In 1938, in New York, Artie Shaw & His Orchestra recorded Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine." It was the first of six tunes they did at their initial recording session after signing with RCA Victor. In the fall, the record climbed to the top of the charts and stayed there for six weeks.
In 1958, Duane Eddy appeared on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1961, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs performed on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1962, Chubby Checker was the guest host on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1963, Roy Orbison was the guest host on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1964, the Zombies released the single "She's Not There." It reached #12 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1964, and reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US at the beginning of December 1964. In Canada, it reached #2. Rolling Stone magazine ranked "She's Not There" #297 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
In 1964, a riot broke out during a The Rolling Stones' gig at The Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, Lancashire. Keith Richards noticed a man with his hands on the stage exhorting the crowd to spit, and warned him, but the spitting continued. Richards is then reported to have stood on his hands and kicked him in the face, whereupon some of the 7000 fans in attendance started fighting, causing over £4,000 in damage. Blackpool City Council later voted to ban The Stones from playing in the city. 44 years later, the 2008 council voted to lift the ban, but a spokesman for the group said they had no plans to return.
In 1965, Jewel Akens and P.J. Proby performed on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1965, the trio of Dino, Desi and Billy achieve their first US chart entry with "I'm A Fool," which will rise to #17. Dino, the son of Dean Martin, Desi, the son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, along with Billy Hinsche would also crack the Top 40 with "Not The Lovin' Kind" later in the year.
In 1967, the Beatles met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, whose lecture on Transcendental Meditation they had gone to hear at the Hilton Hotel in London. The Maharishi invited them to travel with him to Bangor in North Wales to attend more lectures, an invitation they accepted.
In 1967, in Hollywood, Frank Sinatra recorded "This Town."
In 1967, Diana Ross And The Supremes (their new billing) released the single "Reflections."
In 1968, James Drake, who billed himself as Nervous Norvus for his 1956, #8 US hit "Transfusion", a novelty tune about bloody accidents, died of liver failure at the age of 56.
In 1968, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles added overdubs to "Sexy Sadie." The track was completed on August 21.
In 1968, in New York, Frank Sinatra recorded "Cycles."
In 1969, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles began recording "Sun King," which they completed the following day, and "Mean Mr. Mustard" which they finished on July 29.
In 1969, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, Paul McCartney recorded a demo of his composition "Come and Get It." He gave the song to the Iveys (soon re-named Badfinger), and it was later used as the theme for the movie "The Magic Christian."
In 1971, a cover version of "Indian Reservation," a number three hit in the UK by Don Fardon, went to #1 in the US for The Raiders. The song was actually recorded by Mark Lindsay alone, but he chose to put the group's name on the label as a sign of friendship for his old buddy, Paul Revere. The RIAA gold certification followed on June 30, 1971, for selling over a million copies. It was later certified platinum for selling an additional million copies.
In 1971, Mark Lindsay guested on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1972, 23-year-old Bobby Ramirez, drummer with Edger Winter's White Trash, was killed in a bar fight in Chicago after some redneck made a comment about the length of his hair. He died of head injuries after being kicked with steel-tipped shoes.
In 1972, after 21 years with the Columbia label, Marty Robbins signed with MCA Records.
In 1976, two years after it peaked at #60 in the US, Hall And Oates' "She's Gone" was re-issued by Atlantic Records. This highly edited, remixed version would climb to #7.
In 1980, Larry Graham, the former bass guitarist of Sly And The Family Stone, began his first solo tour by opening for the Isley Brothers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Graham's "One in a Million You" was on its way up the charts at the time and would peak at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1982, a Chicago quintet called Survivor started a six week run at #1 on the Billboard singles chart with "Eye Of The Tiger." The song also topped the UK chart. Over the next four years, the band would place six more songs on the Billboard Top 40 and become an icon of '80s rock.In 1982, John Cougar (Mellencamp) topped the Cashbox Best Sellers chart with "Hurts So Good." Two weeks later the record would climb to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stay in the Top 10 for 16 weeks, longer than any other song in the 1980s.
