In 1953, Eddie Fisher was discharged from the Army and arrived home to a check of $330,000 for record royalties for the 7 million records that were sold while he was enlisted.
In 1955, Elvis Presley released the Sun label single "Baby Let's Play House" b/w "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone."
In 1956, Leo Fender patented the "Stratocaster" electric guitar, the successor to his popular "Telecaster."
In 1957, Ricky Nelson sang for first time on ABC-TV's "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" at the age of 16. He performed his version of the Fats Domino song "I'm Walkin.'"
Also in 1957, in Hollywood, Pat Boone recorded "Love Letters In The Sand" at the Annex, and "Bernardine" at Radio Recorders.
In 1958, R&B singer/songwriter Chuck Willis died of peritonitis during surgery at the age of 30.
In 1961, Del Shannon lip-synced "Runaway" on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1961, at the Annex in Hollywood, Pat Boone recorded "Moody River."
In 1962, Stuart Sutcliffe, the Beatles' original bassist, died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 21. He left the band in 1961 to resume painting because his headaches were getting too severe to play.
In 1965, in Wrexham, North Wales, officials at a public school asked parents to make sure their children attended classes in school uniforms after Rolling Stones fans at the school begin showing up in "corduroy trousers" like the ones worn by their music heroes.
In 1965, British acts started a run of seven weeks at the top of the US charts when Freddie and the Dreamers went to #1 with "I'm Telling You Now," followed by Wayne Fontana's "Game Of Love," Herman's Hermits "Mr's Brown" and The Beatles "Ticket To Ride."
Also in 1967, the song "Somethin' Stupid" became the first father-daughter song to hit #1 on the Billboard pop chart. The song was performed by Nancy and Frank Sinatra.
In 1967, Paul McCartney attended a Beach Boys recording session in Hollywood.
In 1968, Mickey Hart joined the Grateful Dead as their second drummer.
In 1970, Keith Emerson of the Nice, Greg Lake of King Crimson, and Carl Palmer of Atomic Rooster joined forces to form the band Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Also in 1970, in Boston, at one of the band's last concerts, the Doors' Jim Morrison asked the audience if they'd like to see something of his "that rhymes with 'sock,'" and then, more bluntly, screamed "Would you like to see my genitals?" The electricity in the stadium was switched off, and keyboardist Ray Manzarek pulled Morrison, who was already facing lewd conduct charges after a Miami concert, off the stage.
In 1973, Led Zeppelin's 'Houses Of The Holy' album was certified Gold.
In 1976, Peter Frampton was at #1 on the US album chart with 'Frampton Comes Alive,' the biggest selling live album in rock history. The live album was originally intended as a single LP disc, but at the suggestion of A&M Records additional shows were recorded and the album expanded to two LPs for release. The most recognizable songs from the album are "Show Me the Way,""Baby, I Love Your Way" and "Do You Feel Like We Do," all of which were released as singles, and continue to receive much airplay on classic rock radio stations.
In 1976, in the latest issue of Down Beat magazine, Stevie Wonder was featured in an ad endorsing the Mu-Tron III effects pedal, which uses synthesizer envelopes to create a wah-wah effect for the guitar. Wonder had used the pedal on his hit 1973 single "Higher Ground."
In 1978, Cher was pictured with her boyfriend Gene Simmons of KISS on the cover of People magazine.
In 1985, Madonna began the 40-date Virgin Tour, her first North American tour, by playing the first of three nights at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, with the Beastie Boys as the opening act.
In 1986, songwriter Linda Creed died of breast cancer at 37.
In 1990, singer Tom Waits sued Doritos Chips for using a Waits sound-alike on its radio commercials. A jury later awarded him punitive damages in the amount of $2.475 million, after which Waits commented, "Now, by law, I have what I always felt I had ... a distinctive voice."
In 1994, at Seattle Flag Pavilion, nearly 5,000 fans attended a public memorial service for Kurt Cobain. Courtney Love read Kurt Cobain's suicide note to the crowd.
On this day in 1996, "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion was the #1 song.
In 2000, Sony Music Entertainment announced plans to make its first commercial digital downloads available to US consumers. Sony said it would offer about 50 hit songs from Lauryn Hill, Pearl Jam, Michael Jackson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and others.
In 2001, Bruce Springsteen won $3.25 million from Ronald Winter of Masquerade Music for copyright infringement over the album 'Before the Fame.'
In 2002, the Statler Brothers announced their final tour dates. The group said they planned to continue making music after their retirement from touring.
In 2003, singer Little Eva died aged 59 in Kinston, North Carolina. Eva was working as a babysitter for songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin who asked her to record the song they’d just written. “The Loco-Motion” – a 1962 US #1 & UK #2 single - was also an American #1 for Grand Funk Railroad in 1974 and for Kylie Minogue in 1988 (US #3).
In 2003, country music bass singer Noel Fox of the Oak Ridge Boys (1969-1972) died following a series of strokes at the age of 63.
In 2007, Johnny Cash's last residence, a 14,000-square-foot house in Hendersonville, Tennessee, was destroyed by fire. It had been purchased after Cash's death by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, and was scheduled for renovation.
In 2007, jazz singer Dakota Staton died at age 76.
In 2013, Kate Bush received her CBE for services to music from the Queen at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, England. The singer-songwriter, who was catapulted to fame in 1978 when Wuthering Heights topped the charts, said she was "incredibly thrilled." The 54-year-old dedicated the award to her family and joked that it would have pride of place at the top of her Christmas tree.
