In 1957, after their five-night opening at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York, "The Biggest Show Of Stars For 1957," a road show that traveled to 78 cities in three months, played the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh. Performers included Fats Domino, the Crickets, Paul Anka, Frankie Lymon, Clyde McPhatter, the Everly Brothers, LaVern Baker, the Drifters, the Bobettes, Johnnie & Joe, the Spaniels, Jimmy Bowen, and Chuck Berry. Some artists on the tour were not allowed to play on several dates because of segregation laws forbidding blacks and whites from performing on the same stage.
In 1957, at Radio Recorders in West Hollywood, Elvis Presley recorded "My Wish Came True," "Don't," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "White Christmas" and "Silent Night."
In 1957, the Flexi-Disc was used for the first time by Nestles Chocolate as a promotional gimic.
On this day in 1957, "Diana" by Paul Anka was the #1 song.
In 1961, Bob Dylan debuted at the Gaslight Cafe in New York City.
In 1963, Jerry Lee Lewis left Sun Records for Smash Records.
In 1963, Priscilla Black signed a management contract with Beatles' manager Brian Epstein, who changed her stage name to Cilla Black from her real name, Cilla White, after a misprint in a favorable review of her singing in the music paper Mersey Beat.
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On September 6, 1965, at RCA Studios in Hollywood, the Rolling Stones began recording "Get Off Of My Cloud." They completed the track the following day. The song topped the charts in the US and the UK in the weeks following its release in November 1965. The song is noted for its drum intro by Charlie Watts and twin guitars by Brian Jones and Keith Richards. The lyrics are defiant and rebellious, which was common practice for the Rolling Stones around that time; they were beginning to cultivate their infamous "bad boy" image. The Stones have said that the song is written as a reaction to their sudden popularity after the success of "Satisfaction". The song deals with their aversion to people's expectations of them.In 1965, Brenda Lee released the single "Too Many Rivers."
In 1967, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles began recording "Blue Jay Way," a George Harrison composition. They added overdubs the next day and on October 6.
In 1968, working at Abbey Road studio’s in London, the Beatles recorded overdubs onto the new George Harrison song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Eric Clapton added the guitar solo and became the first outside musician to play on a Beatles recording. George Harrison later said that Clapton's presence had another effect on the band: "It made them all try a bit harder; they were all on their best behavior."
In 1969, Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" peaked at #7 on the Billboard singles chart. Departing from his usual high pitched, nasal style, Dylan's low-key vocal also pushed the song to #5 in the UK.
In 1969, David Bowie made his UK chart debut with "Space Oddity." The recording didn't chart in the US until it was re-released in 1973.
In 1970, Jimi Hendrix made his final live appearance when he appeared at the Isle of Fehmarn in Germany. The guitarist died on September 18, 1970.
In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared on the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. The songs they performed on the show were "Imagine," "Give Piece A Chance," and Yoko's "Now Or Never."
In 1974, T. Rex began a US tour.
In 1974, George Harrison launched his own record label, Dark Horse.
On September 6, 1975, Glen Campbell topped the Billboard Pop chart with "Rhinestone Cowboy," selling over 4 million copies in the process. The record gained three Grammy nominations and was the Country Music Association's Song of the Year for 1976. In the UK, it reached #4. Glen had cracked the US top ten twice before with "Wichita Lineman" in 1968 and "Galveston" in 1969.
In 1978, record producer Tom Wilson died. He worked with various US acts including Bob Dylan, (The Times They Are a-Changin', Another Side of Bob Dylan, and Bringing It All Back Home), Frank Zappa, (Freak Out!), Simon and Garfunkel (Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.) and The Velvet Underground (White Light/White Heat).
In 1980, "Upside Down" by Diana Ross goes to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 where it will stay for four weeks, becoming her biggest solo hit.
In 1982, Paul McCartney released the single "Tug Of War."
In 1984, country music singer/songwriter/Country Music Hall of Famer Ernest Tubb died of emphysema at 70.
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In 1985, Willie Nelson released the album "Half Nelson," a compilation of his duet performances with various other artists.In 1985, singer Johnny Desmond, who was a regular performer on "Don McNeill's Breakfast Club" on ABC Radio, died of cancer at the age of 65.
In 1986, the all girl group Bananarama went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Venus." The song had also been a #1 for Dutch group Shocking Blue in 1970.
In 1988, Elton John auctioned off over 2,000 pieces of memorabilia from his career.
In 1989, the Pittsburgh Steelers were banned from practicing on their own field, Three Rivers Stadium, because the Rolling Stones were rehearsing for their upcoming concert.
Also in 1989, Neil Young's "This Note's For You" was named Best Video of the Year at the sixth annual MTV Rock Video Awards. The video had been initially banned by the music video station because it mentioned corporate sponsors by name.
In 1990, Tom Fogerty, guitarist with Creedence Clearwater Revival, died at age 49, due to complications from AIDS acquired during a blood transfusion.
In 1993, a benefit for Walden Woods was held in Boston with Don Henley, Elton John, Jimmy Buffett, Sting and Aerosmith.
In 1994, English keyboard player Nicky Hopkins died at age 50, in Nashville, Tennessee, of complications from intestinal surgery. He was a highly respected session musician and worked with The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, John Lennon, George Harrison and the Jerry Garcia Band.
In 1995, Bruce Hornsby and Branford Marsalis performed the National Anthem at Baltimore's Camden Yards before Cal Ripken Jr. set baseball's new record for consecutive games played at 2,131. Previously, Lou Gehrig had held the record.
In 1997, while an estimated 2.5 billion people watched on television, Elton John sings a re-worked version of "Candle In The Wind" at the funeral of England's Princess Diana. After the song is re-recorded and released as a single, it would become the largest selling record in history.
In 1997, David Bowie starts a tour of North America in Vancouver, BC.
In 1999, found to be in violation of his parole, Scott Weiland of the Stone Temple Pilots was sentenced to a year in prison.
In 2001, Earth, Wind and Fire announced that Viagra would sponsor their forthcoming 30th anniversary American tour.
In 2003, the Dixie Chicks opened their European tour in Stockholm, Sweden.
In 2007, opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti died of pancreatic cancer at age 71.
In 2008, the band Great White, whose pyrotechnics sparked a fire that killed 100 people in 2003 at the Station nightclub in Rhode Island, agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and victims' relatives. Tour manager Daniel Biechele, who shot off the deadly pyrotechnic display, pled guilty in 2006 to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and was paroled in March after serving less than half of his four-year prison sentence.
In 2010, John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, was once again denied parole, nearly 30 years after gunning down the former Beatle outside New York City's Dakota apartment building. It was Chapman's sixth appearance before the board since becoming eligible for parole in 2000.
In 2010, Jane's Addiction announced that Duff McKagan was no longer a member of the band. He had only been with them for five months.
In 2011, bandleader/arranger/record producer Wardell Quezerque died of congestive heart failure at age 81.
celebrating birthdays today are (among others): David Allan Coe (74), Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) (70), Banner Thomas (Molly Hatchet) (59), Perry Bamonte (Cure) (53), Scott Travis (Judas Priest) (52), Mark Chestnutt (50), William DuVall (Alice in Chains) (46), and Delores O'Riordan (Cranberries) (42)
