In 1955, Elvis Presley was the headliner at the Sportarium in Dallas. Also on the bill were Sonny James and Hank Locklin. Audience members paid 60 cents apiece for admission. Kids got in for half price.
In 1956, Buddy Holly's first single "Blue Days, Black Nights," was released. The track was later featured on 'That'll Be The Day' the third album from Buddy Holly. Decca, Holly’s first major record label, after failing to produce a hit single from Holly’s early recordings, packaged these 1956 tunes after he had some success with recordings from the Brunswick and Coral labels.
On this day in 1957, "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley was the #1 song.
In 1963, at the Columbia 30th Street Recording Studio in New York City, the New Christy Minstrels recorded "Green Green."
In 1964, in the Notting Hill Gate area of London, the Beatles filmed chase scenes for "A Hard Days Night" with actors dressed as policemen. In the evening they recorded the title song for the film at EMI's Abbey Road Studios, completing it in nine takes.
In 1964, Dean Martin recorded "Everybody Loves Somebody," a song co-written in 1947 by his pianist/accompanist Ken Lane. It went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, sold more than a million copies, and became the theme song of his NBC-TV variety series (1965-1974). The words "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" are inscribed on Dean Martin's grave marker.
In 1965, the Hollies opened their first U.S. tour at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York City.
In 1967, Cream appeared on the bill at the Daily Express “Record Star Show” at Wembley’s Empire Pool, London.
In 1967, Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood sang "Summer Wine" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1969, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" on CBS-TV featured performances by guests Nancy Sinatra, Al Martino, and Tim Conway.
In 1970, The Led Zeppelin single "Whole Lotta Love" was certified Gold in the US after selling over a million copies. The single had peaked at #4 on the US singles chart. In the UK Atlantic Records had expected to issue the edited version themselves, and pressed initial copies for release on 5th December 1969. However, band manager Peter Grant was adamant that the band maintain a 'no-singles' approach to marketing their recorded music in the UK, and he halted the release.
In 1971, Ringo Starr released the George Harrison-produced single "It Don't Come Easy" in North America.
In 1972, at the Fox and Greyhound pub in the South London town of Croydon, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) played their first live show.
In 1972, Pink Floyd played the Township Auditorium in Columbia, South Carolina. A typical set list on this the Dark Side of The Moon tour was: The Dark Side of the Moon (entire album), One of These Days, Careful with that Axe Eugene, Echoes, Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun.
In 1973, during his Ziggy Stardust World tour, David Bowie appeared at the Kobe, Kobe Kokusai Kaikan, Japan.
In 1973, Paul McCartney's first television special, James Paul McCartney, was aired in America on the ABC network. The show, which includes performances by McCartney and Wings, would be broadcast in the UK on May 10th.
In 1974, at Regis College in Denver, Queen gave their first U.S. concert.
In 1976, Aerosmith performed at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, the first stop on a 76-date North American tour.
In 1977, Stevie Wonder welcomed the arrival of the second of his seven children, son Kieta, whose mother is singer/actress Yolanda Simmons. Their first child together, daughter Aisha, was celebrated in the Wonder hit "Isn't She Lovely?"
In 1977, David Soul one half of TV cop show "Starsky & Hutch", went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Don't Give Up On Us," his only US hit. Also #1 in the UK.
In 1990, over 72,000 people gathered at London's Wembley Stadium for an anti-apartheid concert. Neil Young, Natalie Cole, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Tracy Chapman, Simple Minds, and others took part in "Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa," an "international reception" for the civil-rights leader, who had just been released from a 27-year prison sentence.
In 1990, after serving 16 months of his sentence for drug possession, resisting arrest, and other charges, singer James Brown was put on a work-release program at South Carolina's Lower Savannah Work Center, where he provided counseling for drug addicts.
In 1992, singer Andy Russell died of complications from a stroke at the age of 72.
In 1993, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Paul McCartney headlined a concert celebrating Earth Day. Other performers at the concert included Ringo Starr, Steve Miller and Don Henley. McCartney had last performed there in 1965 as a member of the Beatles.
In 1993, in New York, David Lee Roth was arrested for allegedly buying a $10 bag of marijuana in Washington Square Park.
In 1993, Billy Burnette announced that he was leaving Fleetwood Mac.
In 1995, George Michael angers the people at Sony when he allows "Jesus to a Child" to be aired for charity, raising $112,000.
In 1996, KISS appeared in full make-up at the 38th Grammy Awards, where they use the opportunity to announce a reunion tour. It would mark the first time all four original members had appeared together in more than 15 years.
In 1997, Elton John was awarded an honorary membership to Britain's Royal Academy of Music.
In 1998, Janet Jackson played the first night on her third world tour at The Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Support acts on her Velvet Rope Tour included Usher, N Sync and Boyz II Men.
In 1999, Shania Twain became the first woman to be named as songwriter/artist of the year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
In 2002, Sony Music Entertainment filed a complaint against the Dixie Chicks for breach of contract.
In 2005, OK Computer by Radiohead is voted the best album of all time in a poll by U.K. TV station Channel 4. U2 were in second place with The Joshua Tree and Nirvana third with Nevermind.
In 2012, jazz vibraphonist/Caribbean charter boat skipper Teddy Charles died at the age of 84.
In 2013, singer/songwriter/TV host Rita MacNeil, who recorded 24 albums that sold millions, died following complications from surgery at age 68.
In 2013, gospel singer George Beverly Shea, remembered for his nearly 60 years of performances at the crusades of evangelist Billy Graham, died at the age of 104.
