In 1953, at Manhattan Center in New York City, Perry Como recorded "No Other Love."
In 1956, Lonnie Donegan kicks off a tour of the US by appearing on The Perry Como Show, where he performs "Rock Island Line."
In 1957, Tommy Sands sang "Teenage Crush" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
Also in 1958, Ritchie Valens records the self-penned "Come On, Let's Go" for Del-Fi Records in Los Angeles. The song would peak at #42 on the Billboard singles chart the following October.
In 1958, Peggy Lee recorded her classic hit "Fever" with just three backup musicians: Joe Mondragon on bass, Shelly Manne playing drums with his fingers, and instead of using his instrument, guitarist Howard Roberts provided finger-snapping.
In 1958, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, Jerry Wallace recorded "Primrose Lane."
In 1960, Alan Freed and seven others were indicted for accepting money from six record companies in exchange for air play.
In 1960, the Drifters recorded "Save The Last Dance For Me," which will top the US chart the following October.
In 1961, the Everly Brothers launch their own record label, Calliope, intended for the purpose of discovering and developing new talent. Their own recordings will continue to be issued exclusively by Warner Brothers.
In 1962, B Bumble And The Stingers were at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Nut Rocker," an instrumental based on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite.
In 1962, Johnny Tillotson's self-penned Country ballad "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'" enters Billboard's Top 40, where it will climb to #3 and be nominated for a Grammy Award. In the UK, the song reached #31.
In 1963, another sign of growing "Beatlemania" occurred while the group was in Hanley, England touring with Roy Orbison, as female fans attempted to sneak into the Beatles' dressing room. The three girls, who used a ladder to get through the window, were caught but later released without charges after the group signed a few autographs for them.
In 1964, after reaching #4 on the Hot 100, Roger Miller's "King of the Road" was awarded a Gold record. The song was inspired by a sign in Chicago that read "Trailers for Sale or Rent" and a hobo he saw at an airport in Boise, Idaho.
In 1965, FBI agents visit Wand Records to investigate the lyrics to "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen. They would eventually release a statement that said that it was impossible to exactly decipher the lyrics from "the unintelligible rendition as performed by The Kingsmen."
In 1965, ABC-TV's "Shindig!" featured performances by Ray Charles, the Zombies, the Righteous Brothers, and Dinah Lee.
In 1967, the Beatles had a party at Brian Epstein's house to launch Sgt. Pepper.
In 1968, the 5th Dimension sang "Stoned Soul Picnic" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show.
In 1969, Coleman Hawkins, one of the most influential saxophonists in the history of jazz, died of pneumonia at the age of 64.
In 1969, the Beatles' single "Get Back" was awarded a Gold record for sales of over 1 million. Paul McCartney would later say "We were sitting in the studio and we made it up out of thin air..."
In 1973, Stevie Wonder went to #1 on the US singles chart with "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life." His third US #1, won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The record reached #7 in the UK. This song was the second single released from the album 'Talking Book.'
In 1973, after reviewers slammed Elvis Presley's debut at the Sahara resort at Lake Tahoe, and the several performance cancellations due to "illness," manager Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis' father Vernon asked Los Angeles attorney Ed Hookstratten to look into Elvis' prescription drug use and identify his main suppliers. With Elvis unwilling to cooperate, however, the investigation went nowhere.
In 1975, the Eagles released the single "One Of These Nights." It was the title track from their 'One of These Nights' LP and became their second single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart after "Best of My Love" and also helped propel the album to #1. The single version was shortened from the album version of the song, removing most of the song's intro and most of its fade-out, as well. Don Henley is lead vocalist on the verses, while Randy Meisner sings high harmony (not lead) on the refrain.
In 1976, The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards crashes his Bentley into a highway divider in Newton Pagnell, a town 50 miles north of London. Police take various substances from his vehicle and Richards will be charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana.
In 1978, the disco film "Thank God It's Friday," starring Debra Winger, Jeff Goldblum, Donna Summer, Valerie Landsburg, Chick Vennera, and Terri Nunn, premiered in New York City.
