Pick a Day

15 MARCH

In Music History

1983 Cathy Smith is arrested for second-degree murder for providing the drugs that killed John Belushi.

1982 The Songwriters Hall Of Fame, formed in 1969, finally lets Bob Dylan in.

1979 At a party following a Stephen Stills concert, Elvis Costello gets in an argument with Bonnie Bramlett of Delaney and Bonnie, and reportedly refers to Ray Charles as a "blind, ignorant ni--er." Costello pleads inebriation, and says he was just trying to outrage her.

1977 Joseph Hahn is born in Dallas, Texas. As Linkin Park's DJ and director of many of their music videos, he adds an innovative electronic edge to the band's nu-metal sound and visual aesthetic.

1976 Deep Purple, fronted by David Coverdale, wrap up their UK tour with a show at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, then break up. When they return in 1984, it's with the "Mark II" lineup of the band, which includes lead singer Ian Gillan and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.

1976 KISS release their album Destroyer, featuring "Detroit Rock City" and "Beth."

1975 will.i.am (of Black Eyed Peas) is born William Adams in Los Angeles.

1975 "Black Water," the Doobie Brothers ode to the Mississippi River, hits #1 in America. The Brothers didn't think it had hit potential, so it wasn't released as a single until waves of radio stations started playing it.

1975 Olivia Newton-John's album Have You Never Been Mellow hits #1 in the US.

1975 Mick Jagger settles his paternity suit with singer Marsha Hunt out of court.

1973 The Emerson, Lake & Palmer film Pictures At An Exhibition, taken from a 1970 performance at the Lyceum in London, opens in theaters. The album of the same name is taken from a later performance.

1972 Mark Hoppus (bassist, co-lead vocalist of blink-182) is born in Ridgecrest, California.

1972 As a publicity stunt, the Los Angeles radio station KHJ plays Donny Osmond's "Puppy Love" for 90 minutes straight. Concerned listeners call the police, who show up at the station to find no laws - except good taste - are being broken.

1969 Tommy Roe's "Dizzy" hits #1 in the US, where it stays for four weeks. It's a rare pop hit of the era with a string section.

1968 Jon Schaffer (guitarist for Iced Earth) is born in Franklin, Indiana.