In 1949, Hank Williams played his last Louisiana Hayride show before moving to Nashville.
In 1950, brothers Leonard and Phillip Chess launched Chess Records in Chicago. The first release on Chess was the 78 RPM single "My Foolish Heart" b/w "Bless You" by Gene Ammons, which was released as Chess 1425 in June 1950, and became the label's biggest hit of the year. The label released countless influential Blues recordings.
In 1953, Elvis Presley graduated from Humes High School (despite his C in music earlier).
In 1955, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley appeared together at an autograph session at a Lubbock, Texas car dealership.
In 1957, the Isley Brothers released their first single "The Angel's Cried."
On this day in 1957, "Love Letters In The Sand" by Pat Boone was the #1 song.
In 1959, Elvis Presley, stricken with tonsillitis while in the Army and stationed in Germany, entered the base hospital and stayed there for six days while a fruitless search was undertaken for a doctor who would operate on the famous throat. The inflammation was allowed to run its course instead.
In 1964, the Rolling Stones performed "Not Fade Away" and "I Just Want To Make Love To You" on ABC-TV's musical variety show "The Hollywood Palace," on this occasion guest-hosted by Dean Martin.
In 1965, Gary Lewis recorded "Save Your Heart For Me."
In 1966, Jimmy Ruffin released the single "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted."
In 1967, Aretha Franklin went to #1 on the US singles chart with her version of the Otis Redding hit "Respect."
In 1967, ABC-TV's "American Bandstand" featured Jefferson Airplane lip-syncing "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit."
In 1968, Valerie Solanas shot Andy Warhol and art critic and curator Mario Amaya at Warhol's studio in New York City. Solanas had been to see Warhol after asking for the return of a script which had apparently, been misplaced. Warhol was seriously wounded in the attack and barely survived.
In 1970, Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was released.
In 1972, the Rolling Stones kicked off their seventh North American tour at the Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada. The 32 date tour grossed $4 million, making it the richest rock tour in history.
In 1972, family gospel group of father and three daughters the Staple Singers went to #1 on the US singles chart with "I'll Take You There."
In 1972, Jethro Tull started a two-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Thick As A Brick.'
In 1977, Bob Marley & The Wailers released their ninth studio album 'Exodus.' It is widely considered to be the album that propelled Marley to international stardom and has been recognized by music critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 1999, Time magazine named Exodus the best album of the 20th century. In 2003, the album was ranked #169 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
In 1978, Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Too Much Too Little Too Late."
In 1981, singer Joe Santollo of the Duprees died following a heart attack at the age of 37.
In 1983, session drummer Jim Gordon murdered his mother by pounding her head with a hammer. A diagnosed schizophrenic, it was not until his trial in 1984 that he was properly diagnosed. Due to the fact that his attorney was unable to use the insanity defense, Gordon was sentenced to sixteen years-to-life in prison in 1984. A Grammy Award winner for co-writing Layla with Eric Clapton, Gordon worked with The Beach Boys, John Lennon, George Harrison Frank Zappa and many other artists.
George Michael's "I Want Your Sex" was banned by the BBC in 1987.
In 1989, Michael Damian went to #1 on the US singles chart with his version of the David Essex song "Rock On."
In 1989, the Fine Young Cannibals started a seven-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'The Raw & The Cooked.'
In 1991, Willie Nelson released his 'Who'll Buy My Memories - The IRS Tapes' LP.' The album was made up of songs that had been seized by the US government and would go towards paying off his $16 million tax bill.
In 1997, Wu-Tang Clan released the double LP 'Wu-Tang Forever.' The album was certified 4X's platinum by the RIAA on October 15, 1997, making it the group's highest selling album to date. Upon its release, the album received favorable reviews from most music critics and it earned the group a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998.
In 2000, country music singers Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw were arrested during a George Strait Country Music Festival at Ralph Wilson Stadium in suburban Buffalo, New York. Chesney was charged with disorderly conduct, McGraw was charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest. At their trial in May 2001, a jury found the two men innocent of all charges.
Also in 2000, Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts was arrested and ordered to get psychiatric help after allegedly trashing his home and threatening his wife.
In 2001, Staind started a three-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Break The Cycle.'
In 2002, Paul McCartney, Sting, Elton John, Brian Wilson, Cliff Richard, Ozzy Osbourne, The Corrs, Will Young, Atomic Kitten and S Club 7 all appeared at The Queen's Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace, London.
In 2003, Barry Manilow suffered a broken nose after he accidentally walked into a wall at his home in Palm Springs, California and knocked himself unconscious. Although he passed out for four hours, he didn't endure any lasting effects as doctors determined that surgery was not necessary.
In 2004, Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen announces that he`s running for president. He`s the first to admit that his bid is "to be considered for entertainment purposes only." Still, Kaukonen promotes a nonviolent, anti-hatred and pro-compassion platform with a foreign policy based on the need for "visual peace." He did not get the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
In 2008, Weezer’s self-titled disc (aka 'The Red Album') was released earlier than originally planned because several tracks were leaked online. The video for the album's first single "Pork and Beans" quickly became the most-watched video on the internet the weekend following its release. The standard album was released on transparent red vinyl upon its initial release in the US, though it is now out of print.
Also in 2008, Radiohead's entire back catalog was available via iTunes to coincide with the release of "Radiohead: The Best Of " compilation.
In 2009, blues singer Koko Taylor died after complications from surgery for gastrointestinal bleeding at age 80.
In 2010, hundreds of fans walked out of Whitney Houston's concert in Denmark after her voice continually faltered. Music critic Thomas Soie Hansen, of the Berlingske Tidende newspaper, wrote: "She looked and sounded like a person who doesn't have many years left to live. At the end of the show she looked like she was ready to explode."
In 2011, singer/songwriter/musician/arranger (for Linda Ronstadt in the 1970s) Andrew Gold died after a heart attack at the age of 59.
In 2011, R&B singer Benny Spellman, who provided the bass voice on Ernie K-Doe's hit "Mother-in-Law," died of respiratory failure at 79.
