In 1950, in Shreveport, Slim Whitman made his "Louisiana Hayride" debut.
In 1956, the CBS Radio Network debuts the first regularly scheduled, nationally broadcast Rock and Roll show, "Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party," with Alan Freed as host.
In 1956, the Platters made their television debut on CBS'"Dorsey Brothers' Stage Show."
In 1956, Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" reaches the US Pop chart, where it would climb to #6. The record would top the R&B chart and became the first of his three US Top 10 hits. A cover version by Pat Boone appeared on the Pop chart simultaneously and reached #8.
In 1957, on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show," Buddy Knox sang "Party Doll," Ferlin Husky performed "Gone," and Jimmy Bowen sang "I'm Stickin' With You."
In 1958, at the Capitol Tower Recording Studio in Hollywood, Wanda Jackson recorded "Let's Have A Party."
In 1958, Capitol Records officially abandons the sale of 78 RPM singles in the UK, choosing to issue all new releases as 45 RPM only.
In 1958, the Platters released the single "Twilight Time."
In 1958, the Alan Freed's Big Beat Show played two shows at the Memorial Hall in Canton, Ohio, featuring, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, The Diamonds, Billy Ford, Danny & The Juniors, The Chantels, Larry Williams, Screaming Jay Hawkins, The Pastels and Buddy Holly and the Crickets.
In 1958, Elvis Presley released the single "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" b/w "Don'cha Think It's Time."
In 1959, at Owen Bradley's Quonset Hut studio in Nashville, Marty Robbins recorded "El Paso,""Big Iron," and ten more songs for Robbins'"Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs" album.
In 1960, at Olmstead Studios in New York, Connie Francis recorded "Everybody's Somebody's Fool."
In 1962, in London, unknown musicians Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met a young guitarist named Brian Jones while attending a performance of Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated at the Ealing Jazz Club.
In 1962, Elvis Presley arrived in Hawaii to begin shooting his next feature film, "Blue Hawaii," and was mobbed by more than a thousand fans at his hotel. During his hasty getaway, he lost several pieces of jewelry.
In 1962, eighteen year old Shelly Fabares, who was currently appearing as Mary Stone on TV's The Donna Reed Show, had the #1 song in the US with "Johnny Angel" (a #41 hit in the UK). She was accompanied by Glen Campbell on guitar, Hal Blaine on drums and Darlene Love And The Blossoms on backup vocals. Her highest charting follow-up would be "Johnny Loves Me," which peaked at #21 on the Billboard chart.
In 1962, the Beatles played at the Casbah Coffee Club, Liverpool without George Harrison who was ill. This was the group's last performance before leaving for their third extended engagement in Hamburg, West Germany.
In 1965, "Shindig!" on ABC-TV featured Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye, Glen Campbell, the Righteous Brothers, and Lesley Gore.
In 1966, at EMI's Abbey Road studios in London, the Beatles recorded overdubs for John Lennon's "Tomorrow Never Knows" and began recording Paul McCartney's "Got to Get You Into My Life" for their forthcoming 'Revolver' album.
In 1967, paving the way for what would become an FM radio format, San Francisco's KMPX-FM begins playing rock 'n' roll album cuts (deep cuts) instead of 45 RPM singles.
In 1967, Sonny & Cher's film Good Times premiered in Chicago.
In 1968, at the end of a North American tour, the Who played at the CNE Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario.
In 1970, on this week's US Top 5 singles chart; #5 "Bridge Over Trouble Water" (Simon and Garfunkel) #4 "Spirit In The Sky" (Norman Greenbaum) #3 "Instant Karma" (John Lennon) #2 "ABC" (Jackson Five) and at #1 "Let It Be" (Beatles).
In 1972, in Dayton, Ohio, Elvis Presley performed at the University of Dayton Arena.
In 1973, Vicki Lawrence started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia."
In 1973, Diana Ross started a two-week run at the top of the US album chart with 'Lady Sings The Blues.'
In 1975, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore departed Deep Purple to form the group Rainbow. He was replaced in Deep Purple by Tommy Bolin.
In 1979, "Music Box Dancer," an instrumental by Canadian pianist Frank Mills became the #1 single in the US, the first instrumental in several years to reach the top of the charts. In Mills' home country, the record only made it to #47.
In 1979, 24 year old Rickie Lee Jones performs her upcoming single "Chuck E's In Love" on Saturday Night Live. The song would rise to #4 on the Billboard chart and help bring Jones a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
In 1979, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Cheap Trick, the Boomtown Rats and Ted Nugent all appeared at the California Music Festival.
