In 1951, at CBS 30th Street Studio in New York City, Tony Bennett recorded "Blue Velvet."
In 1954, the first Newport Jazz Festival was held at the Newport Casino, in Newport, RI.
In 1958, before switching to the Columbia label and recording in Nashville, Johnny Cash completed his commitment to Sun Records with one last session at Sun Studio in Memphis.
In 1961, Tamla Records released the first version of the Supremes' second single, "Buttered Popcorn," co-written and produced by Berry Gordy, Jr., and featuring Florence Ballard on lead vocal. A second version of the song was issued the following month when the first one was withdrawn after being judged to be "too raw."
In 1961, Jack Scott performed on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1961, Billboard publishes its first Adult Contemporary chart.
In 1962, Elvis Presley released the single "She's Not You."
In 1962, Mary Wells released the single "You Beat Me To The Punch."
In 1962, Brian Hyland appeared on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1963, Freddy Cannon was the guest performer on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1964, in Los Angeles, Frank Sinatra recorded "Softly, As I Leave You."
In 1965, April Stevens & Nino Tempo and Duane Eddy performed on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1965, James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" entered the pop and R&B charts. It would hit #8 on the pop and #1 on the R&B charts.
In 1967, after only a handful of dates as the opening act for the Monkees, Jimi Hendrix flipped off the audience – that wouldn't stop screaming for Davy Jones – at New York's Forest Hills Stadium, and left the tour.
On July 17, 1967, the Beatles single “All You Need Is Love” / “Baby You’re A Rich Man” (originally called ‘One Of The Beautiful People’) was released in the US. It became the band's 14th US #1 (#1 in the UK as well). It was also included on the American LP version of 'Magical Mystery Tour' in November as well as in the film, and on the LP 'Yellow Submarine,' released in 1969. In 1967, jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane died from liver cancer at Huntington Hospital in Long Island, New York (age 40).
In 1968, the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" film premiered in London. The original story was written by Lee Minoff, based on the song by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and the screenplay penned by four collaborators including Erich Segal. The film received a widely positive reception from critics and audiences alike. It is also credited with bringing more interest in animation as a serious art form.
On this day in 1968, "Grazing In The Grass" by Hugh Masekela was the #1 song.
In 1969, Merle Haggard recorded the studio version of "Okie From Muskogee." Musicians on the session included James Burton and Jerry Reed on guitar and Ronnie Tutt on drums.
In 1970, in Washington, DC, the Guess Who played at the White House for U.S. President Richard Nixon and Britain's Prince Charles. First Lady Pat Nixon requested that the band not play their hit "American Woman."
In 1972, in Montréal, a bomb exploded under one of the Rolling Stones' equipment trucks and blew out the cones of 30 speakers inside but caused no injuries. The guilty party was never found, although the bombing was widely believed to have been the work of French separatists. The Stones' show in Montréal went on as scheduled, but not without further incident. A small riot broke out when about 3,000 fans discovered that the concert tickets they were holding were fakes.
In 1975, Bob Marley and the Wailers played the first of two nights at The Lyceum, London, and both nights were recorded for the November released 'live' album, featuring the single “No Woman No Cry.”
In 1976, Maxine Nightingale guested on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1978, Simple Minds played live for the first time in Glasgow, Scotland.
In 1985, country music singer Wynn Stewart died following a heart attack at the age of 51.
In 1987, with the future of his band uncertain, the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards signed a three-album deal as a solo artist with Virgin Records.
In 1987, the Ozzy Osbourne Band started a 16-week tour of U.S. prisons.
In 1991, the first Lollapalooza Tour was launched Phoenix. The Alt-Rock trek, conceived by Perry Farrell, frontman for Jane’s Addiction, features Farrell’s band, Living Colour, Nine Inch Nails and Siouxsie & The Banshees.
In 1992, in Washington, DC, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and Faith No More opened a tour at RFK Stadium.
In 1993, Guns N' Roses played the last date on their Use Your Illusion tour and the final show with the original members.
In 1994, in Pontiac, Michigan, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley made a surprise appearance at a Kiss convention. But while browsing the stalls, they discovered Kiss costumes stolen from them more than a decade ago.
In 1996, the Smashing Pumpkins fired Jimmy Chamberlin less than a week after Chamberlin was arrested on a drug charge and Jonathan Melvoin died of a heroin overdose.
In 1996, Chas Chandler died (age 57) at Newcastle General Hospital, England, where he was undergoing tests related to an aortic aneurysm. He had been the bass player with The Animals and manager of Slade, Nick Drake and Jimi Hendrix.
In 1997, in London, Michael Jackson performed at Wembley Stadium.
In 2005, singer-songwriter James Blunt tops the UK singles and album chart with "You're Beautiful."
In 2009, in New York, Paul McCartney performed the first of three sold-out shows and became the first music act to appear at the new Citi Park, the sports and entertainment facility that replaced Shea Stadium.
In 2009, singer Gordon Waller of the Peter & Gordon duo died of cardiac arrest at 64.
In 2011, jazz saxophonist Gil Bernal, a session musician on several late 1950s/early 1960s record hits, died of congestive heart failure at age 80.
