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In 1954, in New York City, Nat "King" Cole played the first of six nights at Harlem's Apollo Theatre.
In 1955, at the Capitol Recording Studio in New York City, Ray Charles recorded "Drown In My Own Tears" and "Hallelujah I Love Her So."
In 1958, Coed Records released "16 Candles" by the Crests. The classic doo wop single would go on to reach number 2 on Billboard's Pop chart and number 4 on the R&B chart, and earned the New York quintet a Gold record. The original recording by the Crests features in the film American Graffiti (1973).
In 1959, in a Billboard magazine article, disc jockey Alan Freed said his career had gone "down the drain" due to the recent "payola" scandal. In their story, Billboard claimed the scandal "will substantially damage the careers of at least twenty-five DJs."
In 1963, 'With the Beatles,' the second album by the Fab Four, became the first million-selling album by a group in the UK.
In 1969, Simon & Garfunkel's first TV special, "Songs of America," aired on NBC, even though their sponsor, AT&T, had backed out when they learned that during the special the duo planned to show footage of Bobby Kennedy's funeral march and clips of the Vietnam War.
Also in 1969, the Monkees made their final live appearance at a show in Oakland, California. Mike Nesmith announced plans for a new band, while Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz said they would continue to perform as the Monkees. It was fifteen years before the original four played together live again.
In 1969, Neil Diamond sang "Sweet Caroline" and "Holly Holy" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1969, the Rolling Stones played the final night of their 17-date North American tour at the International Raceway Festival in West Palm Beach, Florida. Also on the bill were the Moody Blues, Ten Years After, King Crimson, Janis Joplin, the Band, Steppenwolf, and Iron Butterfly.
In 1977, on CBS-TV, David Bowie appeared on Bing Crosby's 42nd Christmas special, taped shortly before Crosby's death six weeks earlier. The two sang the medley "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy."
On this day in 1978, "You Don’t Bring Me Flowers" by Barbra & Neil was the #1 song.
In 1988, LL Cool J performed the first rap concert held in Africa.
In 1991, in Los Angeles, singer Rob Pilatus of Milli Vanilli attempted suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills and slashing his wrists while staying at the Mondrain Hotel.
In 1993, country music singer/songwriter David Houston died of a brain aneurysm at the age of 57.
In 1994, the night before the verdict in his sexual abuse trial was to be announced, rapper/actor Tupac Shakur was shot five times and robbed outside a New York City recording studio. He checked out of the hospital, against doctor's orders, three hours after surgery. The following day he entered the courthouse in a wheelchair and was found guilty of three counts of molestation, but innocent of six others, including sodomy. He was sentenced to 1½ to 4½ years in prison. Shakur served 11 months of his sentence and was shot to death in September 1996. His killer has never been formally identified and brought to justice.
In 1994, jazz drummer Conrad "Connie" Kay, who played with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Lester Young, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Van Morrison and was a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet for 20 years, died at the age of 67.
In 1996, novelty singer Tiny Tim died after a heart attack at the age of 64.
In 1997, Danbert Nobacon of Chumbawumba was arrested in Italy for wearing a skirt.
In 1998, Jewel's former manager, Inga Vainshtein, sues the singer for wrongful termination of contract, alleging that her mother took over management to obtain the commissions.
In 1999, Elton John came under criticism from the Boy Scouts after he appeared in concert in London performing It's a Sin with a group of male dancers in the organizations uniforms. The dancers stripped during the song.
In 2000, Scott Smith, bassist for Loverboy, died at the age of 45 after a 26-foot wave swept him overboard in shark infested waters off the coast of San Francisco near the Golden Gate Bridge. Loverboy reached the Billboard Top 40 ten times, including two Top 10 hits, "Almost Paradise" and "Lovin' Every Minute Of It".
In 2001, Johnnie Johnson, Chuck Berry's longtime piano player, filed a lawsuit against Berry that claimed Johnson had co-written many of Berry's hits, providing the melodies to which Berry simply added the lyrics. The suit was dismissed two years later.
In 2002, High Court probate records revealed that George Harrison left his fortune of £99 million (almost $155 million US) in a trust fund for his widow Olivia and his son Dhani, thereby depriving the taxman of £40 million (62.5 million US). His mansion near Henley-on-Thames in England was said to be worth £15 million (about 23.5 million US).
In 2003, in New York, a block of East 2nd Street was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place.
In 2005, police were said to be investigating claims that Michael Jackson was trafficking drugs to feed his 40 pills-a-day habit. The singer was suspected of having antidepressants and painkillers flown from the US to his current home in Bahrain.
In 2007, during a Christie's rock 'n' roll auction at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, a collection of 276 ticket stubs, saved by a rock journalist who covered many of the greatest rock concerts at New York City venues from the late 1960s to the 1990s, sold for $2,000.
