In 1954, in Memphis, rising star Elvis Presley, with backup musicians Scotty Moore and Bill Black, performed on a makeshift stage built on a flatbed truck outside the Katz Drug Store at the grand opening of the Lamar-Airways Shopping Center. Elvis' high school buddy George Klein, emceed the event. Johnny Cash, recently discharged from the Air Force, just married and relocated to Memphis, was in the audience that night. In his autobiography he wrote, "Two or three hundred people, mostly teenage girls, had come out to see him. With just one single to his credit, he sang those two songs over and over. That's the first time I met him. Vivian and I went up to him after the show, and he invited us to his next date at the Eagle's Nest." Thirteen years before his #1 single "The Letter" as a member of the Memphis-based group the Box Tops, John Evans, then 7 years-old, was also in attendance and remembered them "dressed as real weird country musicians with Elvis wearing pink and gray." Referring to Black and Moore, Evans recalled, "They had a big string bass and the guy would twirl it around. There was only one amp and it was sitting on a chair with a little guy playing a big guitar."In 1955, the J.P. Seeburg Corporation introduced its Dual Music System Jukebox. It was the first ever equipped to handle a hundred singles and two song per side EPs.
In 1956, Elvis Presley made the first of three appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. But what's most notable about this performance was that Elvis was shot just from the waist up, so that his gyrating pelvis wouldn't corrupt the nation's youth. However, the second time he appeared that night, the camera widened out and the TV audience was able to see Elvis' now infamous gyrations as he sang "Ready Teddy" and ended with a portion of "Hound Dog." A record 54 million viewers – nearly 83 percent of America's TV sets! – were tuned in to the event. The next day, pre-orders for "Love Me Tender" began rolling in, forcing the release of the single to be moved up by weeks.
In 1956, the Johnny Burnette Trio appear on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour TV show. With Johnny on lead vocals and guitar, his brother Dorsey on stand-up bass and Paul Burlison on lead guitar, they won three weeks in a row, earning them a string of tour dates. It would take Johnny four more years to reach the US charts with "Dreamin" and "You're Sixteen."
In 1957, a 16 year old Canadian lad named Paul Anka had the number one song in America with "Diana". A story circulated that Paul had a crush on his younger brother and sister's babysitter who wanted nothing to do with him. He then supposedly wrote a poem for her and later set it to music. Anka himself later refuted the story. The record became an international hit that stayed at the top of the UK chart for nine weeks.
In 1957, the guest performers on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand" were the Diamonds.
In 1965, US newspaper the Hollywood Reporter ran the following advertisement in 1965: "Madness folk & roll musicians, singers wanted for acting roles in new TV show. Parts for 4 insane boys." The Monkees were born.
In 1966, John Lennon and Yoko Ono met in an art gallery and his life (or the Beatles) would never be the same.
In 1966, Tammy Wynette recorded what became her first single, Johnny Paycheck's composition, "Apartment No. 9."
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In 1967, Sam & Dave's soul classic, "Soul Man" was released. It was the number #1 song in the US according to Cashbox magazine Pop charts in November 1967. Sam & Dave won the Grammy Award in 1967 for "Best Performance - Rhythm & Blues Group" for "Soul Man" their first gold record. The song was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. The song helped popularize the term to describe the emerging music genre "Soul Music" that would be so popular in the late 1960s. It has been recognized as one of the best or most influential songs of 50 years by the Grammy Hall of Fame, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone, and R.I.A.A. Songs of the Century. In 1967, after reaching #34 earlier in the year with "The Oogum Boogum Song," Brenton Wood re-entered the Billboard chart with what would prove to be his only US Top Ten hit with "Gimme Little Sign." He would crack the Top 40 once more with "Baby You Got It" early the following year.
In 1967, the Doors performed at the Village Theater (later known as the Fillmore East) in New York City.
In 1967, the Seekers sang together for the last time in the 1960s when they filmed the BBC special "Farewell The Seekers."
In 1968, while working at Abbey Road studios, the Beatles recorded "Helter Skelter." John Lennon played bass and honked on a saxophone, roadie Mal Evans tried his best at playing trumpet. Paul McCartney recorded his lead vocal and George Harrison ran about the studio holding a flaming ashtray above his head. After the 18th take, Ringo Starr flung his drum sticks across the studio and screamed, "I got blisters on my fingers!" They decided to include Starr's shout on the stereo mix of the song.
In 1968, in Washington, DC, Buck Owens and the Buckaroos played at the White House for President Lyndon Johnson and his guests.
In 1970, in Phoenix, Elvis Presley performed in concert at Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
In 1971, in Hampton, Virginia, Led Zeppelin performed at the Hampton Roads Coliseum.
In 1972, Jim Croce started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'You Don't Mess Around With Jim.'
In 1973, Todd Rundgren recorded a thousand of his fans singing in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park for the song "Sons of 1984." The session ends in disarray after police arrest one crowd member for allegedly dealing cannabis. In the ensuing fight, 11 arrests are made. If you dust off your copy of 1974's Todd, the San Francisco choir can be heard in the left channel of your stereo. In the right are the voices of 5,000 fans Rundgren previously recorded in New York.
In 1975, Wings begins a 13 month world tour where they will play in front of over two million people. Many of the US concert dates were recorded and those performances were later released in the double album, 'Wings Over America.'
In 1975, Linda Ronstadt released her sixth solo album, 'Prisoner In Disguise.'
