In 1957, Elvis Presley received his draft notice from the U.S. Army. He immediately applied for, and was granted, a 60-day deferment that allowed him to complete the filming of "King Creole."
In 1958, the US Army's 32nd Armored unit returns to base after maneuvers and Pvt. Elvis Presley is rewarded for his hard work with a three day pass, which he uses to by himself a BMW sports car.
In 1962, the Osmond Brothers appeared on NBC-TV's "Andy Williams Show" for the first time.
In 1963, at RCA Victor's Music Center of the World studios in Hollywood, Sam Cooke recorded "(Ain't That) Good News."
In 1967, singer Jimmie Rodgers required brain surgery after he suffered a fractured skull and a broken wrist, allegedly at the hands of three San Diego police officers. Although he hadn't had a hit record in ten years, he enjoyed a string of Top Ten songs in the 1950's, including, "Honeycomb", "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine", "Oh-Oh I'm Falling in Love Again", and "Are You Really Mine". Rodgers would recover and return to performing a little over a year later.
In 1967, folk singer/activist Joan Baez was sentenced to 45 days in jail after being arrested during an anti-war demonstration.
In 1971, in New York, the Main Ingredient (Cuba Gooding, Sr., Tony Silvester and Luther Simmons, Jr.) recorded "Everybody Plays The Fool." The popular song was written by J.R. Bailey, Rudy Clark and Ken Williams. The song rose to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the fall of 1972 and was certified gold by the RIAA. It also peaked at #2 on the Billboard R&B chart and at #25 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. It was the group's highest charting hit single.
In 1973, 37 year-old Bobby Darin died during surgery to repair a heart valve that had been implanted two years earlier. A five-man surgical team worked for more than six hours to repair his damaged heart. Although the surgery was initially successful, Darin died minutes afterward in the recovery room without regaining consciousness. His career started in 1958 with ""Mack the Knife" and continued strong into the early sixties. He was pushed off the charts by the British Invasion, but had a comeback in 1966 with, "If I Were a Carpenter." According to his wishes, Darin's body was donated, without a funeral, to UCLA's medical school.
In 1975, Joe Walsh joined the Eagles, replacing original member Bernie Leadon. Leadon left for a solo career.
In 1980, twelve days after John Lennon was shot dead, "Just Like Starting Over" became his first UK solo #1.
In 1982, classical pianist Artur Rubinstein died at the age of 95.
In 1982, record producer Don Law, head of Columbia Records' country music division through most of the 1950s and 1960s, died at age 80.
In 1989, a lawsuit was filed against Chuck Berry on behalf of more than seventy women who claimed he had secretly videotaped them while they used restrooms in his home and a restaurant. Although Berry adamantly denied making the tapes or even knowing who did, the cases were settled out of court for more than one million dollars.
In 1995, Burton Cummings, former lead singer of the Guess Who, recorded the solo album 'Up Close and Alone' in front of a live audience at the CBC's Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto.
On this day in 1996, "Un-Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton was the #1 song.
In 2001, it was a very good year for Classic Rockers. Elton John and Billy Joel toured together and grossed nearly $60 million from just 31 dates, averaging $1.9 million per show. Eric Clapton proved to be a strong draw in international arenas, earning a healthy $43.5 million from 59 shows, racking up 38 complete sell-outs and averaging nearly $750,000 per night.
In 2002, money making figures for the top grossing rock artists were:
Paul McCartney - $126.1 million
The Rolling Stones - $90 million
Cher - $67.6 million
Neil Diamond - $52.2 million
Britney Spears - $43.7 million
Aerosmith - $36.3 million
Eagles - $34.9 million
'N Sync - $33 million
The top grossing country artist was Kenny Chesney at $22.7 million
In 2003, Bruce Springsteen was the top-earning concert attraction in 2003, taking in $115.9 million. That ranks second only to The Rolling Stones for the most money ever earned by a concert act in a year.
In 2003, composer/arranger record producer Charles Randolph Grean died at the age of 90.
In 2004, blues singer/guitarist Frank "Son" Seals died of complications from diabetes at 62.
In 2006, Matthew Fischer won a court decision that he should share in the profits from Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale. Fischer was the organist who wrote the famous rift in the song.
In 2009, James Gurley, the lead guitarist for Big Brother and the Holding Company, died after suffering a heart attack. He was 69. His distinctive style can be heard on songs such as "Piece of My Heart", "Summertime" and "Ball and Chain."
