In 1924, at New York City's Aeolian Hall, Paul Whiteman conducted the first public performance of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue," with Gershwin playing piano. John Philip Sousa and Jascha Heifetz were among the luminaries in the audience.
In 1957, the Crickets released the single "Maybe Baby." It was written by Norman Petty and Buddy Holly and reached 17th in the US charts and 4th in the UK charts.
In 1958, the Monotones released "Book of Love." It was written by three members of the group, Warren Davis, George Malone and Charles Patrick. Lead singer Charles Patrick heard a Pepsodent toothpaste commercial with the line "wonder where the yellow went". From there he got the idea for the line, "I wonder, wonder, wonder who, who wrote the book of love", working it up into a song with Davis and Malone. The "boom" part of the song was a result of a kid kicking a ball against the garage while they were rehearsing, it sounded good, so they added it to the song.
In 1956, Screamin' Jay Hawkins recorded "I Put a Spell On You." The legendary song was selected as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was also ranked #313 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 1956, Dean Martin was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Memories Are Made Of This." The American actor, comedian, singer and TV hosts biggest hit. Also covered by The Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra and The Driffters.
In 1961, the Miracles'"Shop Around" became Motown Record's first million-selling single. It was also the label's first #1 hit on Billboard's R&B singles chart. In the following ten years, the Miracles would have six more million sellers.
In 1963, at the Capitol Tower studios in Hollywood, Buck Owens recorded "Act Naturally."
In 1964, the Beatles and British Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home visited the White House in Washington, DC. President Lyndon Johnson was overheard saying to the prime minister, "I like your advance guard. But don't you think they need haircuts?" Following the visit, the Beatles took the train back to New York City where they ended their first American trip with two 25-minute shows at Carnegie Hall. Ticket prices ranged from $1.65 to $5.50.
In 1965, on the UK music show "Ready Steady Go!," 18 year-old Donovan Leitch performed his debut single "Catch The Wind." The tune will reach #4 in his homeland and #23 in the US.
In 1966, the Rolling Stones released "19th Nervous Breakdown" in North America. The song was recorded during the Aftermath sessions between December 3rd and 8th, 1965 at RCA Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, at the conclusion of their fourth North American tour.
In 1967, 15 police officers raided Redlands the West Sussex home of Rolling Stone Keith Richards during a weekend party. The police who were armed with a warrant issued under the dangerous drugs act took away various substances for forensic tests. George and Pattie Harrison had been at the house, but it was said that the police waited for them to leave before they raided the house in order not to bust the holder of an MBE.
In 1967, the Young Rascals performed "I've Been Lonely Too Long" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1968, Jimi Hendrix returned home to Seattle where he received a key to the city and an honorary high school diploma. He also played for the students of Garfield High School from which he had dropped out.
On this day in 1968, "Love Is Blue" by Paul Mauriat was the #1 song.
In 1970, John Lennon performed "Instant Karma," on BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops,' becoming the first Beatle to have appeared on the show since 1966. Lennon wrote, recorded, and mixed his new single, all in one day. It ranks as one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history. Lennon later stated, "I wrote it for breakfast, recorded it for lunch, and we're putting it out for dinner."
In 1972, Al Green went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Let's Stay Together," his only US chart topper.
In 1974, the legendary rock club the Bottom Line opened in Greenwich Village, New York City. Stevie Wonder jammed with Johnny Winter and Dr. John at the opening. James Taylor, Carly Simon and Mick Jagger also appeared.
In 1975, former folk trio leader Chad Mitchell was sentenced to five years in prison after being caught two years earlier driving 400 pounds of marijuana across the Texas border.
In 1976, 37 year old Sal Mineo, a singer and actor who reached number nine on the Billboard chart in 1957 with "Start Movin' In My Direction," was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant. Over three years later, a man named Lionel Williams was tried and convicted for the murder.
In 1976, Eddie and the Hot Rods appeared at the Marquee Club London, supported by The Sex Pistols who were playing their first ever London show.
In 1977, Barbra Streisand started a six-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'A Star Is Born.'
In 1977, Pink Floyd released their tenth studio album 'Animals' in the US, where it reached #3 in the charts. The album's cover image, a pig floating between two chimneys on Battersea Power Station, was conceived by bassist Roger Waters and realised by long-time design and photographic collaborators Hipgnosis.
Also in 1977, the Police recorded their first single, "Fall Out" for $255 at Pathway Studios, London, England.
In 1977, Blondie, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and the Ramones all appeared at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California.
In 1978, at Manta Eastern Sound in Toronto, Anne Murray recorded "Daydream Believer" and "Broken Hearted Me."
In 1981, Deborah Harry of Blondie announced plans to record a solo album.
In 1983, pianist/composer Eubie Blake died at the age of 100.
In 1989, Aretha Franklin lost a court case against Broadway producer Ashton Springer, who sued for $1 million (£0.58 million) when Aretha failed to turn up for rehearsals for the stage show Sing Mahalia Sing, blaming her fear of flying on the non appearance.
In 1990, MC Hammer released his third album, 'Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em.' The album was #1 for 21 weeks on the Billboard 200, due primarily to the success of the single, "U Can't Touch This."
