In 1877, at a gathering of friends and colleagues, Thomas Edison unveiled his new "talking machine," later called the phonograph.
In 1944, Harry James & His Orchestra recorded "I'm Beginning To See The Light," co-written by Harry James and Duke Ellington, with vocal by Kitty Kallen.
In 1955, in Memphis, Sun Records owner and producer Sam Phillips sold Elvis Presley's contract to RCA for an unheard-of $35,000, at that time the largest amount ever paid to sign a recording artist and topping the offer of $25,000 for Presley's contract made by Atlantic Records. Elvis received $13,500 of the total. Phillips invested his proceeds from the deal in a two-year-old Memphis-based hotel chain called Holiday Inn.
In 1957, the Crickets were the guest performers on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1959, at Audio Recorders of Arizona in Phoenix, Duane Eddy recorded "Bonnie Came Back."
In 1960, "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs topped the Billboard chart. At just one minute, 37 seconds long, it is the shortest number one record in rock and roll history. The song would reach #14 in the UK in 1961.
In 1960, George Harrison, then 17, was deported from Hamburg, Germany – where the Beatles had been playing at the Kaiserkeller club – and sent back to England because he was performing under the age of 18, in violation of German law. Some music historians blame the club owner, Bruno Koschmider, who may have told authorities about George's age as an act of retaliation. The Beatles had broken his exclusive contract by playing in other clubs, then returned to their rooms in one of his other venues and set it on fire to protest being canned.
In 1962, Elvis Presley's 11th feature film, "Girls! Girls! Girls!," co-starring Stella Stevens, Jeremy Slate, Benson Fong, Laurel Goodwin, and Robert Strauss, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.
In 1964, Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is" entered the Hot 100, where it will peak at #6 during a 14 week stay. The song would become a hit all over again when James Taylor took it to #5 in 1975.
In 1965, Bill Black, who backed Elvis Presley on his early hits, died of a brain tumor at the age of 39. After leaving Elvis, he formed Bill Black's Combo and placed 8 hits in the US Top 40, including "White Silver Sands" in 1960. Presley received criticism for not attending Black's funeral, however he believed his presence would turn the funeral into a media circus. He decided instead to visit the family privately after the service to express his condolences.
In 1968, Diana Ross And The Supremes & The Temptations released "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," the lead single from the duets album, 'Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations.' Their version peaked for two weeks at #2 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and at #3 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1969.
In 1968, with his girlfriend Yoko Ono about to miscarry their first child, John Lennon asked for a tape recorder to be brought to the hospital so he could record the dying heartbeat. Yoko miscarried later that day and the unborn child was buried in a secret location. The recording appeared on the duo's album 'Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With The Lions' as "Baby's Heartbeat."
In 1969, in New York City, the Doors played the first of two nights at Madison Square Garden.
In 1970, two months after launching their TV series, the Partridge Family reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with "I Think I Love You." The only members of the cast who actually sang on the record were David Cassidy and his real-life step-mother, Shirley Jones.
On this day in 1971, "Theme from “Shaft”" by Isaac Hayes was the #1 song.
In 1973, comedian / songwriter, Allan Sherman, who is best remembered for 1963's "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh" died of respiratory ailments, a few days shy of his 49th birthday.
In 1974, Marty Balin was persuaded to reunite with Jefferson Airplane, now called Jefferson Starship, onstage at the Winterland ballroom in San Francisco, leading to his official re-involvement with the band on the album "Red Octopus."
On November 21, 1975, David Bowie released the single "Golden Years." It reached #10 and charted for 16 weeks. It achieved #8 in the UK.
In 1980, Don Henley of the Eagles was arrested after paramedics treated a nude sixteen year-old girl suffering from drug intoxication at his home in Los Angeles. Henley was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, cocaine and Quaaludes and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was fined $2,000 and given two years probation.
In 1981, Olivia Newton-John started the first of 10 weeks at the top of the US singles chart with "Physical." It was her fourth US #1 and went on to sell over 2 million copies. In the UK, the song reached #7.
Also in 1981, Foreigner's, "Waiting for a Girl Like You" entered the top 5 on the US singles chart, where it would sit for the next 10 weeks, unable to unseat "Physical" by Olivia Newton John and "I Can't Go For That" by Hall and Oates. The band would eventually score a #1 hit with "I Want to Know What Love Is" in 1985.
In 1987, Billy Idol had Billboard's top tune with a live version of Tommy James and The Shondells', "Mony Mony." Idol pushed another Tommy James' re-make, Tiffany's version of "I Think We're Alone Now", down to number four.
In 1988, Jimmy Page kicked off his first solo tour in Birmingham, England.
In 1991, Aerosmith guest-starred on Fox-TV's "The Simpsons."
In 1995, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day was arrested in Milwaukee, WI for dropping his pants during the group's show.
In 1995, legendary manager of Led Zeppelin Peter Grant died from a heart attack aged 60. Known as being one of the shrewdest and most ruthless managers in rock history, Grant secured 90% of concert gate money and intimidated record store owners who dealt in bootlegs. The former wrestler also worked as a film extra and bodyguard. During the early ‘60 Grant worked as a tour manager for Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and The Animals.
In 1995, at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen gave the first of 128 performances during his Ghost of Tom Joad Tour.
In 1995, Garth Brooks released his sixth studio album 'Fresh Horses.' The LP peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, and #1 on the Top Country Albums chart
In 1997, in Böblingen, Germany, rapper/actor Coolio and members of his band were arrested and charged with assaulting a female clerk in a clothing store and stealing clothing worth $2,000. He was sentenced to six months probation and ordered to pay a fine equivalent to approximately $21,000 US.
In 1999, R&B singer (Twine Time) Alvin Cash died from ulcer complications at age 60.
In 2000, Elton John released his live album 'Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits,' recorded at Madison Square Garden one month earlier.
In 2002, songwriter Buddy Kaye passed away at the age of 84. His 57 year songwriting career produced Barry Manilow's "The Old Songs", Pat Boone's "Speedy Gonzales", Perry Como's "You're Adorable" and the theme for the TV show I Dream of Jeannie.
In 2003, Teddy Randazzo, a rock icon from the 1950s who composed classic hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad", passed away at the age of 68.
In 2003, an acoustic guitar on which the late Beatle George Harrison learned to play, fetched $431,812 at a London auction. His father had purchased the Egmond guitar for Harrison for less than $6.
In 2007, the Red Hot Chili Peppers sued the Showtime network over the name of their series Californication.
In 2008, more than 40 years after Christians around the world were infuriated by John Lennon's saying that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus", the Vatican's official newspaper absolved John of his notorious remark, saying that "after so many years it sounds merely like the boasting of an English, working-class lad struggling to cope with unexpected success."
In 2010, ratings for ABC's telecast of The American Music Awards dropped 22% from the previous year, making it one of the lowest rated shows in the history of the program.
birthdays today include (among others): Dr. John (born Mac Rebennack, Jr.) (73), Andrew Love (Memphis Horns, Doobie Brothers) (71), Lonnie Jordan (War) (62), Randy Zehringer (McCoys) (64), Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes) (53), Björk (born Björk Guðmundsdóttir) (48), Alex James (Blur) (45), Francis MacDonald (Teenage Fanclub) (43) and Kelsi Osborn (SHeDAISY) (39)
