In 1940, the Ink Spots recorded "Maybe." By the fall of that year, it had reached #2 on the record chart and stayed there for six weeks, runnerup to Bing Crosby's "Only Forever" which held the top spot for nine weeks.
In 1949, a "star was born" at Nashville's Grand Old Opry when Hank Williams performed his new single, "Lovesick Blues." He was called back for six encores, a Ryman Auditorium record.
In 1954, the Spaniels debuted at the Apollo Theater.
In 1957, Elvis Presley released the single "Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear" b/w "Loving You." The song was a US number-one hit for Elvis Presley during the summer of 1957, staying at #1 for 7 weeks, and his third of the four that he would have that year. "(Let Me be Your) Teddy Bear" would also hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers List, becoming his fourth number one on that chart.
In 1958, Jerry Lee Lewis discovered that the scandal surrounding his marriage to his teenaged second cousin was not confined to England, after he returned to the U.S. and was booed off a New York City stage. A second show was cancelled due to poor ticket sales, and Lewis' career seemed to be in shambles.
Also in 1958, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Elvis Presley recorded "I Got Stung."
In 1960, drummer Tommy Moore makes the fateful decision to quit The Beatles and return to his job of driving a forklift at Garston bottle works. He would briefly be replaced by Norman Chapman, who was called into National Service after just three gigs. After going drummerless and mostly jobless for a few weeks, the band would hire Pete Best on August 12th, only one day before they were to go to Hamburg to play a string of club dates.
In 1962, the Beatles recorded a BBC radio program, "Here We Go", at the Playhouse Theatre in Manchester, in front of a studio audience composed largely of loyal Cavern fans. This was the last recording on which Pete Best played drums.
On this day in 1964, "Chapel Of Love" by the Dixie Cups was the #1 song.
In 1964, Chicago police break up a Rolling Stones press conference in the middle of Michigan Avenue.
In 1964, Manfred Mann recorded "Do Wah Diddy Diddy." The now legendary cut (and bar band and wedding band staple) was released on July 10 and spent two weeks #1 in the UK Singles Chart in August and two weeks at the #1 spot in the US Billboard Hot 100 in October.
In 1965, the Beatles are announced as recipients of the Members of the British Empire award by Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Protests poured into Buckingham Palace. MP Hector Dupuis said 'British Royalty has put me on the same level as a bunch of vulgar numbskulls'.
In 1966, European radio stations mistakenly report that the Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey is dead. Actually, it was guitarist Pete Townshend who was only injured in a car accident a few days earlier.
In 1966, in Hollywood, Elvis Presley began shooting his 26th feature film, "Double Trouble," co-starring Annette Day, John Williams, Yvonne Romain, and the Wiere Brothers.
In 1966, the Rolling Stones had the top song in the US with "Paint It Black," the first #1 Pop single to feature a sitar on the recording.
Also in 1966, Melody Maker magazine reports that Eric Clapton has split from John Mayall's Bluebreakers, Jack Bruce has left Manfred Mann and Ginger Baker quit The Graham Bond Organization, to form a new group called Cream.
In 1967, the Mamas & the Papas sang "Dedicated To The One I Love" and "Creeque Alley" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
Also in 1967, printed in this week's music weekly Melody Maker's ad's pages, 'Freaky lead guitarist, bass and drummer wanted for Marc Bolan's new group. Also any other astral flyers like with car's amplification and that which never grows in window boxes, phone Wimbledon 0697.'
In 1968, a fire in a London recording studio interrupted the Rolling Stones while they were recording "Sympathy For The Devil" for their 'Beggars Banquet' album.
Also in 1968, at EMI studios in London, John Lennon worked on "Revolution 9" in studio 3, while Paul McCartney recorded "Blackbird" in studio 2.
In 1969, the Beatles were at #1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Ballad Of John and Yoko' the group's 17th UK #1. Only two Beatles played on the track, John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
In 1976, Wild Cherry's single "Play That Funky Music" was released. It will prove to be the band's only Top 40 hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard chart by the middle of September. The song listed at #73 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 1976, AC/DC appeared at Glasgow City Hall, Scotland, on the first night of their Lock Up Your Daughters 19 date UK tour.
In 1977, KC And The Sunshine Band scored their fourth US number one hit with "I'm Your Boogie Man," a song that was written about a DJ at a Miami, Florida radio station named Robert W. Walker, who was the first to give their hit single "Get Down Tonight" airplay.
