In 1942, the American War Production Board commandeers all facilities for the production of jukeboxes, turning them over to the manufacture of war materials.
In 1945, Frank Sinatra recorded "If I Loved You" and "You'll Never Walk Alone," which became a two-sided Top 10 single for him in the autumn of that year.
In 1955, on tour with Hank Snow's All Star Jamboree, Elvis Presley played three shows at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana. Sun Records had just released Elvis' fourth single, "Baby, Let’s Play House."
In 1955, Leonard Chess signs Chuck Berry to a recording contract after he came highly recommended by Muddy Waters.
In 1956, in New York City, Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra, featuring Eddie Heywood on piano, recorded Heywood's composition "Canadian Sunset."
In 1956, R&B singer Little Willie John recorded his #1 R&B hit, "Fever." Two years later, Peggy Lee added some of her own lyrics to the original and had a Top 10 pop hit with what became her signature song.
In 1957, in Palo Alto, California, Dave Guard, Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane formed the Kingston Trio.
In 1957, the first issue of 16 Magazine was published, with Elvis Presley pictured on the cover.
In 1958, in Pittsburgh, Alan Freed's "Big Beat Show" concert tour played two shows at the Syria Mosque, 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, Johnny Horton performed "Sink The Bismark" on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on CBS-TV.
In 1962, the Beatles started a month long residency at The Star Club, in Hamburg, Germany.
Also in 1962, Britain's first Cinebox, a device that showed 16mm color film of musicians performing their hits on a 21 inch screen, is installed in London, England. As you might expect, the device flashed paid advertising messages whenever the machine was idle.
In 1963, Lesley Gore lip-synced "It's My Party" on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1965, drummer/bandleader Spike Jones died of emphysema at age 53.
In 1965, after just two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" by Herman's Hermits hits #1.
In 1966, the Beatles made their final live, paid appearance in the UK when they played a 15 minute set at the NME Poll Winners concert at Empire Pool, Wembley. Also appearing were The Spencer Davis Group, The Fortunes, Herman's Hermits, Roy Orbison, Cliff Richard, The Rolling Stones, The Seekers, The Small Faces, Dusty Springfield, The Walker Brothers, The Who and The Yardbirds. The Fab Four were not filmed because a financial agreement could not be reached.
In 1966, James Brown performed a medley of his hits and the Supremes sang "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1967, the F.B.I. arrests the Beach Boys' Carl Wilson on charges of avoiding the military draft and refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance. He is later released and joins the rest of the band in Ireland for a European tour.
In 1967, at the Capitol Tower Recording Studio in Hollywood, the Stone Poneys recorded "Different Drum."
In 1969, Bob Dylan recorded an appearance for The Johnny Cash Show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. After two solo numbers from Dylan, Johnny Cash joined him for a rendition of "Girl From The North Country." In this primetime show, Cash enjoyed booking contemporary performers as guests; Neil Young, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition (who appeared a record four times on his show), James Taylor, Ray Charles and Eric Clapton were all booked to appear on forthcoming shows.
In 1970, Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin collaborated for the first time on Elton's first American album titled, "Elton John."
In 1970, the Jimi Hendrix Experience played the first of 13 US shows this month when they appeared at the Milwaukee Auditorium.
In 1974, the Carpenters play for US President Richard Nixon and the West German Chancellor at the White House.
In 1975, the Rolling Stones announced their US tour while playing in the back of a flatbed truck going down 5th Avenue in New York.
In 1976, the Bellamy Brothers topped the Cashbox Best Sellers list and the Billboard Hot 100 with "Let Your Love Flow". The song was a #7 hit in the UK.
In 1976, Led Zeppelin started a two-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Presence,' the group's fifth #1 album.
In 1977, the 'White Riot Tour' kicked of at the Roxy in London with The Clash, The Jam and The Buzzcocks.
In 1978, Boney M's double sided hit, "Rivers Of Babylon / Brown Girl In The Ring" was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.
In 1979, Rod Stewart played the first of two sold out nights at the Uptown Theatre in Chicago.
