In 1953, singer/violinist Gisèle MacKenzie joined the cast of NBC-TV's "Your Hit Parade."
In 1955, on NBC-TV, Eva Marie Saint, Frank Sinatra, and Paul Newman starred in the "Producer's Showcase" presentation of "Our Town," during which Sinatra introduced the song "Love And Marriage."
In 1955, Pat Boone has his first US #1 hit with a cover version of Fats Domino's "Ain't It A Shame," re-named "Ain't That A Shame." Boone would continue recording cleaned-up versions of R&B hits and would enjoy a string of five US chart toppers over the next two years.
In 1957, in Raleigh, Alan Freed's "The Biggest Show Of Stars For 1957" concert tour played Memorial Auditorium. Performers included Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Chuck Berry, Paul Anka, Frankie Lymon, Clyde McPhatter, the Everly Brothers, LaVern Baker, the Drifters, Eddie Cochran, the Bobettes, Buddy Knox, Johnnie & Joe, the Spaniels, and Jimmy Bowen.
In 1957, at CBS 30th Street Studio in New York City, Tony Bennett recorded "Ca, C'est L'amour."
In 1957, Henry Webb, who would later become Cliff Richard, joined the Dick Teague Skiffle Group.
In 1958, US Army Pvt. Elvis Presley departed Fort Hood, Texas on a troop train bound for the Brooklyn Army Terminal in New York. It was from there that he set sail for Germany.
In 1960, Brenda Lee released the single "I Want To Be Wanted."
In 1960, former chicken plucker Chubby Checker went to #1 on the US singles chart with "The Twist." The same record would make a return to number one in January, 1962, becoming the first single in history to accomplish that feat.
Also in 1960, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters became the first group to have three songs in the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time ("Finger Poppin' Time," "Let's Go Let's Go Let's Go," "The Twist").
In 1963, the Who appeared at the Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, England.
In 1963, "The Jimmy Dean Show," his 60-minute primetime TV variety series, began a three-season run on ABC.
In 1964, "A Summer Song" by the British duo of Chad and Jeremy enters the Billboard chart, on its way to #7. Although they would place a total of seven hits in the US Top 40, this will be their only Top 10 entry. In 1966, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass performed for Princess Grace at her palace in Monaco.
In 1968, singer/songwriter/network radio show host/ABC-TV host /Country Music Hall of Famer Red Foley died of respiratory failure at the age of 58.
On this day in 1968, "Harper Valley PTA" by Jeannie C. Riley was the #1 song.
In 1968, "Funny Girl," starring Barbra Striesand, Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis, and Walter Pidgeon, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.
In 1968, Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild" was certified Gold.
In 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival scored their only UK #1 single with "Bad Moon Rising" a US #2 hit.
In 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival started a four-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Green River.' The LP features two of the band's best-known songs, "Bad Moon Rising" and the title track. In 2003, the album was ranked #95 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.In 1971, the Jackson 5's Goin' Back To Indiana TV special aired on ABC-TV. With guests Bill Cosby, Tommy Smothers, Bobby Darin and Diana Ross, the show also produced a 'live' soundtrack album that featured the hit single "I Want You Back."
In 1974, Max Weinberg made his debut as the drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Weinberg had answered a Springsteen Village Voice newspaper ad that famously requested "no junior Ginger Bakers." Baker was known for his lengthy drum solos.
In 1975, Eric Clapton got a gold record for "I Shot The Sheriff."
In 1979, the No Nukes concert was held at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Performers included Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Poco, Tom Petty, Carly Simon, James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen.In 1979, in Los Angeles, Frank Sinatra recorded "Theme From New York, New York." The song did not become a popular hit until it was picked up in concert by Frank Sinatra during his performances at Radio City Music Hall in October 1978, and it became one of his signature songs. The single peaked at #32 in June 1980, becoming his final Top Forty charting hit. "Start spreadin' the news, I'm leaving today... I want to be a part of it: New York, New York.!!"
In 1981, on the strength of the single "Start Me Up", the Rolling Stones album 'Tattoo You' started a nine week run at #1 on the Billboard album chart. Primarily composed of outtakes from previous recording sessions, some dating back a decade, it is the last Rolling Stones album to reach the top position of the US charts.
In 1985, a US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation convenes to discuss the "contents of music and the lyrics of records" following pressure from the Parents Music Resource Center. Despite passionate pleas from John Denver, Frank Zappa and many others, the recording industry will eventually agree to implement parent advisory stickers on certain records.
In 1987, Farm Aid III was held in Lincoln, NB with Alex Harvey, Emmylou Harris, Steppenwolf, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, John Denver, Lou Reed, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Bandaloo Doctors, Joe Walsh, Willie Nelson, The Unforgiven and Dr. Starr.
In 1991, the benefit concert, "Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-Huh!" was held in Pasadena, California, featuring Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Michael Bolton, Randy Travis, Michael McDonald and James Ingram performing in a series of duets with Charles.
In 1997, VH1 aired "Storytellers" live for the first time. The show was a 90 minute special featuring Elton John from the House of Blues in New Orleans, LA.
In 1999, Ed Cobb of the Four Preps died of leukemia at the age of 61. The group placed seven songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1958 and 1961, including "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)", "Down By The Station" and "Big Man".
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In 2004, the Guinness World Records released figures that showed that Status Quo have had more hit singles on the UK chart than any other band history. The group made the chart 61 times, dating from "Pictures of Matchstick Men" in 1968 to "You'll Come Around" in 2004. Queen was second with 52 hits, while The Rolling Stones and UB40 had 51 hits each.
In 2004, singer Skeeter Davis died of breast cancer at 72.
In 2006, Danny Flores, who played saxophone on the Champs' 1958, number one hit, "Tequila" passed away at the age of 77.
In 2008, session drummer/Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Earl Palmer died at the age of 83.
In 2009, pianist Arthur Ferrante of the piano duo Ferrante & Teicher died at age 88.
In 2010, John Lennon's son Julian told the press that he has ended his long-running feud with his half-brother Sean and his step-mother Yoko Ono, which started after the former Beatle was murdered in December, 1980. The trio battled in court for a share of the singer's estate, but Julian now says "Things are good between us. Whenever I'm in New York, we all get together."