In 1992, at the 11th annual BRIT awards in London, Queen's "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" is named Best British Single and the late Freddie Mercury is honored for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. For the fourth time in the last five years, U2 is named as the Best International Group.
In 1994, Alice In Chains entered the US album chart at #1 with 'Jar Of Flies.'
In 1994, Celine Dion started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "The Power Of Love," the singers first US #1, a #4 hit in the UK.
In 1995, Van Halen, scored their first US #1 album with 'Balance.'
In 1997, U2 held a press conference in the Lingerie Department at the Greenwich Village Kmart store in Manhattan, New York City, to announce their Pop Mart world tour. The tour was set to start in Las Vegas on April 25th of this year.
In 1999, singer Miss Toni Fisher died of a heart attack at 67.
In 2000, singer Oliver died of cancer at the age of 54.
In 2000, bassist and songwriter John London died aged 58. Worked with The Monkees, James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt.
In 2000, blues singer Screamin' Jay Hawkins died aged 70. A Golden Gloves boxing champion at 16, he was married nine times, spent two years in jail, was temporary blinded by one of his flaming props on stage in 1976. He recorded "I Put A Spell On You" in 1956, covered by the Animals, CCR and Nina Simone and many others.
Also in 2000, Mariah Carey started a two-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Thank God I Found You."
In 2001, the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Napster to stop its users from trading copyrighted material without charge.
In 2003, former Doors drummer John Densmore took out legal action against The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger for breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition. The band had reformed with Ex- Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Densmore said "It shouldn't be called The Doors if it's someone other than Jim Morrison singing." amen to that......
In 2005, Sammi Smith, best known for the 1971 Billboard number 8 hit, "Help Me Make It Through the Night," died at the age of 61. She won a Grammy award for her rendition of the song written by Kris Kristofferson, establishing him as a leading Nashville songwriter.
In 2005, the Class 47 locomotive 47828 was named after Clash frontman Joe Strummer at a ceremony in Bristol. The diesel train, owned by Cotswold Rail, was named after the singer/guitarist who died, aged 50, in 2002.
In 2006, Lenny Dee, a solo organist who reached #19 on the Billboard chart in 1955 with the million selling "Plantation Boogie," died at the age of 83. He was a one-time performer with Jimmy Dorsey and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show with Jack Paar and The Lawrence Welk Show.
In 2007, over 50 years after he first appeared on the US charts with a cover version of The Charms'"Two Hearts," Pat Boone was receiving major US radio airplay for his new CD 'Pat Boone R&B Classics - We Are Family.' His rendition of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" was the track most in-demand by listeners.
In 2007, during a press conference at West Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go club Sting confirmed that The Police were getting back together. The band were set to kick off a world tour on May 28 in Vancouver, Canada, supported by Sting's son Joe Sumner's band, Fiction Plane.
In 2007, bassist Eldee Young, a member of Young-Holt Unlimited and the Ramsey Lewis Trio, died of a heart attack at the age of 71.
In 2008, Ronald Isley's appeal against a three-year jail term for tax fraud was rejected by a US court. The 65-year-old singer of the Isley Brothers argued against being imprisoned in an Indiana jail on the grounds of age and poor health. The court heard he cashed royalty cheques belonging to his brother O'Kelly, who died in 1996 and spent millions of dollars made from undeclared performances on a yacht and two homes. Isley was ordered to pay more than $3.1m (£1.62m) to the US tax service for "pathological" evasion.
In 2009, a full frontal nude photo of Madonna, taken in 1979 before she became famous, sold at auction for $37,500. The black and white picture was taken at a time when Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was a 20-year-old dancer trying to make ends meet in New York.
In 2009, near Buffalo, New York, a Continental Airlines commuter plane crashed into a house, killing 50 people, including Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett, members of jazz flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione's band.
In 2010, more than 80 artists gathered to record the remake of "We Are The World". The next day Janet Jackson laid down her version of Michael Jackson's part. The song was premiered at the opening of the Winter Olympics on February 12.
In 2010, jazz drummer Jake Hanna died from complications of a blood disease at age 78. He appeared with the Mort Lindsey Orchestra on Judy Garland's multi-Grammy award-winning live album, "Judy at Carnegie Hall," and for 11 years was in Lindsey's television band for the syndicated "Merv Griffin Show."
In 2010, Anne Murray, Donald Sutherland and Bobby Orr were part of the six-person group carrying the Olympic Flag during the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado, Sarah MacLachlan, k.d. lang and Joni Mitchell sang during the three-hour program. Sutherland narrated the show and Michaëlle Jean, the governor general of Canada, declared the Games officially open.
In 2010, in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London, Queen Elizabeth II awarded Order of the British Empire medals to founding members of Status Quo.
In 2011, singer/comedienne/dancer/actress Betty Garrett died of an aortic aneurysm at age 91.
birthday's today include: Moe Bandy (70), Steve Hackett (Genesis) (64), Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers) (62), Chynna Phillips (Wilson Phillips) (46) and Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies) (44)
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