In 1955, Big Joe Turner, the Clovers, Fats Domino, the Moonglows, the Drifters and the Harptones performed in two shows at the 6,000-seat St. Nicholas Arena in Harlem as disc jockey and concert promoter Alan Freed presented his first Rock and Roll Ball in New York City. Both shows sold out well in advance.
In 1957, at the Capitol Tower Studio in Hollywood, Tommy Sands recorded "Teenage Crush."
In 1960, two months before the end of his US Army hitch, Corporal Elvis Presley was promoted to the rank of sergeant, which gave him a $22.94 per month pay increase.
In 1963, at the Flamingo Jazz Club in the Soho section of London, drummer Charlie Watts made his live performance debut with the Rolling Stones.
In 1964, the Beatles (minus Ringo Starr, who was fog-bound in Liverpool) departed from Liverpool for Paris, France for an 18-day run at the Olympia Theatre. Arriving in Paris, John, Paul, and George were met by 60 fans. Ringo, accompanied by roadie Neil Aspinall, arrived the next day.
In 1964, at the White House in Washington, DC, the folksinging New Christy Minstrels performed for President Lyndon Johnson and his guests, including Italian President Antonio Segni.
In 1964, at the Chess Recording Studio in Chicago, Chuck Berry recorded seven songs, including his compositions "Nadine (Is It You?)" and "You Never Can Tell."
In 1965, Jr. Walker & The All Stars released the single "Shotgun."
In 1965, singer/actress Jeanette MacDonald died after a heart attack at age 61.
In 1966, David Jones changes his name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones from the Monkees, just in time for the release of his single, "Can't Help Thinking About Me". He would later say that he chose "Bowie" because he likes that "big American bear-killin' knife."
In 1967, over 25,000 people attend The Human Be-In -A Gathering Of The Tribes at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The event was a forerunner of major, outdoor rock concerts and featured The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Big Brother And The Holding Company.
In 1968, Vanilla Fudge performed "You Keep Me Hangin' On" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1970, a display of John Lennon's erotic "Bag One" lithographs opened in London. 2 days later Scotland Yard seized prints as evidence of pornography.
Also in 1970, Diana Ross performed for the last time with The Supremes at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. During the show, Diana introduces her replacement, Jean Terrell, who will lead the group to seven more Top 40 hits, including the Top 10 entries "Up The Ladder To The Roof" and "Stoned Love" later in the year.
In 1971, the Temptations released the single "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)." It became the third Temptations song to reach #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The cut is considered one of the Temptations' signature songs, and is notable for recalling the sound of the group's 1960s recordings. It is also the final Temptations single to feature founding members Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.
In 1973, Elvis Presley's Aloha From Hawaii concert is broadcast live to an estimated one billion people around the world. The soundtrack is later released as a two record set and becomes one of the King's best selling LPs of the '70s, hitting number one later the same year.
On this day in 1974, "Show And Tell" by Al Wilson was the #1 song.
In 1978, the Sex Pistols played their last concert before breaking up. The show was in San Francisco, CA.
In 1978, an L.A. group called Player had the top tune in the US with "Baby Come Back." The song was written by band members Peter Beckett and John Crowley after both had broken up with their respective girl friends. The song reached #32 in the UK.
In 1984, Madonna lip-synced "Holiday" during her first appearance on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1989, Paul McCartney released his album 'Back In The U.S.S.R.' exclusively in Russia.
In 1992, Jerry Nolan, drummer for The New York Dolls, died at the age of 45. He was being treated for bacterial meningitis and bacterial pneumonia at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York, when he suffered a stroke and went into a coma from which he never recovered.
In 1995, Ruby Starr, vocalist for Black Oak Arkansas on their 1974 hit "Jim Dandy" as well as having her own solo career, died of cancer at the age of 45.
In 1995, doo-wop singer Solly McElroy, a member of the Flamingos (1953-1954), died at age 61.
In 1997, the Spice Girls released their debut single, "Wannabe," in North America.
In 1997, the Beach Boys guest-starred on the ABC-TV sitcom "Home Improvement."
In 1999, the January issue of Rolling Stone magazine reveals that the two children of Melissa Etheridge and her partner Julie Cypher were fathered by David Crosby.
In 1999, Metallica sued Victoria's Secret, claiming that the manufacturer infringed on its trademark by marketing a line of "Metallica" lip pencils.
In 2000, after 37 years, the Nashville-based fan magazine Music City News ceased publication.
In 2005, a $100,000 statue honoring the late punk guitarist Johnny Ramone was unveiled by his widow Linda at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Johnny died from prostate cancer in September 2004 at the age of 55. Hundreds turned out for the ceremony, including Tommy Ramone – the only surviving band member. Dee Dee Ramone died of a drugs overdose in 2002 and Joey died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer.
In 2007, Amy Winehouse started a two-week run at #1 on the UK album chart with 'Back to Black' (which went on to become the biggest-selling album of 2007 with sales over 1.5m copies).
In 2010, guitar great Jimmy Page was honored with the United Nations' first ever Pathways To Peace Award. Pathways To Peace is an international peace building, educational and consulting organization which has consultative status with the United Nations.
In 2010, songwriter/singer Bobby Charles died at age 71.
In 2011, as her latest release, "Haven't Seen the Last of Me" raced up Billboard's Dance Club Song chart, 64-year-old Cher was poised to mark the sixth decade in which she had a #1 hit. Her track record of achieving chart topping records includes: The 1960s - "I Got You Babe" The 1970s - "Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves""Half Breed""Dark Lady" and "All I Ever Need Is You." The 1980s - "If I Could Turn Back Time" and "After All" (with Peter Cetera) The 1990s - "Believe""Strong Enough" and "All or Nothing". The 2000s - "Song For the Lonely""A Different Kind of Love Song" and "When The Money's Gone."
In 2013, R&B singer Sam Pace of the Esquires died at the age of 68.
