In 1954, Billboard magazine featured a headline that read: "Teenagers Demand Music with a Beat - Spur Rhythm and Blues." It was a sign of things to come. Within a year, R&B music by both Black and White artists caught the public's fancy.
In 1955, Perez Prado was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White." Known as the 'King of the Mambo' the instrumental was the theme from the film 'Underwater' where Jane Russell can be seen dancing to 'Cherry Pink'.
In 1957, 16 year old Ricky Nelson releases his first record, "Teenager's Romance," with his cover of Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'" on the flip side. The disc sold nearly 60,000 copies within three days and eventually went over a million.
In 1958, in Milwaukee, Alan Freed's "Big Beat Show" concert tour played three shows at the Riverside Theatre, with performances by Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Danny & the Juniors, Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, the Diamonds, Billy & Lillie, the Chantels, Dicky Doo and the Don'ts, Jo Ann Campbell, Larry Williams, Ed Townsend, the Pastels, and Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
In 1958, Dion and the Belmonts released their debut single, "I Wonder Why."
In 1958, at the Decca Recording Studio in the Pythian Temple, New York City, Bobby Darin recorded his composition "Early In The Morning." When first released it was credited to the Ding Dongs, and eventually to the Rinky-Dinks, to conceal Darin's identity while he was under contract to another label. The Rinky-Dinks version peaked at #24 on Billboard, competing with Buddy Holly's rendition of the song that got as high as #32.
In 1959, Your Hit Parade, the Saturday night, Pop-music show that had been running since April 12th, 1935, has its final US radio broadcast.
In 1959, Buddy Holly was at #1 on the UK singles chart with the Paul Anka song "It Doesn't Matter Anymore." A #1 hit six weeks after Holly's death.
In 1959, the Drifters released "There Goes My Baby," co-written by lead singer Ben E. King. This was the first single by the second incarnation of the Drifters (previously known as the 5 Crowns), who assumed the group name in 1958 after manager George Treadwell fired the remaining members of the original lineup.
In 1961, Del Shannon's "Runaway" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, enabling him to finally quit his job as a carpet salesman. The song also reached the top of the chart in the UK and has since been ranked at #466 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 1961, Bob Dylan appeared on Harry Belafonte's album 'The Midnight Special' playing harmonica on the track "Calypso King." Dylan was paid a $50 session fee for this his first ever recording.
On this day in 1963, "I Will Follow Him" by Little Peggy March was the #1 song.
In 1965, Wayne Fontana And The Mindbenders had the top tune on both the Billboard Hot 100 and The Cashbox Best Sellers list with "Game Of Love," a #2 hit in the UK. By the end of the year, Fontana would leave the band and would go on to some solo success in the UK, while the rest of the group would enjoy a #2 hit in the US the following year with "A Groovy Kind Of Love."
In 1965, Beatles manager Brian Epstein won the 'star prize' of an album when he had his letter published in UK music weekly 'Melody Maker' informing its readers that Paul McCartney played lead guitar on "Ticket To Ride."
In 1966, the Dave Clark Five performed "Catch Us If You Can" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1968, the Beatles new company, Apple Records turned down the offer to sign new artist David Bowie. (Apple later signed Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston).
In 1968, Louis Armstrong was at #1 in the UK with the single "What A Wonderful World." At 66 years of age, it made him the oldest act ever to score a UK #1. The song stalled at #32 in the US, but Louis is also the oldest person to reach #1 on the Billboard chart, a feat he accomplished in 1964 with "Hello Dolly."
In 1968, Keith Moon of the Who drove his Lincoln into a motel swimming pool.
In 1969, the Cowsills' single "Hair" was certified Gold.
In 1970, Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane was inadvertently invited to Tricia Nixon's White House party. Guards stop her escort, Chicago Seven defendant Abbie Hoffman, and both leave without incident.
In 1971, Fleetwood Mac announce that guitarist Bob Welsh will be the replacement for the departed Jeremy Spencer.
In 1971, Crosby Stills Nash & Young went to #1 on the US album chart with '4 Way Street.'
In 1972, one of John Lennon's most controversial singles, "Woman Is the Nigger of the World" was released in the US. The song actually reached #57 on Billboard's Hot 100, despite virtually every radio station in the country refusing to play it. The phrase was originally uttered by Yoko Ono during a magazine interview in 1967 and John would later explain that he was making a point that women deserved higher status in society.
On April 24, 1974, David Bowie released the album 'Diamond Dogs.' The cover art features Bowie as a striking half-man, half-dog grotesque figure that was painted by Belgian artist Guy Peellaert. It was controversial, as the full painting clearly showed the hybrid's genitalia. Afraid of causing a stir, RCA Records withdrew the records and ordered the artwork to be reproduced with the canine genitalia airbrushed out. Few copies of this original cover made their way into circulation at the time of the album's release and according Goldmine price guides, these albums have been among the most expensive record collectibles of all time. One of the album cuts "Rebel Rebel" has been featured on almost every Bowie tour since.