In 1977, David Bowie appeared on Marc Bolan's ITV show, 'Marc', singing a duet with Bolan. After the show they recorded demo's together which were never finished after Bolan was killed in a car crash one week later.
In 1978, the Rolling Stones' "Beast Of Burden" was released in the US where it will reach #8. In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song #435 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 1978, the Who's final album with Keith Moon, 'Who Are You' entered the LP charts.
In 1978, U2 opened for The Stranglers at the Top Hat Ballroom outside of Dublin. The Stranglers took up two dressing rooms, leaving U2 to dress behind their amps.
In 1979, composer/arranger/conductor/record producer Norrie Paramor died of cancer at age 65.
In 1981, Amnesty International's "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball" took place. Sting, Phil Collins, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Donovan, and Bob Geldof were among the performers with Sting playing his first solo set as did Phil Collins.
In 1982, Al Green and Patti LaBelle made their Broadway debut in Vinnete Carroll's, "Your Arm's Too Short to Box with God." It opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York City. Both Green and LaBelle got rave reviews from both critics and the audiences and the intial performances of 30 were expanded to 80.
On this day in 1986, "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin was the #1 song.
In 1989, New Kids On The Block scored their second US #1 single with "Hangin' Tough," (also #1 in the UK in 1990) Just proves that pop music sucked at the time.
In 1992, Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" was named Best Male Video at the ninth annual MTV Video Music Awards.
In 1993, singer/TV personality Helen O'Connell died after a battle with Hepatitis C at the age of 73.
In 1996, bluegrass singer/fiddler/mandolin player/composer/bandleader Bill Monroe died after a stroke at 84.
In 1998, an episode of the American TV show Judge Judy airs in which Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten (nee Lydon) appears as the defendant in a case involving drummer Robbie Williams, who sues Rotten for wrongful termination from a recent tour. Williams had claimed that the Sex Pistols owed him $7,000. Rotten said Williams quit and was owed nothing. Judge Judy apparently found Rotten was most credible and ruled in his favor.
In 1998, Depeche Mode started their first tour in five years in Helsinki.
In 1999, D'Arcy Wretzky left the Smashing Pumpkins.
In 2001, Aaliyah went to #1 on the US album chart with her self-titled album.
Also in 2003, Velvet Revolver - the "super-group" made of ex-members of Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland - signed a recording deal with RCA.
In 2003, plans were announced for a Simon & Garfunkel reunion tour, their first in 20 years and first onstage reunion of any kind in a decade.
In 2003, John Mayer released his second studio album, 'Heavier Things.'
In 2004, US guitar maker Ernie Ball died after a long illness. In the late 50’s Ball opened the first music store in the USA in Tarzana, California to sell guitars exclusively. He developed the guitar strings called ‘Slinkys’ specifically designed for rock and roll electric guitar.
In 2005, the City of Liverpool, England, despite numerous fan protests, declared its intention to demolish Ringo Starr's birthplace. The house was one of 460 properties to be demolished for a regeneration project. The council said the dwelling had no real significance because Ringo spent only three months there.
In 2005, at Monmouth University in New Jersey, an international conference was held devoted to the life, work, and influence of Bruce Springsteen. There were various live acts, as well as keynote addresses by rock critics and figures from the music industry. More than 150 scholarly papers were presented, including "Springsteen and American Folklore," "Springsteen and Dylan's American Dreamscapes," "Springsteen's Musical Legacy," "Born to Run at 30-Years-Old," "Springsteen and New Jersey" and "The Boss and the Bible."
In 2005, U2 played the first of six nights at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
In 2005, "Shelter From the Storm: A Concert For the Gulf Coast" was a one-hour commercial-free broadcast on six American TV networks and beamed to 100 countries. The special raised money for relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Performers included Mariah Carey, U2 with Mary J. Blige, Paul Simon, the Dixie Chicks, Rod Stewart, Neil Young, Alicia Keys, Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood, Sheryl Crow, the Foo Fighters, Kanye West, Dr. John, and Randy Newman. Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, Ellen DeGeneres, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, Don Cheadle, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz, Chris Rock, Ray Romano, and Sela Ward spoke during the show. Several dozen celebrities answered phones to take pledges.
In 2007, founding Outlaws guitarist-singer Hughie Thomasson died after apparently suffering a heart attack at his home in Brooksville, FL. Thomasson, 55 years old, was also a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd from '96 to '05. He left for another stint with the Outlaws. "We have lost another one of our brothers to the Rock & Roll heaven," says Lynyrd Skynyrd in a press release. "We had many a good time writing and playing with Hughie and spent many miles on the road together."
In 2008, Toronto police charged 47-year-old Daniel Sullivan with assault after an attack on Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher. Sullivan ran on stage and pushed him over during the band's set at the V Festival. Gallagher was admitted to hospital. A statement from the band said he "fell heavily onto his monitor speakers."
In 2008, the iTunes Music Store reached 100 million applications downloaded.
In 2010, singer Al Jarreau laughed off reports of his death after he suffered a heart arrhythmia on July 26. "There's a tabloid thing that happens for people who are...big celebrities, and I got some of that so I figured, 'Yeah, maybe I have arrived."
In 2012, in Paris, singer George Michael became the first pop star to perform at Opera Garnier, a venue known as a stage for classical music and opera, as he gave a benefit concert for a French AIDS charity.
