In 1936, the first pop music chart based on national sales was published by "Billboard" magazine.
In 1950, two years after Columbia Records introduced the 33 1/3 RPM long-playing vinyl record, RCA announces that they will also start using the same format.
In 1953, over 20,000 people jam the streets of Montgomery, Alabama, as Hank Williams' funeral is held at the City Auditorium.
In 1955, at Webster Hall in New York City, Perry Como recorded "Ko-Ko-Mo (I Love You So)."
In 1957, Elvis Presley released the single "Too Much" b/w "Playing For Keeps."
In 1960, at Reco-Art Sound Recording in Philadelphia, Bobby Rydell began recording "Wild One." The track was completed two days later.
In 1962, the British music magazine Mersey Beat publishes a group popularity poll which shows The Beatles at the top, well ahead of Gerry and The Pacemakers, The Remo Four, Rory Storm and The Hurricanes and Johnny Sandon And The Searchers. A rare copy of this edition recently sold for $2,500.
In 1962, at United/Western Studios in Hollywood, Gene McDaniels recorded "Point of No Return."
In 1963, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Roy Orbison recorded "In Dreams" and "Falling."
In 1964, Bobby Vinton's "There! I've Said It Again" becomes the last US #1 record before the so called British Invasion. Between Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" in July, 1955 and Vinton's hit, only five non-American artists could manage a US chart topper. All that was about to change.
In 1965, the Fender Guitar company, maker of the Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars, was purchased by CBS for $13 million.
In 1965, at CBS 30th Street Studio in New York City, Tony Bennett recorded "If I Ruled The World."
In 1968, in Los Angeles, the University of California announced that students studying for music degrees would be required to examine the music of the Rolling Stones, saying it was because the group had made such an important contribution to modern music
In 1970, tragedy struck the Who when a gang of teens attacked Keith Moon's Bentley limo. His chauffeur, Neil Boland got out to try to protect the car, but left it in gear, and it started moving. Moon, who had no driver's license, jumped behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the chauffeur, who was being beaten, had fallen under the car and as Keith gunned the engine, Neil was run over and killed. Though the inquest absolved Moon of blame, Neil's family didn't and neither did Moon himself, as he was been haunted by the incident for the rest of his life.
In 1970, Oliver sang "Jean" and "Good Morning Starshine" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1971, the movie Performance with Mick Jagger premiered in London.
In 1974, Bruce Springsteen played the first of three nights at Joe's Place in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In 1974, Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" single was certified Gold.
In 1975, Elton John's remake of The Beatles'"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" becomes his tenth US Top Ten hit and his third number one. The recording included John Lennon on guitar.
In 1979, due to renewed interest in the Beatles, the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany reopened.
In 2001, bandleader Les Brown died of lung cancer at the age of 88.
In 2001, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, rapper Vanilla Ice spent the night in jail after allegedly ripping out some of his wife's hair. He explained to police that he'd been trying to prevent her from jumping out of their truck's window at the time. He was released from jail on $3,500 bail the following morning.
In 2002, Bill "Little Bo" Savich, drummer for the instrumental group Johnny And The Hurricanes, died at the age of 62. The band placed four songs on the Billboard Top 40, including the #5 hit, "Red River Rock" in 1959.
In 2004, Ray Davies of the Kinks was shot in the leg during a robbery in New Orleans when two thieves stole a lady friend's purse at gunpoint. Davies gave chase and one of the men turned and shot him in the thigh.
In 2005, Ashlee Simpson was booed offstage while performing at the Orange Bowl.
In 2006, the Hendersonville, Tennessee home where Johnny Cash lived for 35 years was bought for $2.3 million by Bee Gees singer Barry Gibb. The house burned to the ground 15 months later during renovations.
In 2007, Nikki Bacharach, the daughter of songwriter Burt Bacharach and actress Angie Dickinson, committed suicide at age 40. She had suffered from chronic health problems, including Asperger syndrome. Nikki was the only child of the actress and composer, who were married from 1965 to 1980.
In 2008, Britney Spears was carried out of her home on a stretcher and taken into custody after police were called to mediate a family custodial dispute involving her children. After nearly three hours, Spears handed over two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James to her ex-husband Kevin Federline.
In 2010, Nielsen SoundScan reported that album sales in the United States fell 12.8% to 326.2 million units from 373.9 million units in the prior year. Sales of CDs fell by nearly 20% for the fourth year in a row, while digital album downloads posted gains of 13%, selling 86.3 million, up from the 76.4 million during 2009, accounting for nearly 26.5% of all US album sales last year.
In 2011, Gerry Rafferty, the lead singer of Stealers Wheel on their 1973 hit "Stuck In The Middle With You" died after a long illness at the age of 63. After the band split up, he went on to a successful solo career which included five more Billboard Top 30 hits, including "Baker Street" and "Right Down The Line."
In 2013, singer/songwriter ("Chevy Van") Sammy Johns died at age 66.