In 1979, the Doobie Brothers went to #1 on the US album chart with 'Minute By Minute,' the group's only US chart topper.
In 1981, the Who's former manager Kit Lambert died after falling down a flight of stairs in his mother's home in London, England. Along with his partner, Chris Stamp, Lambert guided The Who from 1964 through 1967 and produced many of their albums including 'The Who Sell Out' and 'Tommy.' He also produced Arthur Brown's 1968 hit "Fire."
In 1981, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off their first full-scale tour in Hamburg, Germany. This was Springsteen's first tour outside North America, which would take in 10 countries.
In 1985, Wham! becomes the first western Rock group to play live in China.
In 1987, jazz singer/actress Maxine Sullivan died at age 75.
In 1988, Alice Cooper nearly hanged himself while rehearsing his act when a safety rope broke and left him swinging by his neck. He was promptly rescued by a quick thinking roadie.
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In 1990, the Carpenters' LP 'Only Yesterday' rose to the top of the UK album chart for a two week stay. It would climb back to #1 at the end of April for a further five weeks.
In 1990, Motley Crue's Tommy Lee was injured when performing a stunt during a concert, falling 20 feet from a lighting rig.
In 1990, Taylor Dayne went to #1 on the US singles chart with the Diane Warren song "Love Will Lead You Back," a #69 hit in the UK
Also in 1990, at Farm Aid IV in Indianapolis, performers included Bonnie Raitt, Carl Perkins, Garth Brooks, Bill Monroe, Alan Jackson, Asleep At The Wheel, Arlo Guthrie, John Hiatt, and John Denver. Elton John performed "Candle in the Wind" for Ryan White. White, a young boy with AIDS, died later that day. Elton will act as a pallbearer at his funeral four days later.
In 1994, Courtney Love was arrested on drugs and theft charges after a reported overdose. At this time, Love was unaware that her husband Kurt Cobain was dead at their home, (his body wasn't discovered until April 8, by an electrician who had arrived to install a security system at their house).
In 1994, soul singer Percy Sledge pleaded guilty to tax evasion after he failed to report $260,000 in income earned between 1987 and 1989. He was sentenced to serve six months in a halfway house.
In 1998, singer George Michael is arrested in a public restroom in Beverly Hills for lewd conduct. He acknowledged his homosexuality on CNN a few days later and was sentenced to community service for the incident.
In 2000, Heinz Burt, the bassist for The Tornadoes, died at the age of 57 after a long battle with motor neuron disease. The group's biggest hit was the 1962 instrumental "Telstar."
In 2001, Paul McCartney bought the 1930s Beverly Hills home of Courtney Love for $3.995 million. The gated four-bedroom house is on 1.5 acres of land and has its own swimming pool.
In 2002, Jennifer Lopez was at #1 on the US singles chart with "Ain't It Funny." Celine Dion had the UK & US #1 album 'A New Day Has Come.'
In 2003, Avril Lavigne dominated Canada's national music awards the Junos, winning four prizes including best single, album and new artist. Shania Twain who hosted the show won three awards. Best group went to Sum 41.
In 2005, pianist José Melis, who toured with Mel Tormé and was the bandleader during Jack Paar's tenure on NBC-TV's "Tonight Show," died of a respiratory infection at 85.
In 2006, an internet fan site broke the news that Love front man Arthur Lee was battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He would succumb to the disease on August 3rd.
In 2008, 66 year old Bob Dylan received an honorary Pulitzer Prize for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power."
In 2008, Feist won five prizes, including album of the year at the Junos, Canada's top music awards. The Canadian singer-songwriter won single of the year for '1234', album and pop album for The Reminder, as well as artist and songwriter of the year.
In 2010, Whitney Houston was released from a Paris hospital after suffering a respiratory infection. She called media reports that she was using drugs again "ridiculous."
In 2013, Andy Johns, the veteran producer and engineer who worked on classic albums by Led Zeppelin, (Led Zeppelin II and all albums through to Physical Graffiti), the Rolling Stones, (Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main Street), Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen and many others, died at the age of 61.
birthdays today include (among others): Bobby Bare (79), Charlie Thomas (Drifters) (77), Patricia Bennett (Chiffons) (67), John Oates (Hall and Oates) (65) and Janis Ian (63)
