In 1955, Elvis Presley made his first television appearance as he performed on the Shreveport radio show "Louisiana Hayride," which on this occasion was simulcast by local station KSLA-TV.
In 1957, disc jockey Alan Freed tried to fool the panel on CBS-TV's game show "To Tell The Truth."
On this day in 1959, "Venus" by Frankie Avalon was the #1 song.
In 1962, the Marvelettes became the first Motown performers to appear on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1963, country music singers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins were killed when their small plane crashed near Camden, Tennessee. Cline was 30, Copas was 49, and Hawkins was 41.
In 1965, the Miracles released the single "Ooo Baby Baby."
In 1965, the Mannish Boys released their first UK single, "I Pity The Fool," featuring young vocalist David Bowie, then still known as David Jones.
In 1965, the Rolling Stones kicked off their fifth UK tour at The Regal Theatre, Edmonton, London. A 14-date package tour with the Hollies, the Konrads and Dave Berry and the Cruisers.
In 1966, Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler's "The Ballad of the Green Berets" topped the Hot 100, selling more than two million copies in the first two weeks after its release. It made #24 in the UK. His follow up single, "The A-Team," would be a complete flop.
In 1967, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, the Ryan Brothers and Lee Dorsey all appeared at the Saville Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, England. Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles leased the theatre in 1965, presenting both plays and music shows. The venue became notorious for its Sunday night concerts.
In 1968, record label executive/Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Syd Nathan, founder in 1943 of King Records, died of heart disease complicated by pneumonia at age 63.
In 1968, in Hollywood, Jerry Lee Lewis opened in the rock musical adaptation of "Othello."
In 1968, sales of "Simon Says" by The 1910 Fruitgum Company reach the one million mark during the short-lived Bubblegum music craze.
In 1971, in Toledo, Ohio, Badfinger began their first tour as headliners.
In 1971, at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Led Zeppelin gave the first public performances of songs from their upcoming album, including "Black Dog,""Stairway To Heaven,""Going To California" and "Rock And Roll." The concert was the start of a 12-date Thank You tour that included some of the same UK halls and clubs they appeared in when they were first starting out. The tour contracts stated that they would play for their 1968 fee if club owners agreed to charge patrons 1968 prices at the door.
In 1977, "The Love Theme from A Star Is Born," from the film starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, was the top tune in the US. It reached #3 in the UK.
In 1979, MCA Records dissolved its recently acquired ABC Records division.
In 1982, John Belushi died of a drug overdose at the age of 33. He and Dan Aykroyd had a hit record as The Blues Brothers in 1978 with a remake of the Sam and Dave classic, "Soul Man", while their album "Briefcase Full of Blues" reached #1 on the Billboard 200, going double Platinum.
In 1982, a reformed Mamas & the Papas performed for the first time. MacKenzie Phillips and Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane were now the females of the group.
In 1983, Michael Jackson started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Billie Jean," his fourth solo US #1, also #1 in the UK. And on this day Jacksons album 'Thriller' went to #1 for the first time on the UK album chart, it went on to become the biggest selling album of all time with sales over 50 million.
In 1983, Wham! made their US television debut on ABC's "American Bandstand." Wham! sold more than 25 million certified records worldwide from 1982 to 1986.
In 1994, singer Grace Slick was arrested for pointing a shotgun at police when they arrived at her home to break up a reported domestic dispute. She was later sentenced to perform 200 hours of community service and a attend dozen Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
In 1999, Bush was sued for $40 million by Trauma Entertainment for not delivering a new album.
In 2000, Madonna went to the top of the UK singles chart with her version of the Don McLean hit "American Pie." It was her 50th UK hit and ninth UK #1.
In 2000, MC Hammer became a preacher at the Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose.
In 2004, Priscilla Paris, the youngest member of the female vocal trio the Paris Sisters, died from injuries suffered in a fall at her home. She was 59. Priscilla and her siblings Albeth and Sherrell reached the Billboard Top 40 in 1961 with "I Love How You Love Me" (#5) and again in 1962 with "He Knows I Love Him Too Much". (#34)
In 2004, the Sunday edition of Britain's Daily Mail listed Paul McCartney's worth at $1.3 billion (US).
In 2006, singer David Crosby was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and marijuana after leaving his bag, containing those items, in a New York hotel.
In 2007, records by the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon were chosen for preservation by the US Library of Congress. The Stones'"Satisfaction" and Paul Simon's 'Graceland' album entered the National Recordings Registry, which preserves historic works for future generations. Other recordings chosen this year included Carl Perkins'"Blue Suede Shoes,""Be My Baby" by The Ronettes, "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke and the eponymous album The Velvet Underground and Nico.
In 2008, Lou Pearlman, manager for N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys, plead guilty to a $300 million fraud scheme over 20 years.
In 2009, country music singer Taylor Swift guest-starred in an episode of CBS-TV's "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
In 2011, 61 year-old Charles Mulchrone's teenage love for the Beatles paid dividends when he sold his old autograph book at Sheppard's auction house, Durrow, for 1,300 euros. It contained the signatures of John Lennon and Yoko Ono when the couple stayed at a hotel in Mulranny in the summer of 1968. Charles plucked up the courage to approach them and got their signatures, he said they were "sweet as pie" to him. John Lennon had bought Dorinish island in Clew Bay, Ireland and it was said that he had wanted to build a house there. But that never happened. The autograph album was bought by an Irishman living in Berlin.
In 2012, Sony admitted that a number of Michael Jackson tracks had been stolen after its website was hacked. The singer, who died in June 2009 at the age of 50, had recorded unreleased duets with artists ranging from the late Freddie Mercury and Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am.
In 2012, songwriter/Songwriters Hall of Famer Robert B. Sherman died at age 86.
birthdays today include (among others): Murray Head (68), Eddy Grant (66), Charlie Reid (Proclaimers) (52), Craig Reid (Proclaimers) (52) and John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) (44)