In 1945, at RCA Victor Studio 2 in New York City, Perry Como recorded "Prisoner Of Love."
In 1954, country's Pee Wee King started a weekly program on Chicago's WBBM.
In 1961, Britain's EMI Records rejected the Beatles. They later signed them.
In 1961, the Tokens started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
In 1961, Chubby Checker's "The Twist" was on the Hot 100 chart for 23 straight weeks, longer than any other disc on the chart.
In 1962, on their fifth visit to West Germany, the Beatles played the first night of a two-week engagement at the Star-Club, Hamburg. A 13 night run, playing 3 hours each night. The final night's performance was recorded and became known as ‘The Star-Club Tapes’, released in 1977 against the wishes of the ex-Beatles themselves.
In 1964, funeral services are held in Chicago for Sam Cooke in 1964. Hundreds of fans break the glass doors off and cause other damage to the A.R. Leak Funeral Home where Cooke's body is on display. Among his big hits were "Cupid,""You Send Me,""Chain Gang,""Having a Party,""Twistin' the Night Away" and "Wonderful World."
In 1965, Stevie Wonder's "Uptight" entered the Hot 100, where it stays put for 14 weeks, peaking at #3. It's Wonder's first trip to the top ten since his first smash, "Fingertips, Part Two."
The Beatles entered the Hot 100 in 1965 with both sides of their latest record, "We Can Work It Out" and "Day Tripper." The former is on the charts for 12 weeks making it to #1 while the latter only makes it up to #5.
In 1966, Tara Browne was killed when driving at high speed in his Lotus Elan after it collided with a parked lorry in South Kensington, London. A close friend of The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, his death was immortalized in The Beatles’s song "A Day In The Life" after John Lennon read a report on the coroner's verdict into Browne's death.
In 1968, at a Christmas Party called "An Alchemical Wedding" at the Underground Club in London in 1968, John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared, sort of. They're both onstage but they aren't visible. They're crawling inside a large white bag. This is the start of what Yoko terms "bag-ism." Umm, OK.
In 1968, in San Francisco, Janis Joplin began rehearsals with her new Kozmic Blues Band.
In 1968, Frankie Laine released the single "You Gave Me A Mountain."
A 1969 New York Times article estimated that the youth audience in America accounted for 75-percent of the $1 billion spent annually on recorded music. The same issue contained one of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's full page "War is Over" ads.
In 1971, Dial Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records, released Joe Tex's funk record "I Gotcha." In late January 1972, the song will reach #2 on the pop chart. A big factor in the success of the song is ex's slurred delivery of the line "Told you not to play with my affection," which causes millions to mistake the last word for "erection."
On this day in 1973, "The Most Beautiful Girl" by Charlie Rich was the #1 song.
In 1973, in Atlanta, Jim Stafford recorded "My Girl Bill."
In 1975, at a press conference in London, Rod Stewart announced he's leaving the Faces to go solo.
In 1978, bassist Les Kummel of the New Colony Six was killed in an automobile accident at age 33.
In 1982, Hall And Oates overtook The Everly Brothers as the top recording duo of all time when their biggest hit, "Maneater" reached #1 on the US singles chart. It made #6 in the UK.
In 1983, guitarist Jimmy Nolan, died of a heart attack in Atlanta, Georgia, aged 47. Known for his distinctive ‘chicken scratch’ lead guitar playing, he worked with James Brown from 1965 until his death.
In 1983, on his 40th birthday and with Mick Jagger as his best man, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards married model Patti Hansen. They have two daughters.
In 1984, Madonna's "Like a Virgin was the #1 Billboard Pop Hit. The song was Madonna's first #1 hit.
In 1991, Gilbert O'Sullivan wins an injunction that prevents rapper Biz Markie from sampling his 1972 hit "Alone Again (Naturally)" for a new Rap single called "Alone Again".
In 1991, in New York, singer Céline Dion signed a $10 million contract with Sony Music.
In 1995, saxophonist Kenny G and his family escaped a fire that caused $275,000 damage to their home in suburban Los Angeles.
In 1996, lyricist/Songwriters Hall of Famer Irving Caesar died at age 101.
In 2000, Britain's Melody Maker published its last issue. It had been available since 1926.
In 2000, UK singer, songwriter Kirsty MacColl was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico when a speedboat hit her. MacColl was aged 41. McColl and her sons were diving at the Chankanaab reef, of Cozumel, Mexico in a designated diving area that watercraft were restricted from entering. MacColl saw the boat coming before her sons did; Louis (then 13) was not in the boat's path, but Jamie (then 15) was. She was able to push him out of the way (he sustained minor head and rib injuries) but in doing so, she was hit by the boat and killed instantly.
In 2003, James Brown and country music star Loretta Lynn were honoured for their contributions to US culture. The pair were invited to a gala attended by President George Bush at the Kennedy Arts Centre in Washington.
In 2004, a guitar played by George Harrison and John Lennon sold for $570,000 at auction in New York. The Gibson SG guitar was used by Harrison from 1966 to 1969, including the recording of 'Revolver,' and by Lennon during White Album sessions. Other items sold in the Christie's auction included a letter by Kurt Cobain, which fetched $19,400, and a school book report by Britney Spears $1,200.
In 2008, the Berklee College of Music in Boston named singer/songwriter Paul Simon to its Board of Trustees.
In 2011, songwriter/percussionist Ralph MacDonald, who played on recording sessions behind David Bowie, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Kenny Loggins and toured as part of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, died following a stroke while being treated for lung cancer at 67.
In 2010, British plane passengers were left fuming when Madonna was allowed to leave a diverted Virgin aircraft two hours before other travelers. The material girl was onboard a flight from New York to London, but the plane was diverted to nearby Stansted Airport because of heavy snowfall.
In 2012, Mick Jagger appears on the Late Show With David Letterman where he read The Top 10 Things I've Learned After 50 Years In Rock And Roll. One of the things on the list was "Nobody wants to hear anything from your new album."
In 2012, the Discovery Channel announced that because of poor ratings, Ted Nugent's reality TV show American Guns was not being renewed and that they had no plans to air any re-runs.
