In 1949, an article by Deac Aylesworth in Look Magazine predicted that radio was doomed and that within three years, TV would overshadow radio completely.
In 1956, Paramount Studios and director Hal Wallis signed Elvis Presley to a seven-year, three-picture movie contract worth $450,000.
In 1958, Alan Freed's "Big Beat Show" concert tour played the Municipal Theatre in Minneapolis, 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 1960, Elvis Presley's first release since leaving the US Army, "Stuck On You" tops the Billboard chart. The record had been so highly anticipated, it sold over one million copies before it was even recorded. It reached #3 in the UK.
Also in 1960, with the folk music craze in full swing, the Brothers Four enjoyed their biggest hit as "Greenfields" reached #2 on the Billboard chart.
In 1960, funeral services are held for Eddie Cochran at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California. Only family and friends were allowed to attend.
In 1961, at Bloch Arena in Hawaii, Elvis Presley made his last stage appearance for nearly eight years.
In 1965, more than 16,000 fans saw the Rolling Stones perform at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
In 1965, Freddie and the Dreamers performed "I'm Telling You Now" and "Do The Freddie" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1967, just days after completing 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,' the Beatles laid down tracks for 'Magical Mystery Tour' at Abbey Road studios in London.
In 1968, the Beatles refuse to perform for the Queen of England at a British Olympic Appeal Fund show. Ringo Starr would later explain, "Our decision would be the same no matter what the cause. We don't do benefits."
Also in 1968, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed that listening on the job to Radio 1, the major Pop and Rock station of the BBC, made workers less productive.
In 1970, after playing a concert in Raleigh, North Carolina, where men in the crowd taunted the interracial band Pacific Gas and Electric, the group is shot at as their van leaves the club. Four bullets hit the vehicle but no one is hurt.
Also in 1970, Freda Payne released the single "Band of Gold." Ray Parker, Jr. and Dennis Coffey played guitars on the session. Two of the three background singers were Joyce Vincent Wilson and Telma Hopkins, later of Tony Orlando & Dawn.
In 1974, the Beach Boys are streaked by members of their own road crew during a concert.
In 1977, Elvis Presley made the last recordings of his life during a concert at the Saginaw, Michigan Civic Centre. Three songs from the show appeared on the posthumously released Presley album, 'Moody Blue.'
In 1978, Willie Nelson performed for U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the White House.
In 1978, Queen's single "We Are The Champions" was certified Platinum.
In 1979, the Police made their debut on BBC’s Top of the Pops, performing “Roxanne.”
In 1981, Paul McCartney, who was reluctant to tour because of death threats he was receiving in the wake of John Lennon's murder, decides to disband Wings.
In 1987, Madonna went to #1 on the UK singles chart with “La Isla Bonita.” The fifth and final single from her third studio album, 'True Blue,' made her the only female artist to score four UK #1 singles. The song had been offered to Michael Jackson for his Bad album.
In 1988, R&B singer/songwriter (Ain't No Way, Angel) Carolyn Franklin, younger sister of Aretha Franklin, died of breast cancer at the age of 43.
In 1988, Doc McGee, manager of Bon Jovi, was convicted for his part in the smuggling of 40,000 pounds of marijuana into the U.S.
In 1990, the Fender Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix used to perform the "Star Spangled Banner" at Woodstock is auctioned off in London for $295,000.
In 1991, "Baby Baby" by Amy Grant was the #1 song.
In 1994, a judge found Michael Bolton's 1991 hit "Love Is A Wonderful Thing" to be a plagiarized version of the Isley Brothers' 1966 song of the same name, even though Bolton protested that he'd never heard the Isley Brothers' song.
In 1994, the Eagles played the first of two shows where they recorded their 'Hell Freezes Over' album. Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmit first got back together the previous December for the making of a Travis Tritt video of their song, "Take It Easy," that was included on an Eagles tribute CD. The video from Hell Freezes Over was later released in CD and DVD form and includes an excellent acoustic rendition of "Hotel California," as well as live versions of most of their hit songs. The name of the album was taken from an earlier quote by Glen Frey, who responded to the question "When will the Eagles get back together?" The tour would last from 1994–96 and became one of the most successful tours in music history.
In 1997, Warren Haynes and Allen Woody quit the Allman Brothers to spend more time on Gov't Mule.
In 1997, U2’s Pop Mart world tour kicked off at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas in front of 35,000 fans. The tour featured the largest video screen in the world and would visit 80 cities around the planet.
In 1999, Paul Simon performs "Mrs. Robinson" and receives loud cheers following the line "where have you gone Joe Di Maggio?" during a ceremony honoring the Yankee Clipper at New York's Yankee Stadium.
In 2000, Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock are reunited for the first time in 29 years on the BBC's Live with Jools Holland.
In 2002, R&B singer/songwriter/rapper/dancer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, a member of the group TLC, died from injuries suffered in a car accident at age 30.
In 2003, singer/songwriter/pianist/civil rights activist Nina Simone was laid to rest in Carry-Le-Rouet, France. She had lived in France since 1992, and died there on April 21.
In 2005, Bruce Springsteen played the opening show of his Devils & Dust Tour at Detroit's Fox Theatre.
In 2005, singer/producer Janette Davis died at the age of 87.
In 2007, aides to President George W. Bush were told they couldn’t book a luxury, five-star hotel suite because Mick Jagger had already booked it during The Rolling Stones current world tour. Jagger had splashed out £3,600 a night for the suite at the five-star Imperial Hotel in Vienna, Austria, in advance of the band appearing in Vienna. President Bush had secret service agents to vet the hotel before finding it was booked.
In 2007, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, whose Boris Karloff impression propelled the Halloween anthem "The Monster Mash" to the top of the Billboard Pop chart in 1962, died of leukemia at the age of 69.
In 2008, Phil Collins announced his retirement from releasing albums and touring.
In 2008, Mariah Carey became the first person ever to be saluted on the side of the Empire State Building when it was lit up in lavender, pink and white.
In 2013, in San Francisco federal court, the O'Jays sued Crown Royal whiskey and its advertising firm for $1 million, claiming the O'Jays 1974 recording of "For the Love of Money" was used in a "humiliating" commercial for the product without the group's permission.
