In 1954, 19-year-old Elvis Presley quit his day job as a truck driver for the Crown Electric Company and signed a recording contract with Sun Records. He also inked a one year, personal management deal with Scotty Moore, who would receive 10% of all earnings from Presley's live appearances.
In 1957, Alan Freed's show The Big Beat debuts on ABC-TV with guests The Everly Brothers, Frankie Lymon, Buddy Knox and Connie Francis. The show was later canceled after an episode in which Frankie Lymon was seen dancing with a white girl, which reportedly offended the management of ABC's local affiliates in the southern states.
In 1960, pianist Floyd Cramer records his biggest hit, "Last Date", which will reach #2 in the US by next November, selling over a million copies.
In 1960, at Owen Bradley's Quonset Hut Studio in Nashville, Marty Robbins recorded "Don't Worry" and inadvertently introduced a new guitar sound that a few years later was electronically replicated and labeled fuzztone. As session musician Grady Martin played his six-string bass guitar solo, a pre-amplifier in the mixing board malfunctioned, distorting the notes. The producers liked the sound and decided to leave it on the track.
In 1960, appearing as a solo artist, Frankie Lymon lip-synced "Little Bitty Pretty One" on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1961, Pat Boone begins a 10-day tour of South Africa at the Ice Dome in Durban. When he returns to California, he will begin filming State Fair.
In 1964, the Beatles appeared at the Hippodrome Theatre in Brighton with The Fourmost and the Shubdubs, whose drummer, Jimmy Nicol, would later fill in for an ill Ringo Starr on The Beatles' world tour. On the way to the gig, George Harrison was involved in a minor crash in his brand new E-Type Jaguar. Pedestrians collected bits of broken glass as souvenirs.
In 1965, at Western Recorders in Hollywood, producer Brian Wilson used 13 Los Angeles studio musicians to create the rhythm track for the Beach Boys' version of "Sloop John B." The vocals were recorded over three sessions in late December 1965 and early January 1966. Brian Wilson (first and third verses) and Mike Love (second verse) sang lead. Al Jardine, Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson recorded the backing vocals.
In 1965, ABC-TV's "Where The Action Is" featured performances by Ian Whitcomb, Mel Carter, Steve Alaimo, and Linda Scott.
In 1966, ABC-TV's "Where The Action Is" welcomed guests Gene Pitney and the Standells.
In 1968, the Beatles were in the recording studio (Studio Two, EMI Studios, London). "Don't Pass Me By" is brought to near-completion. Overdubs include bass, piano, and violin (played by Jack Fallon). Fallon was also an agent, and he had booked the Beatles for a performance in Stroud on March 31, 1962. A second recording, begun at midnight, sees John Lennon overdub another lead guitar part onto "Revolution" (the faster version released on the flip side of the "Hey Jude" single). Paul McCartney adds another bass part to the song.
In 1969, billed as "The Ultimate Supergroup", Blind Faith begin their one and only US tour with a sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden.
In 1969, Jackie DeShannon and the Winstons performed on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1969, "The Temptations Show," a Motown TV special, aired in syndication. The group performed "Get Ready," "Cloud Nine," and "Runaway Child, Running Wild," among other hits.
In 1969, Elvis Presley was pictured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
In 1971, the New Seekers re-record a song they did as a commercial for Coca-Cola last year, re-naming it from "I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke" to "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing". The effort would reach #7 on the Billboard chart.
In 1973, in Hollywood, the Hues Corporation recorded "Rock The Boat."
In 1974, Bobby Womack hosted "The Midnight Special" on NBC-TV, with guests David Essex, Kool & the Gang, Chi Coltrane, and Tim Weisberg.
In 1975, Sparks and Gwen McCrae appeared on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1975, K.C. and The Sunshine Band make their US Pop chart debut with "Get Down Tonight". It's the first of four singles by the group to make it to Billboard's number one spot.
In 1976, in San Francisco, the Grateful Dead played the first of six nights at the Orpheum Theatre.
In 1979, singer-songwriter Minnie Riperton died of cancer. She was 31. The Stevie Wonder-produced song "Loving You" gave Minnie a #1 hit in the States in 1975. Previously, she had worked at Chess records, singing backup for various artists including Etta James, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters.
On July 12, 1979, Chicago disc jockey Steve Dahl held the infamous Disco Demolition in between games of a baseball doubleheader at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Dahl burned Disco records brought by fans who received discount admission. Some of those fans decided to start their own fires and a mini-riot ensued, forcing the White Sox to forfeit the second game.
In 1980, the Whispers performed on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1983, former Traffic member Chris Wood died of liver failure after a lengthy illness.
In 1986, the band Guiffria guested on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1988, Michael Jackson went to the U.K. for his first ever live shows in Britain. Over eight nights, he performed for 794,000 people.
On this day in 1989, "If You Don’t Know Me By Now" by Simply Red was the #1 song.
In 1992, Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses is arrested on charges stemming from a 1991 St. Louis show where he allegedly started a riot by diving into the crowd.
In 1992, a memorial to Buddy Holly was unveiled in Dallas, TX.
In 1993, on their first American tour, Radiohead performed at the Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood.
In 1993, Prince performed a show at his Paisley Park Studio to benefit a local community radio station.
In 1996, Jimmy Chamberlin of Smashing Pumpkins was charged with drug possession after he involvement in the overdose death of band member Jonathan Melvoin.
In 2000, Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) publicly denied any involvement with the terrorist group Hamas after Israel alleged he gave money to the organization and denied him entry into the country.
In 2001, named for an early 20th century daredevil, New Orleans' Moisant Airport was renamed Louis Armstrong International Airport in honor of the city's native son and jazz legend.
In 2003, Rob Halford announced he was rejoining Judas Priest after 13 years apart.
In 2003, saxophonist, composer and arranger Benny Carter died aged 95. He worked with Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and composed many TV theme's including Ironside and M-Squad.
In 2004, rockabilly singer/songwriter Ersel Hickey died after surgery to remove his bladder at the age of 70.
In 2005, Al Kooper, the legendary producer, musician and founder of Blood, Sweat And Tears, releases his first solo album in nearly thirty years.
In 2006, even after his death, Johnny Cash was still popular enough to top The Billboard 200. "American V: A Hundred Highways" earned the Man in Black his first #1 album since 1969's 'Johnny Cash at San Quentin.'
In 2008, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) honored Beatles producer George Martin as the most successful record producer of all time.
In 2008, singer Earl Nelson of the Bob & Earl duo and also the Hollywood Flames, died at the age of 79.
In 2012, Pollstar magazine announced that former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters had racked up $158.1 million in concert ticket sales worldwide so far this year with 'The Wall Live' show. Bruce Springsteen was a distant second with $79.9 million.
