In 1953, Frankie Laine was at #1 on the UK singles chart with “I Believe.” The single stayed at #1 for nine weeks. Laine holds the record for most (non-consecutive) weeks at #1 than any other single, in three chart runs with a total of 18 weeks.
In 1956, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Elvis Presley played two shows at the Fairgrounds Pavilion.
In 1957, Buddy Knox, whose "Party Doll" was a recent number one, is called up for six months of active duty with the US Army Reserve. Roulette Records rushed Knox to the studio to cut over 20 songs to ensure his career does not stall while he's in uniform. It will anyway.
In 1960, at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, Paul Anka recorded "Hello, Young Lovers."
In 1963, backstage at the Royal Albert Hall in London following a Beatles performance for the radio show "Swingin' Sound '63," Paul McCartney met the actress and television personality Jane Asher. Their ensuing romantic relationship lasted five years.
In 1963, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Bobby Bare recorded "Detroit City."
In 1969, Lulu married Bee Gee Maurice Gibb. His brother Barry Gibb was the best man. The couple split in 1973.
In 1971, the Jackson 5, Danny Thomas, and Bill Cosby were the guests on Diana Ross' ABC-TV special, "Diana!"
In 1972, in San Antonio, Elvis Presley performed at the Convention Center.
In 1975, Alice Cooper's first TV special, "Welcome To My Nightmare: The Making Of A Record Album" aired on ABC.
Also in 1975, four Bay City Rollers fans were taken to hospital and 35 others required on site treatment after they attempted to swim across a lake to meet their heroes. The group were making an appearance at a BBC Radio 1 fun day at Mallory Park.
In 1981, Yes announced their break-up after 13 years. Bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White began rehearsals with the remaining members of Led Zeppelin, leading to rumors of a new band dubbed XYZ (Ex-Yes and Zeppelin). That band never materialized, and Yes re-formed in 1983 for their hit album '90125.'
In 1984, Michael Jackson underwent surgery in a Los Angeles hospital to repair damage done after his hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.
In 1985, Liberace grossed more than $2 million for his engagement at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, breaking his own previous record of $1.6 million.
In 1987, Aretha Franklin and George Michael started a two-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with “I Knew You Were Waiting,” also a #1 in the U.K. Franklin set a record for the artist with the longest gap between US #1 singles. It had been 19 years, 10 months from her last hit “Respect” in June 1967.
In 1987, U2 played the second of five nights at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on the first leg of their Joshua Tree tour.
In 1988, Motown songwriters Holland/Dozier/Holland were inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.
In 1990, "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor was the #1 song.
In 1993, Los Angeles recording session saxophonist/flautist/clarinetist Steve Douglas, a member of the famed "Wrecking Crew" of studio musicians, died of heart failure at age 54.
In 1996, Bernard Edwards, bass guitarist and producer from Chic, died of pneumonia in a Tokyo Hotel room while touring Japan. He also worked with ABC, Power Station, Sister Sledge, Sheila and B. Devotion, Diana Ross, Johnny Mathis, Debbie Harry, Air Supply and Rod Stewart.
In 2001, jazz saxophonist Billy Mitchell, who played in the bands of Woody Herman, Count Basie, and Dizzy Gillespie, died at age 74.
In 2006, a line from U2’s 1992 hit “One” was voted the UK’s favorite song lyric in a poll of 13,000 people by music channel VH1. The line, “One life, with each other, sisters, brothers” came out on top. The Smiths lyric, “So you go, and you stand on your own, and you leave on your own, and you go home, and you cry, and you want to die” from the song “How Soon is Now?” came second in the poll, followed by, “I feel stupid and contagious, here we are now, entertain us,” from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in third place.
In 2006, a sale of clothing owned by Elton John raised more than $700,000 for the singer's Aids charity. More than 10,000 pieces were sold during a five-day sale in New York City at the specially-created shop, Elton's Closet, at New York's Rockefeller Center.
In 2011, Elton John announced that he'll return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with his "Million Dollar Piano" show starting in September. His first stay at Caesars Palace ended in April 2009, but was extended to a five-year run because of audience demand.
In 2013, bassist/Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Cordell "Boogie" Mosson of Parliament-Funkadelic died at the age of 60.
birthdays today include (among others): Glen Hardin (Crickets) (75), Mike Vickers (Manfred Mann) (74), Harvey Kagan (Sir Douglas Quintet) (68), Jim Scholten (Sawyer Brown) (62), Les Pattinson (Echo & the Bunnymen) (56), Greg Eklund (Everclear) (44) and Mark Tremonti (Creed, Alter Bridge) (40)