In 1860, what is believed to be the world's oldest recording was made by French inventor Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville when he recorded a young lady, believed by historians to be his daughter, singing "Au Clair de la Lune". The song was captured on a "phonautograph", a device that engraved sound waves onto a sheet of paper blackened by the smoke of an oil lamp. The event took place 17 years before Thomas Edison invented his phonograph.
In 1956, Nat King Cole was beaten during a concert in Birmingham, AL by racial segregationists.
In 1958, at Sun Studio in Memphis, Johnny Cash recorded "Guess Things Happen That Way."
In 1964, Capitol and Vee Jay Records settle their feud out of court over the rights to recordings by the Beatles. Capitol contended in the suit that Vee Jay's rights to the Beatles had been cancelled on August 8th 1963, for non-payment of royalties. Vee Jay was forced to stop selling "From Me To You," "Please Please Me," "Love Me Do" and other early Beatle releases.
In 1965, the Rolling Stones made their first live appearance on British TV's Ready Steady Go!
In 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the Beach Boys as permanent replacement for Brian Wilson.
In 1966, Jeff Beck collapsed onstage from exhaustion at a Yardbirds concert in Marseilles, France.
On this day in 1966, "(You’re My) Soul And Inspiration" by the Righteous Brothers was the #1 song.
In 1967, the Doors played in front of 3,000 people, their first large audience, when they shared the bill with Jefferson Airplane for a show at the Cheetah Club, located at the Santa Monica Pier in Venice, California.
Also in 1969, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer performed live for the first time in London.
In 1970, at the Fillmore East in New York City, Pink Floyd began their second North American tour.
In 1971, Ringo Starr released the George Harrison-produced single "It Don't Come Easy" b/w "Early 1970" in the UK. The version included Harrison on guitar, Klaus Voorman on bass guitar, Stephen Stills on piano, Ron Cattermole on saxophone and trumpet, Badfinger members Pete Ham and Tom Evans on background vocals, and Starr on drums and lead vocals. The B-side of the single, "Early 1970", featured Starr on acoustic guitar, piano, drums, and vocals, with Harrison playing guitar, bass, and backing vocals. The lyrics refer to the lives of the Beatles around the time of their breakup (hence the title). Both tracks were produced by Harrison and published by Startling Music.
In 1973, Queen, who had just signed their first recording contract, played their first live show in a showcase for their label at London's Marquee Club.
In 1973, Paul McCartney & Wings released the single "My Love" in North America.
In 1974, Terry Jacks was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Seasons In The Sun", an English-language adaptation of the song "Le Moribond" by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel. Earlier recordings had been released by The Kingston Trio and The Fortunes.
In 1974, Bruce Springsteen met rock critic Jon Landau, who later managed the singer and successfully promoted him as "rock 'n' roll's future."
Also in 1974, in Las Vegas, the Jackson 5 played the first of 15 shows at the MGM Grand Hotel.
In 1976, folk hero Phil Ochs hanged himself at his sister's house in Queens, New York. He was 35.
In 1977, ABBA earned their only #1 hit in the United States when "Dancing Queen" went to the top. The song also led the charts in 13 other countries.
In 1984, 'Reckoning' by R.E.M. was released in the UK. The album quickly reached the top of the college radio airplay charts, whose audience had highly anticipated the album. Produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, the album was recorded at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina over 16 days in December 1983 and January 1984.
In 1988, Brook Benton, most often remembered for his 1970 #4 hit, "A Rainy Night In Georgia", died of complications from spinal meningitis at the age of 57. Along with his own hits, Benton also wrote "A Lover's Question" by Clyde McPhatter and "The Stroll" by The Diamonds.
Also in 1988, Dave Prater of Sam and Dave was killed in a car accident near Sycamore, Georgia while driving to his mother's house. He was 50 years old. The original duo had split on New Year's Eve, 1981 and Prater continued to tour as The New Sam And Dave Revue with Sam Daniels.
In 1989, the Rolling Stones' 52-year-old bassist, Bill Wyman, revealed his plans to marry 19-year-old Mandy Smith. The two had been dating since she was 13 with the consent of her mother. They divorced in 1991.
In 1997, songwriter Laura Nyro died at her home in Danbury, Connecticut of ovarian cancer at the age of 49. Nyro wrote numerous hit songs including "Eli's Coming" for Three Dog Night, "And When I Die" for Blood, Sweat And Tears, "Stoney End" by Barbra Streisand, along with "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Wedding Bell Blues" for the Fifth Dimension.
Also in 1997, Mae Boren Axton, who co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit "Heartbreak Hotel", was found dead at her home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. She was 82. Axton's songs were also recorded by such Country stars as Patsy Cline, Faron Young and Hank Snow. She was the mother of singer / songwriter Hoyt Axton who wrote Three Dog Night's "Joy To The World".
In 1998, a Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded Michael Jackson $2.7 million in damages in a defamation-of-character suit against Victor Gutierrez of the TV show Hard Copy.
In 2003, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, ZZ Top, Leon Russell, and Ray Price performed at the 70th birthday party for Willie Nelson at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
In 2004, band singer Harry Babbitt, longtime vocalist with Kay Kyser's Orchestra, died at age 90.
In 2007, the iTunes Music Store reached 2.5 billion songs sold.
In 2008, Elton John performed in concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall to raise funds for Hillary Clinton's US Presidential campaign. With ticket prices ranging from $125 to $2,300, the effort took in over $2.5 million.
In 2009, Randy Cain, a founding member of the Philadelphia Soul group, The Delfonics, who reached the Billboard Top 40 six times, including "La-La Means I Love You" (#4 in 1968) and "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time" (#10 in 1970), died at the age of 63.
In 2011, record producer Randy Wood, the founder of Dot Records, died of complications from injuries suffered in a fall down a flight of stairs in his house at the age of 94.
birthdays today include (among many others): Phillip Wright (Paper Lace) (67), Mark Kelly (Marillion) (52), Gerald Way (My Chemical Romance) (36) and Albert Hammond, Jr. (Strokes) (33)