In 1982, Cher appeared on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1990, Emmylou Harris released the album "Duets."
In 1990, a wrongful death trial against Judas Priest opened in Reno, NV. The basis of the charge was that their album Stained Class had subliminal messages that caused two teens to commit suicide.
In 1995, at Carnegie Hall in New York City, a three-night career retrospective began, honoring Frank Sinatra on his 80th birthday. An obviously ailing Sinatra attended the tribute but did not perform. Among the performers were Vic Damone, Burton Lane, Joe Williams, Betty Comden and Adolf Green, Maureen McGovern, Margaret Whiting, Rosemary Clooney, and Linda Ronstadt. The Empire State Building was lit with blue lights in honor of "Ol' Blue Eyes."In 1998, in South Africa, the "Gift To The Nation" concert began in celebration of President Nelson Mandela's 80th birthday. Performers included Stevie Wonder, LL Cool J, Najee, Chaka Khan, and James Ingram.
In 1998, Tanya Tucker filed a $300,000 lawsuit against Capitol Records alleging that the label willfully neglected her latest album and paid too much attention to another artist. The suit did not name the other artist.
In 1999, actor Will Smith tops the Billboard Hot 100 with "Wild Wild West," on which he simply rapped over Stevie Wonder's "I Wish." Despite its chart success, the song won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song of 1999 and Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio later ranked it at #27 on his list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever.
In 2000, singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson began a two-year stint as an evening radio host on KCMG in Los Angeles. "Intimate With Smokey Robinson," aired from 8-10 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
In 2001, 'N Sync released their third and final studio album, 'Celebrity.'
In 2007, in Orlando, Beyoncé tripped down twelve stairs while performing. She was not seriously hurt.
In 2008, rapper 50 Cent sued the Taco Bell fast food restaurant chain for using his name and likeness without his permission in an advertising campaign.
In 2011, Dan Peek, a founding member of the soft rock trio America died in his sleep at the age of 60. The group notched eight Top 40 hits in the US charts between 1971 and 1975, including "Sister Golden Hair," "Ventura Highway," "Tin Man," "Daisy Jane" and Peek's own composition "Lonely People."
In 1998, Tanya Tucker filed a $300,000 lawsuit against Capitol Records alleging that the label willfully neglected her latest album and paid too much attention to another artist. The suit did not name the other artist.
In 1999, actor Will Smith tops the Billboard Hot 100 with "Wild Wild West," on which he simply rapped over Stevie Wonder's "I Wish." Despite its chart success, the song won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song of 1999 and Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio later ranked it at #27 on his list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever.
In 2000, singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson began a two-year stint as an evening radio host on KCMG in Los Angeles. "Intimate With Smokey Robinson," aired from 8-10 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
In 2001, 'N Sync released their third and final studio album, 'Celebrity.'
In 2007, in Orlando, Beyoncé tripped down twelve stairs while performing. She was not seriously hurt.
In 2008, rapper 50 Cent sued the Taco Bell fast food restaurant chain for using his name and likeness without his permission in an advertising campaign.
In 2011, Dan Peek, a founding member of the soft rock trio America died in his sleep at the age of 60. The group notched eight Top 40 hits in the US charts between 1971 and 1975, including "Sister Golden Hair," "Ventura Highway," "Tin Man," "Daisy Jane" and Peek's own composition "Lonely People."
In 2012, Larry Hoppen, who co-founded the 1970s pop/rock group Orleans and sang lead on their hits "Still the One," "Dance With Me" and "Love Takes Time," died of undisclosed causes at the age of 61.
birthdays today include (among others): Jim Armstrong (Them) (69), Alan Whitehead (Marmalade) (67), Larry Gott (James) (56), Robbie Grey (Modern English) (56), Jennifer Lopez (44) and Ladybug Mecca (born Mary Ann Vieira) (Digable Planets) (40)