In 1985, Madonna ended her The Virgin Tour at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In 1988, Nelson Mandellas 70th birthday tribute took place at Wembley Stadium, London, featuring Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, Dire Straits, Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman, George Michael, Eric Clapton, UB40, The Eurythmics and Simple Minds. The event was broadcast live on BBC 2 to 40 different countries with an estimated audience of 1 billion.
In 1990, jazz trumpeter/bandleader Clyde McCoy died at age 86.
In 1991, Eddie Kendricks was arrested at the funeral of fellow Temptations member David Ruffin for non-payment of nearly $30,000 in child support.
In 1992, ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson join U2 onstage in Stockholm, Sweden for a rendition of "Dancing Queen".
In 1994, guitarist/recording studio executive Frank Virtue, founder/leader of the instrumental group the Virtues and owner/operator of Virtue Studios in Philadelphia, died at age 71.
In 1996, a Metallica concert at a small club in San Francisco was broadcast live via the Internet.
In 1998, Amazon opens its music selling business.
In 2000, Aaliyah went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Try Again." It became the first "airplay-only" song to reach #1 on the US singles chart (no points from a commercial single release).
In 2000, on this weeks Top 3 US album chart; Eminem, 'The Marshall Mathers LP' at #1. Kid Rock, 'The History Of Rock' at #2 and Britney Spears, 'Oops!...I Did It Again' at #3.
In 2001, Depeche Mode opened their Exciter Tour in Quebec City.
In 2002, Korn released the album 'Untouchables.' The LP featured the Grammy-winning single "Here to Stay" and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 with 434,000 copies sold during its first week. It was certified platinum on July 11, 2002 and has sold over 2,400,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan as of January 4, 2013 and over 5 million copies worldwide.
In 2003, Adam Ant was arrested after going berserk and stripping off in a London cafe. The former 1980's pop star had thrown stones at neighbour's homes smashing windows before going to the nearby cafe.
In 2004, Courtney Love surrendered to US police after allegedly assaulting a woman at the home of her former manager and ex-boyfriend. Ms Love was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. She was later released on bail. The charges related to an incident on 25 April 2004, when Ms Love allegedly assaulted a woman with a bottle and a torch at the LA home of Jim Barber.
In 2005, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin founding member and guitarist, was awarded an OBE in the Queen of England's Birthday Honours list and Queen guitarist and founding member Brian May was awarded a CBE.
In 2006, Nelly Furtado was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Maneater," the Canadian's first #1 hit five years after her first hit "I'm Like A Bird."
In 2008, the American Federation of Musicians filed a federal lawsuit against the producers of American Idol, claiming musicians were underpaid because the show's live music was re-recorded for reruns. The union filed the suit seeking unspecified damages in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleging that American Idol Productions Inc. and its subsidiary Tick Tock Productions Inc. violated a collective bargaining agreement.
Also in 2008, continuing her father's legacy of fighting for all musicians, Nancy Sinatra urged US lawmakers to approve legislation giving all musicians a royalty for songs aired on traditional radio.
In 2009, John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono received a lifetime achievement honor at the Mojo magazine awards in London, the first music prize of her career. With Lennon and as a soloist, she has made two dozen albums in 41 years.
On June 11, 2011, Pink Floyd's 1973 album 'The Dark Side Of The Moon,' re-entered the Billboard Album chart at #47, and reached the milestone of 1,000 weeks on Billboard's charts. The album, which was released in 1973, has done consistently well reaching #1 on more than one occasion.
In 2012, Lisa Marie Presley, who owns Graceland and a minority stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises, gave her approval for her father's image to be turned into a hologram, with possible uses that range from a duets album and a TV drama series to appearances at the Graceland mansion in Memphis and perhaps on the road.
In 2013, jazz guitarist/composer Johnny Smith died at age 90.
In 2013, Simon & Schuster announced a deal with Ringo Starr to publish his children's book, "Octopus' Garden," based on a song the drummer wrote and sang while with the Beatles. Meanwhile, Starr was on hand at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles for the opening of "Ringo: Peace & Love," an exhibition of artifacts from his life and career, from childhood snapshots to his pink satin suit from Sgt. Pepper, and complete drum kits dating from his 1960s appearances as a member of the Beatles on TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show" to more recent appearance as leader of his All-Starr Band.
birthdays today include (to name a few): Joey Dee (Joey Dee & the Starliters) (74), John Lawton (Uriah Heep, Lucifer's Friend) (68), Glenn Leonard (Temptations) (67), Skip Alan (Them, Pretty Things) (66), Frank Beard (ZZ Top) (65), Graham Russell (Air Supply) (64), Donnie Van Zandt (.38 Special) (62) and Joey Santiago (Pixies) (49)