In 1928, George Gershwin's musical work "An American in Paris" was given its premiere by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1940, Glenn Miller & His Orchestra recorded "Anvil Chorus," with featured solos by Tex Beneke (tenor saxophone) and Billy May (trumpet).
In 1956, in Hollywood, Perez Prado and his Orchestra recorded "Patricia." When it was released in 1958, it became Prado's second chart-topper after 1955's "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White." It was also the last record to ascend to #1 on the Jockeys and Top 100 charts, both of which gave way the following week to the newly-introduced Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1960, Elvis Presley's "It's Now Or Never" sets a new record in the UK for achieving one million sales just six weeks after its release.
In 1960, at the Atlantic Records studio in New York City, soul singer Solomon Burke recorded the country music composition "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms)." It became his first hit single, peaking at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1961, the Beatles performed at the Cavern Club, Liverpool, playing two shows at lunchtime and then again at night. Decca Records’ Mike Smith attended the night performance with a view to offering The Beatles a recording contract.
In 1962, Elvis Presley had his 13th UK #1 single with "Return To Sender."
In 1962, after scoring a US Top 20 hit with "She Can't Find Her Keys" earlier in the year, 17 year old Paul Peterson re-entered the charts with "My Dad", which would reach #6. The former Disney Mouseketeer and cast member of the TV's Donna Reed Show would go on to found A Minor Consideration, an organization committed to changing the working conditions for child performers.
In 1963, Bob Dylan was given the Tom Paine Award by the Emergency Civil Liberties Committee.
In 1969, Bob Dylan was pictured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
In 1974, George Harrison had lunch with US President Gerald Ford at the White House. They exchanged buttons: Ford gave George a WIN (Whip Inflation Now) pin and Harrison gave the president an OM (Hindu mantra word expressing creation) button. Later in the day, Ford met with Peter Frampton.
In 1975, the Rolling Stones' request to stage a three-day show on Easter Island for 100,000 fans was denied by the government of Chile which claimed "the whole future of the island" would be damaged by such an event.
In 1983, Robert Plant was joined during a solo show in London by Jimmy Page. They played a version of Roy Head's Treat Her Right.
In 1985, Phil Collins made his US TV acting debut on Miami Vice playing a drug dealer.
In 1986, Bruce Hornsby and The Range went to #1 on the US singles chart with “The Way it Is,” a #15 hit in the UK.
In 1989, songwriter Sammy Lerner died at the age of 86.
In 1991, "John Denver's Montana Christmas Skies" special, with guest performers Clint Black, Kathy Mattea, and Patty Loveless, aired on CBS-TV.
In 1994, Prince performed "Dolphin" on CBS-TV's "The Late Show with David Letterman."
In 1997, Chuck Berry performed for an hour at the opening of a Hard Rock Cafe in Dubai.
In 1999, the performing rights organization Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) declared "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" the most played song of the century on American radio and television, with more than eight million airings. The original and most famous recording of the song is by the Righteous Brothers. "Never My Love" was the second most-played song, followed by "Yesterday,""Stand By Me," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." Rounding out the Top Ten were "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay,""Mrs. Robinson,""Baby I Need Your Loving,""Rhythm Of The Rain," and "Georgia On My Mind."
In 2000, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced that Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Aerosmith, Queen, Steely Dan, Solomon Burke, Richie Valens and the Flamingos would be inducted in 2001.
In 2000, it was announced that the U.K. music magazine Melody Maker was to stop publication after 74 years.
In 2000, in London, Paul McCartney appeared at his first-ever book signing (for his book of paintings).
In 2002, guitarist and singer Zal Yanovsky of the Lovin’ Spoonful died of a heart attack. He was a member of the Mugwumps with Denny Doherty and Cass Elliot. He formed the Lovin’ Spoonful with John Sebastian in 1964. They scored the 1966 US #1 and UK #8 single “Summer in the City.”
In 2004, ABC-TV announced that Dick Clark would not be able to host his annual "Rockin' New Year's Eve" broadcast due to a stroke he suffered on December 8th.
In 2005, a check signed by John Lennon made out to the Inland Revenue sold for £2,000 at a U.K. auction. It was sold by former madam Lindi St. Clair, (formerly known as Miss Whiplash), after she decided she had no use for it. St. Clair, who now runs a duck farm in Herefordshire, had bought the check for £4,000 in 1988. It was signed by Lennon on January 23, 1968 on a District Bank Limited form and made out for £6,946.
In 2006, in New York City, police arrested Koral Karsan and charged him with attempted first-degree grand larceny for allegedly trying to extort $2 million from John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. The 50-year-old Karsan had been Ono's chauffeur for more than six years.
In 2007, at Buckingham Palace in London, singer Joe Cocker received an Officer Of The British Empire (OBE) medal from Queen Elizabeth II.
In 2009, singer Yvonne King Burch, the sole surviving member of the King Sisters singing group, died after being injured in a fall at her home at the age of 89.
In 2010, also in New York, Paul McCartney performed an intimate concert for 1,400 people at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, as part of Sirius XM Radio's celebrations on acquiring 20 million subscribers. The planned 22-song set was followed by two encores of three songs each. Celebrities in attendance included Keith Richards, Jerry Seinfeld, Simon Le Bon, Kevin Bacon, Tony Bennett, Alec Baldwin, John McEnroe and Howard Stern. McCartney told the audience, "I just want to just soak in the Apollo. I've dreamed of playing here for many a year. This is very special for us British boys. The holy grail."
In 2012, the original Rascals – Felix Cavaliere, Dino Danelli, Gene Cornish, Eddie Brigati – reunited for "Once Upon a Dream," their first public shows in 40 years, a five-night engagement at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York. Writer, co-director and co-producer Steven Van Zandt described the performances as BioConcerts, bio as in biography, that traced the band's story through re-enactments and film clips from the 1960s.
In 2012, record label executive/movie producer Gil Friesen, former president of A&M Records, died of leukemia at age 75.