In 1975, 27 year old Peter Ham, singer / guitarist for Badfinger, committed suicide by hanging himself in the garage of his home. He was reported to be deeply depressed by financial problems the group was having and left a note blaming the group's manager for his troubles. Ham co-wrote "Without You," with band mate Tom Evans (who also later committed suicide). The song won an Ivor Novello award for Song Of The Year in 1973, and was a hit for Harry Nilson and Mariah Carey. Ham was a founder member of The Iveys, who became Badfinger, were signed to the Beatles' Apple label, their first hit "Come And Get It" was written by Paul McCartney.
In 1976, Paul and Linda McCartney spent the evening with John Lennon at his New York Dakota apartment and watched Saturday Night Live on TV. Producer of the show Lorne Michaels made an offer on air asking the Beatles to turn up and play three songs live. Lennon and McCartney thought about taking a cab to the studio, but decided they were too tired. This was the last time Lennon and McCartney were together.
In 1976, Wings''At The Speed Of Sound' went to #1 on the US album chart. It was Paul McCartney's fifth #1 after he left The Beatles.
In 1976, Led Zeppelin had their sixth UK #1 album when 'Presence' went to the top.
In 1977, Elvis Presley made some of his last recordings during a concert at the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Two songs from the show, "Little Darlin'" and "Unchained Melody," along with "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)," recorded in Kalamazoo, Michigan two nights later, appeared in heavily overdubbed mixes on "Moody Blue," the last Elvis Presley album released during his lifetime.
In 1977, Talking Heads begin their first European tour, supporting the Ramones.
In 1977, Joan Baez and Santana performed for the inmates at Soledad Prison.
In 1979, Ray Charles'"Georgia On My Mind" was proclaimed the state song of Georgia. The music to the song was written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael who also recorded a version of the song in New York in the same year. Ray Charles, a native of Georgia, recorded it in 1960 on the album The Genius Hits the Road.
In 1982, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder were at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Ebony And Ivory." This was McCartney's 24th #1 as a songwriter.
In 1985, a day after its release, the 'We are the World' album was certified Gold.
In 1989, Tom Petty released his first solo album, 'Full Moon Fever.' It features contributions from members of his backing band the Heartbreakers, notably Mike Campbell, along with Roy Orbison and George Harrison - who would later join Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Bob Dylan in the Traveling Wilburys. The album became a commercial and critical success peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200 and being certified 5× platinum in the United States and 6× platinum in Canada.
In 1990, the road crew for Roger Waters discovered an unexploded World War II bomb while constructing the set for The Wall concert in Potsdamer Platz, Germany.
In 1992, the Cleveland Orchestra sued Michael Jackson and his production company for seven million dollars. The orchestra claimed Jackson used 67 seconds from its recording of Beethoven's "Symphony Number Nine" on his "Dangerous" album without giving the orchestra credit or compensation.
In 1992, "Elvis – The Great Performances," a collection of film and tape clips hosted from Graceland by Priscilla Presley, aired on CBS-TV.
In 1993, about 40,000 people attend Farm Aid 6 in Ames, Iowa, that features Willie Nelson, John Cougar Mellencamp and Neil Young.
In 2001, the Bee Gees released their 22nd and final studio album, 'This Is Where I Came In.' The album peaked at #6 in the UK, while the single, "This Is Where I Came In," reached #18. In the US, the album peaked at #16.
In 2001, jazz/blues singer Al Hibbler, vocalist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra for eight years in the 1940s, died at the age of 85.
In 2003, the first official UK download chart was compiled after the big five record companies- EMI, Warners, Sony, BMG and Universal combined for a Digital Download day. Over 150,000 computer users had downloaded 1.1m tracks. The Net Parade Top 3: #3, Tatu, "All The Things She Said," #2, Coldplay, "Clocks" and #1 Christina Aguilera, "Beautiful."
In 2003, Sinead O'Connor wrote on her website that she was retiring from music.
In 2003, Creed were sued by four fans who accused lead singer Scott Stapp of being so intoxicated at a 2002 show in Chicago that he couldn't remember the lyrics to the songs.
In 2005, Akon went to #1 on the UK album chart with 'Trouble'. Mariah Carey was at #1 on the US album chart with 'The Emancipation of Mimi.'
In 2007, the Arctic Monkeys sold 85,000 copies of their new album 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' on its first day in UK shops, putting it on course to be the year's fastest-selling new release.
In 2010, all four original members of the Young Rascals reunited onstage for the first time since their 1997 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction when they appeared at the Kristen Ann Carr Fund gala in New York after an invite by the E Street Band's Steven Van Zandt. Hopes of a more permanent reunion were quickly dashed by guitarist Gene Cornish, who said "I speak on behalf of the band when I say all the money offers in the world could not entice the Rascals to reunite." They would get back together, however, for a series of concerts beginning in 2012.
In 2012, at the Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater in Tucson, Arizona, the Beach Boys began their 37-date Reunion Tour. They also unveiled a clip of "That's Why God Made The Radio," their first new song in two decades and the first single off their reunion album.
birthdays include: Barbra Streisand (72), Doug Clifford (CCR) (69), Rob Hyman (Hooters) (64), Nigel Harrison (Blondie) (63), Jack Blades (Night Ranger, Damn Yankees) (60), Billy Gould (Faith No More) (51), Shannon Larkin (Godsmack) (47), Patty Schemel (Hole) (47) and Kelly Clarkson (32)
