This Day In Music

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August 27, 1990



Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed when the helicopter he was flying in, hit a man-made ski slope while trying to navigate through dense fog. Vaughan had played a show at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin with Robert Cray & His Memphis Horns, and Eric Clapton. Vaughan was informed by a member of Clapton's crew that three seats were open on a helicopter returning to Chicago with Clapton's crew, it turned out there was only one seat left; Vaughan requested it from his brother, who obliged. Three members of Eric Clapton's entourage were also killed.

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August 29

1964, Roy Orbison's 'Oh, Pretty Woman' was released in the US. It went on to reach No.1 four weeks later. The title was inspired by Orbison's wife Claudette interrupting a conversation to announce she was going out; when Orbison asked if she was okay for cash, his co-writer Bill Dees interjected "A pretty woman never needs any money."

1966, The Beatles played their last concert before a paying audience, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California to a sold-out crowd of 25,000. John and Paul, knowing what the fans do not (that this will be the last concert ever) bring cameras on stage and take pictures between songs. During this tour, The Beatles have not played a single song from their latest album, Revolver. They finished the show with a version of Little Richard's 'Long Tall Sally'.

1976, Jimmy Reed



died in San Francisco following an epileptic seizure just before his 51st birthday. Reed was a major influence on The Rolling Stones and Reed had the 1957 hit ‘Honest I Do’ in 1957 and ‘Baby What You Want Me To Do’ in 1960.

1977, Three people were arrested in Memphis after trying to steal Elvis' body. As a result, his remains would be later moved to Graceland.

1987, Rick Astley's



debut hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up', started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart. It became the biggest selling single of 1987 and the song won Best British Single at the 1988 Brit Awards.

1990, Elton John



checked into a rehab center in Chicago to receive treatment for bulimia, alcoholism and drugs.

1992, U2 became only the second act ever (Billy Joel was the first) to play at The Yankee Stadium in New York City, during their sold out Zoo TV tour.

2005, 77-year-old Fats Domino was rescued from the flooding in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina. He had earlier told his agent that he planned to remain in his home despite the order to evacuate.

2009, The Los Angeles coroner confirmed Michael Jackson's death was homicide, primarily caused by the powerful anaesthetic Propofol. The singer suffered a cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home in June, aged 50. The report said Propofol and the sedative Lorazepam



were the "primary drugs responsible for Jackson's death", but four further drugs were also found.



1920 – Charlie Parker, 1924 – Dinah Washington, 1927 – Jimmy C. Newman, 1945 – Chris Copping(Procol Harum), 1951 – Geoff Whitehorn (Procol Harum), 1952 – Don Schlitz (songwriter "The Gambler", "Forever And Ever Amen" et al), 1958 – Michael Jackson, 1960 – Tony MacAlpine,, 1964 – Pebbles, 1968 – Meshell Ndegeocello, 1973 – Vincent Cavanagh (Anathema), 1975 – Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty), 1986 – Lea Michele



2011 – Honeyboy Edwards