her solo album of the same name. Elliott died from a heart attack on 29th July 1974 while staying at Harry Nilsson's London flat in the UK.

Mike Hurst from the British pop-folk vocal trio The Springfields who had the 1962 US No. 20 single 'Silver Threads And Golden Needles', and the 1963 UK No.5 single 'Island Of Dreams'. The Springfields included singer Dusty Springfield and her brother, record producer Tom Springfield.

American composer, singer, and songwriter Paul Williams. He wrote The Carpenters hits 'We've Only Just Begun' & 'Rainy Day's and Mondays', Three Dog Night's 'An Old Fashioned Love Song' and 'Out in the Country' and 'Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)', a No. 1 hit for Barbra Streisand.

American singer Bill Medley best known as one-half of the Righteous Brothers, who had the 1965 UK & US No.1 single 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. His million-selling No. 1 duet with Jennifer Warnes, '(I've Had) The Time of My Life' (1987), won several awards. In the 1980s, Medley also had a string of country music chart hits.

Lloyd Parks, American R&B/soul singer with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, (noted for his high tenor and falsetto vocal leads and harmonies). He is also a founding member of The Epsilons who backed Arthur Conley on his Atco Records 1967 hit single 'Sweet Soul Music'.

Nick Massi from American rock and pop band The Four Seasons who had the 1960s hits 'Sherry', 'Big Girls Don't Cry', 'Walk Like a Man', and the 1976 UK & US No.1 single 'December 1963, (Oh What A Night'). They are one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, having sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide. Massi died on 24th December 2000.

Brian Epstein, Beatles manager and manager of other Liverpool acts. Died of an accidental overdose of brandy and barbiturates on 27th August 1967.

Brook Benton, US singer, (1959 UK No.28 single 'Endlessly', 1979 US No.4 single 'Rainy Night In Georgia'). He died on 9th April 1998.