In 1922, singer Ada Jones, the most popular female vocalist of the early 20th century, died of kidney failure at age 48. Between 1905 and 1922, she had an astounding 108 Top 10 singles, seven of which went to #1.
In 1954, Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman) celebrated his bar mitzvah.
In 1955, a Fats Domino concert was canceled in Bridgeport, CT because policed feared a rock 'n' roll riot would occur.
In 1960, the Brothers Four sang "Greenfields" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1961, Ernie K Doe went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Mother In Law." The song was written and produced by Allen Toussaint who also played the piano solo. Huey Lewis and the News recorded the song for the 1994 covers album, Four Chords & Several Years Ago.
In 1964, the Beatles arrived back from their first US trip at Heathrow Airport and were greeted by thousands of screaming fans. Also on this day The Beatles scored their second US #1 album with 'The Beatles Second Album'. It displaced 'Meet The Beatles!' from the top of the charts.
In 1965, the Beatles went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Ticket To Ride," the group's eighth US #1. The American single's label declared that the song was from the United Artists release Eight Arms to Hold You. This was the original title of the Beatles' second movie; the title changed to Help! after the single was initially released.
In 1965, Barbra Streisand released the album 'My Name Is Barbra,' a few weeks after her Emmy Award-winning television special of the same title aired on CBS.
In 1966, Bruce Springsteen, at age 16, began his songwriting career in the back of a 1961 Mercury en route to a recording studio.
In 1967, "Groovin’" by the Young Rascals was the #1 song.
In 1967, on NBC-TV's "Tonight Show," Florence Ballard appeared with the Supremes for the last time.
In 1968, Frank Sinatra appeared at Oakland Coliseum, California and was backed by a full orchestra. The concert was a Democratic Party fundraiser.
In 1968, Cream’s 'Disraeli Gears' goes gold. Containing the war-horse “Sunshine of Your Love,” and the psychedelic cut "Strange Brew." The cover art was created by Australian artist Martin Sharp who lived in the same building as Clapton. The front cover consists of a psychedelic collage with the albums title centred and the band name below, surrounded by a floral arrangement. Sharp was attempting to capture the sound of the music in the cover, which he describes as a "warm florescent sound."
In 1970, this week's UK Top 5 singles: #5, "Daughter Of Darkness," Tom Jones, #4, "Question," The Moody Blues, #3, "Yellow River," Christie, #2, "Spirit In The Sky," Norman Greenbaum and #1, "Back Home," The England World Cup Squad.
In 1971, the Rolling Stones album 'Sticky Fingers' started a four-week run at #1 on the US charts, the group's second US #1 album. The artwork for Sticky Fingers, which, on the original vinyl release, featured a working zipper that opened to reveal cotton briefs, was conceived by American pop artist Andy Warhol. The cover, a photo of Joe Dallesandro's crotch clad in tight blue jeans, was assumed by many fans to be an image of Mick Jagger. The album also features the first usage of the "Tongue and Lip Design" designed by John Pasche. It’s alsoguitarist Mick Taylor’s first full album with the group since replacing Brian Jones.
In 1972, in Seattle, the Guess Who recorded their 'Live at the Paramount' album.
In 1976, Wings started a five week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Silly Love Songs," McCartney's fifth US #1 since leaving The Beatles.
In 1976, the Doobie Brothers album, 'Takin’ It To The Streets,' peaked at #8 and sells over a million copies.
In 1980, U2 started their 11 O'Clock Tick Tock tour London.
In 1980, in New York, five gold records that belonged to Jimi Hendrix were stolen from the Electric Ladyland studios.
In 1987, Roy Orbison was the musical guest on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live."
In 1989, Rap group Public Enemy fired one of its members, Professor Griff, after he made anti-Semitic remarks in the Washington Post.
In 1992, Ringo Starr released 'Time Takes Time,' his tenth studio album, but first in nine years.
In 1997, Fleetwood Mac begin recording their “live” concert on an L.A. soundstage. The performance was played on both MTV and VH1.
In 1999, ticket demand turns a five show gig in July at New Jersey’s Continental Airlines Arena into a fifteen show stand for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The reunion shows set the record for one stay at a single arena.
In 2003, the final manuscript of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which was annotated by the composer, sold at an auction for $3.47 million.
In 2004, dozens of people were sent to the hospital and more than 200 are treated for heat exhaustion (temperatures near 90 degrees) at a music festival in Washington, D.C. An estimated crowd of 60,000 attend the show, which includes performances by the Offspring, Lostprophets, P.O.D. and Papa Roach.
In 2006, the J. Geils Band's entire original lineup performed together in their hometown of Boston at a private party celebrating bassist Dick Klein's 60th birthday. It reportedly was the first time the six members play together onstage in more than 20 years.
Also in 2006, Led Zeppelin received the Polar Music Prize -- Sweden's most prestigious music award. The award was the result of the group's "playful and experimental music [whose] eclectic elements" helped "define the genre of Hard Rock." The surviving members are presented with a check worth $123,000 by the King of Sweden.
In 2008, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Radiohead were recognized for their songwriting accomplishments at Britain's prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in London. Gilmour takes a Lifetime Achievement trophy. "It's been a long, bumpy and exhilarating road," says Gilmour. Radiohead receives the Album Award for "In Rainbows."
In 2011, Faye Treadwell, former manager of the Drifters, died at the age of 84.
In 2012, British newspaper The Sun, reported that Mick Jagger's lavish Caribbean holiday home on Mustique was available for hire, at £9,500 a week, but added that Mick, demanded full details of applicants’ backgrounds, including professions, before they were even considered. Bandmate Keith Richards’ beach-front Caribbean holiday home at Parrot Cay Resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands was also alvaible for rent, at £35,000 a week.
In 2013, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, President Barack Obama presented the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, an award given by the Library of Congress, to songwriter/singer/pianist Carole King, who became only the fifth recipient and first woman to receive the honor. The ceremony included performances of King songs by Gloria Estefan, Billy Joel, Emeli Sande, Jesse McCartney, James Taylor and Trisha Yearwood, and was televised nationally by PBS stations six days later.
