In 1943, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra played for a black-tie audience at New York City's Carnegie Hall for the first time. A recording of the concert was released on CD in 1977 as 'The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943,' highlighted by Ellington's monumental suite "Black, Brown and Beige," in the only full-length version ever recorded by his orchestra.
In 1956, rock 'n' roll fans in Cleveland, Ohio who were under 18 were banned from dancing in public unless accompanied by an adult after Ohio Police started enforcing a law dating back to 1931.
Also in 1956, James Brown and the Famous Flames sign a recording contract with King Records. As a signing bonus, they receive $200. Their first effort, "Please, Please, Please," would become a million seller later in the year, but their next nine releases failed to live up to the success of their debut.
In 1957, Patsy Cline made her first appearance on the "Arthur Godfrey Time" morning television program, two days after winning the prime time "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" show. Her husband Gerald Cline filed for divorce on the same day.
In 1958, in Cincinnati, the Everly Brothers played Cincinnati Gardens with supporting acts Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Jimmie Rodgers, Danny & The Juniors, the Rays, Paul Anka, the Royal Teens, the Tune Weavers, Margie Rayburn, the Shepherd Sisters, Eddie Cochran, the Hollywood Flames, and the Mello-Kings.
In 1959, Buddy Holly kicked off the twenty-four date Winter Dance Party at the Million Dollar Ballroom in Milwaukee, backed by Tommy Allsup on guitar, Waylon Jennings on bass and Carl Bunch on drums.
In 1962, at Columbia Records' East 30th Street studios in New York City, Tony Bennett recorded his signature song, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." CBS released it as the b-side of "Once Upon A Time." The A-side received no attention, and DJs began flipping the record over and playing "San Francisco." It became a hit on the pop singles chart in 1962 and spent close to a year on various other charts, achieving gold record status. It then won the top prize of Grammy Award for Record of the Year, as well as for Best Male Solo Vocal Performance. In 2001 it was ranked 23rd on an RIAA/NEA list of the most historically significant Songs of the 20th Century.
In 1963, the Kingston Trio recorded "Reverend Mr. Black" at the Capital Tower recording studios in Hollywood.
In 1965, North America finally caught on to Petula Clark when her hit "Downtown" made her the first British female to have a number one hit on this side of the Atlantic in the Rock era. She would go on to rack up many more smashes, including "I Know a Place,""My Love,""I Couldn't Live Without Your Love,""This is My Song" and "Don't Sleep in the Subway." Clark had already been very successful in the UK, chalking up hits since 1954.
In 1969, in Memphis, between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m., Elvis Presley recorded eight takes of "Suspicious Minds," with future Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux singing backup. Producer Felton Jarvis decided on a premature fade-out and fade back in near the end of the track to reflect the way Elvis performed the song in his live Las Vegas stage act. It became Presley's 17th and last #1 single in the US. Rolling Stone later ranked it #91 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 1969, at the Capitol Tower Recording Studio in Hollywood, Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry recorded "All I Have To Do Is Dream."
In 1970, Judy Collins was admonished by the court and told to discontinue singing "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" during her testimony at the "Chicago 7" trial.
In 1970, Marty Robbins released the single "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife."
In 1971, Steel Mill played their final show when they appeared at the Upstage Club, Asbury Park, New Jersey. Singer Bruce Springsteen formed new bands during the rest of the year known under such names as the Bruce Springsteen Jam, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, and finally the Bruce Springsteen Band.
In 1971, George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a #1 when "My Sweet Lord" went to the top of the UK single charts. The song from his 'All Things Must Pass' album stayed at #1 for five weeks. The track returned to the top of the UK charts in 2002, following his death.
In 1971, as a follow-up to their US number 3 hit "Candida," Tony Orlando and Dawn topped the charts with "Knock Three Times". It was the trio's second straight million seller, but it would take two more years and a series of minor chart makers before they would return to the top with "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree".
In 1973, jazz trombonist Edward "Kid" Ory died of pneumonia at the age of 86.
In 1973, after reading a note that says 'an accord has been reached for peace in Vietnam', Neil Young announces to a Madison Square Garden crowd, "Peace has come."
In 1975, Supertramp kick off a 13 date British tour to promote their third album 'Crime Of The Century.' The LP will spawn the single "Dreamer," which will reach #13 in the UK and #15 in the US.
In 1977, during her concert in Tampa, singer Patti Smith danced off the stage and fell 15 feet into a concrete orchestra pit, breaking several neck vertebrae.
In 1978, Chicago's guitarist, 32 year old Terry Kath, accidentally shot and killed himself while playing with a gun at a party, telling others around him that the gun was unloaded. His spot in the band would be filled by Donny Dacus, who previously played guitar with Stephen Stills.
Also in 1978, singer Vic Ames of the Ames Brothers vocal group died in an auto accident at the age of 51.
In 1986, Buddy Holly was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at it's inaugural ceremony. Other first inductees included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard and Fats Domino.
In 1988, Michael Jackson went to #1 on the US singles chart with "The Way You Make Me Feel."
In 1988, Tiffany started a two-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Tiffany.'
In 1989, James Brown was sentenced in Georgia to six years in jail in connection with a police chase through two states last September 24th. He would be granted parole three years later.
In 1990, Allen Collins guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd died of pneumonia after being ill for several months. Collins who was one of the founding members also co-wrote most of the band's songs (including Free Bird), with late front man Ronnie Van Zant. He survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members. Collins was behind the wheel in a car accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down. He later pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.
In 1991, John Sebastian, owner and general manager of KLSK FM in Albuquerque, New Mexico, played Led Zeppelins "Stairway To Heaven" for twenty-four solid hours to inaugurate a format change to Classic Rock. Police showed up with guns drawn: once after a listener reported that the DJ had apparently suffered a heart attack, and later because of suspicion that, this being eight days into the Gulf War, the radio station had been taken hostage by terrorists dispatched by Zeppelin freak Saddam Hussein.
In 1994, the Rock For Choice concert was held in Hollywood, CA with Rage Against the Machine, Screaming Trees, Eddie Vedder and others.
In 1995, William Horton of the Philadelphia vocal group, The Silhouettes, died at the age of 65. The group topped the Billboard chart in 1958 with "Get A Job".
In 1996, White Zombie was not allowed to play a Johnson City, TN show after the city council rejected the show saying they were devil worshipers.
In 1997, 63 year old Richard Berry, who wrote The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie", died from an aneurysm while sleeping at his home in South Central Los Angeles.
In 1998, Johnny Funches, who wrote and sang lead on The Dells' 1956 million seller, "Oh What A Night", passed away at the age of 62.
In 2001, an English coroner criticised the rap singer Eminem's lyrics as depressing during an inquest into the death of a schoolboy who threw himself in front of a train. The 17-year old boy had printed out the lyrics to Eminem's track 'Rock Bottom' before his death.
In 2001, jazz pianist Lou Levy, who accompanied Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, June Christy, and Anita O'Day, among others, died following a heart attack at 72.
In 2002, Virgin Records announced it would pay Mariah Carey $28 million to end their association.
In 2005, one of the biggest charity concerts since Live Aid raised $2 million for victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The concert held at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff featured Eric Clapton, Manic Street Preachers, Keane, Charlotte Church, Snow Patrol, Embrace, Feeder, Craig David and Liberty X, who appeared before 60,000 fans at the sold-out concert.
In 2009, U2 released the single "Get On Your Boots."
In 2011, former Beatles drummer Richard Starkey filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to register the name "Ringo."