In 1979, Supertramp went to #1 on the US album chart with 'Breakfast In America,' the group's only US #1. It featured three US Billboard hit singles: "The Logical Song,""Goodbye Stranger" and "Take the Long Way Home."
In 1979, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Mick Jagger jammed together at a party at Clapton's home to celebrate his marriage to Patty Boyd.
In 1982, "Ebony And Ivory" by Paul McCartney w/ Stevie Wonder was the #1 song.
In 1984, Bob Marley and the Wailers started a 12-week run at #1 on the UK album chart with the compilation album 'Legend,' released to commemorate the third anniversary of Marley's death.
In 1986, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Kenny Rogers, Sheena Easton, Bryan Adams, and Loverboy performed at an Expo '86 gala concert in front of honored guests Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales.
In 1988, the British Phonographic Industry is rebuffed by the UK's House Of Lords when it tries to prevent electronics manufacturer Amstrad from producing and marketing a dual tape deck which makes it easy for consumers to copy cassettes. Because the company includes copyright warnings with the machine, The House ruled that they were not encouraging people to break the law.
In 1988, James Brown was arrested for the fifth time in 12 months, following a car chase near his home. He was convicted of assault, resisting arrest and possession of illegal weapons, and given a six-year jail sentence.
In 1991, Odia Coates, who sang "You're Having My Baby,""One Man Woman / One Woman Man,""I Don't Like To Sleep Alone" and "I Believe There's Nothing Stronger Than Our Love" with Paul Anka, died of breast cancer. She was 49.
In 1997, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman, formerly of the Guess Who, joined with Tom Cochrane to perform for an outdoor crowd of nearly 40,000 people in Winnipeg at a CBC-sponsored flood relief concert.
In 2000, folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary celebrated their 40th year together with a US tour that began with a three-night stand in Las Vegas.
In 2000, guitarist and founder Dickey Betts left the Allman Brothers Band, citing "creative differences."
In 2001, Mike Sammes founder of The Mike Sammes Singers died aged 73. He worked with Tom Jones, Cliff Richard and featured on The Beatles, "I Am The Walrus" and "The Long And Winding Road."
In 2001, jazz-pop singer Susannah McCorkle committed suicide at the age of 55.
In 2006, singer Freddie Garrity, leader of Freddie and the Dreamers, died of emphysema at age 69.
In 2007, songwriter/music producer Frank Guida, credited with discovering singers Gary U.S. Bonds and Jimmy Soul, died at the age of 84.
In 2008, a poem written by 16 year old Bob Dylan, who was still using his birth name, Robert Zimmerman, was slated to be offered for sale at a Christie's auction, where it was expected to sell for $10,000 to $15,000. Written on both sides of a single page, the verses tell the poignant story of a dog named Little Buddy who is killed at the hands of a drunkard, and the boy who mourns him.
In 2010, "Stairway To Heaven" was named the UK's favourite rock song in a survey by listeners to radio station Absolute Classic Rock. The band had two other tracks in the top 10; "Whole Lotta Love" was voted at #4 and "Rock 'n' Roll," from the group’s fourth album, was at #7.
In 2011, Kathy Kirby, who had five UK Top 40 hits between 1963 and 1965, including "Dance On,""Secret Love" and "Let Me Go, Lover!" died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 72.
In 2011, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler revealed he once had sex with a man during his wild youth. In his memoir, Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?, he revealed, "Gay sex just doesn't do it for me. I tried it one time when I was younger, but I just didn't dig it."
In 2012, Mick Jagger was the host and musical guest on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live" season finale.
In 2013, a guitar played by John Lennon and George Harrison sold for $408,000 (£269,000) at auction. The custom-made instrument, built in 1966 by VOX was bought by an unidentified US buyer in New York. Harrison played "I Am The Walrus" on the guitar in a scene from Magical Mystery Tour in 1967. Lennon used it in a video for "Hello, Goodbye" later that year. After playing the guitar, Lennon gave it as a 25th birthday present to Alexis "Magic Alex" Mardas, a member of the Beatles' inner circle in the 1960s.
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