In 1979, Elton John becomes the first pop music star to perform in Israel.
In 1982, Barry Manilow scored his first UK #1 album when 'Barry Live In Britain' went to the top of the chart. The LP was recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall in London in January and would go on to reach Platinum status.
In 1984, Mick Fleetwood filed for bankruptcy. The founder of Fleetwood Mac had released a solo album called "The Visitor" in 1981. Although the critics loved it, "The Visitor" ended up losing a lot of money, as did Fleetwood's real estate investments, leading to eventual financial ruin.
In 1986, songwriter and producer Hugo Peretti died aged 70. Wrote and produced many classic hits including, "Can't Help Falling In Love,""Twistin' The Night Away,""Shout,""The Hustle" and "You Make Me Feel Brand New."
In 1988, Billy Joel escapes punishment for defamation charges brought against him by Jack Powers, whom he called a "creep" during an interview with Playboy magazine. The judge cited the 1st Amendment and dropped all charges.
On May 1, 1988, Pink Floyd's, 'Dark Side of the Moon' finally dropped off the US albums chart after a run of 725 weeks (almost 14 years).
In 1989, police in California are called to a jewelers store after employees reported a suspicious person. He turned out to be Michael Jackson, who had donned a wig, fake moustache, false teeth and eyelashes to go shopping. Officers had him remove his disguise and show his identification.
In 1993, Cliff Richard went to #1 on the UK album chart for the seventh time with a cleverly titled LP called 'The Album.'
In 1997, the house where Kurt Cobain committed suicide went up for sale. The asking price for the five-bedroom house built in 1902 was $3 million. The carriage house where the Nirvana guitarist died had been demolished.
In 2000, a $1.8 million civil fraud suit was filed against Neil Young in Los Angeles Superior Court by a former Village Voice writer who claims Young reneged on an agreement to have a biography written about him when Young blocked the book's publication.
In 2003, 58 year old Barry White suffered a stroke that affected his speech and the right side of his body. He was forced to retire from public life and passed away on July 4th.
In 2005, Coldplay became the first British band to have a new entry in the US Top 10 singles chart since The Beatles. Coldplay's latest single 'Speed Of Sound' entered the chart at number eight, only the second time a UK band has achieved the feat. The Beatles managed it with 'Hey Jude' in 1968.
In 2006, saxophonist Johnny Paris, leader of the instrumental group Johnny & the Hurricanes, died of (quote from his widow) "sepsis, pneumonia and pancytopenia treated splenectomy" at 65.
In 2009, an anonymous fan won a two hour, one on one guitar lesson with Queen's Brian May after bidding more than £7,500 at a charity auction in London. The auction was held in support of the Action for Brazil's Children Trust, of which May is a patron.
In 2010, trombonist/big band leader/arranger/Canadian Music Hall of Famer Rob McConnell died of cancer at age 75.
In 2011, former Village People vocalist Victor Willis launched a $1.5 million lawsuit against his old band mates over back royalties. The singer, who portrayed a policeman in the group, left the line-up in 1979.
In 2012, former teen Pop star Bobby Vee revealed on his website that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. "Needless to say it was a moment that stunned my family and myself to the core," the 69-year-old singer wrote. "Since this time I have chosen to remain private and to focus on what is most important to me: my family and my music."
In 2012, session guitarist Charles "Skip" Pitts died of cancer at 65.
In 2013, a Minnesota man was accused of pretending to be a member of Pink Floyd at a US hospital racked up as much as $100,000 in unpaid medical bills. Phillip Michael Schaeffer, 53, went for treatment April 20 and claimed he was Pink Floyd singer-guitarist David Gilmour and that he didn't have health insurance. The man was treated and released from the St. Cloud Hospital, Minnesota, but not before he signed an autograph for an employee’s son.
In 2013, Chris Kelly, one half of the 1990s rap duo Kris Kross, died in an Atlanta hospital at the age of 34. Kelly had been found "unresponsive" at his home. Kris Kross was made up of Kelly, known as "Mac Daddy," and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith. They are most widely remembered for their 1992 hit 'Jump'.
