In 1953, Elvis Presley graduated from IC Hulmes High School in Memphis. His graduation photo shows him with a split curl in his hair, which would later become his trademark.
In 1956, a 31-year-old woman named Gogi Grant knocked Elvis out of Billboard's number one spot with a song called "The Wayward Wind". It was a tune that she recorded almost as an after thought, with just fifteen minutes of studio time remaining. Six weeks later, Elvis would be back on top with "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You".
In 1956, Patti Page saw what would be her biggest hit, "Allegheny Moon" enter the Billboard chart, where it would reach #2 during a 22 week run. In all, the Oklahoma native would place sixteen songs in the Top 40 between 1954 and 1965.
In 1956, in Cleveland, the Giant Rock 'n Roll Revue began two days of live performances at "The Hipp" (Hippodrome Theater), with Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Clyde McPhatter, the Diamonds, Don Cherry, Lonnie Donegan, Johnny Burnette & the Rock 'n Roll Trio, "Sam the Man" Taylor, the 4 Tunes, Billy Wells and the Crescents, Joe Howard and His Band, the Jodimars, and WERE's Bill Randle as emcee.
In 1956, R&B pianist/organist Bill Doggett recorded "Honky Tonk."
In 1957, at Columbia 30th Street Studio in New York City, Johnny Mathis recorded "Chances Are" and "The Twelfth Of Never." That night he performed "It's Not For Me To Say" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show." Don Rondo, also a guest on the show, sang "White Silver Sands."
In 1962, the Isley Brothers released the single "Twist and Shout." Their version, with Ronald Isley on lead vocals, was the first major hit recording of the song, peaking at #17 on the US pop top 40 charts, and #2 on the US R&B charts.
In 1962, the Konrads (featuring Dave Jay later to become David Bowie), made their live debut when they played at Bromley Technical School in Kent, England.
In 1963, the top four spots on the UK chart are held by acts from Liverpool with the Beatles at #1 ("From Me To You"), Gerry And The Pacemakers at #2 ("I Like It"), Billy J. Kramer And The Dakotas at #3 ("Do You Want To Know A Secret") and Billy Fury at #4 ("When Will You Say I Love You").
In 1965, ABC-TV's "Shindig!" featured performances by the Everly Brothers, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Gerry & the Pacemakers, and Dick & Dee Dee.
On June 15th and 16th, 1965, Bob Dylan recorded "Like A Rolling Stone" at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City, in the sessions for the forthcoming 'Highway 61 Revisited' album. On the first day, five takes of the song were recorded in a markedly different style from the eventual release. Session musicians included Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, whose Hammond organ on "Like A Rolling Stone" became one of rock's most recognizable sounds.
In 1965, Herman's Hermits were awarded their first Gold record for "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter". The song was originally an album cut that got so much air play in the US, MGM Records released it as a single.
In 1966, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (featuring guitarist Eric Clapton), appeared at The Marquee Club, London, England.
In 1966, the Beatles made a surprise live appearance on the UK television program Top of the Pops, performing "Paperback Writer" and "Rain." It became The Beatles' last live musical television appearance, with the sole exception of the June 1967 worldwide transmission of "All You Need Is Love."
In 1967, over 200,000 people attended the first Monterey Pop Festival this week in 1967. Many of the leading Rock acts of the time appeared, including Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Simon and Garfunkel, Canned Heat, The Mamas and The Papas, The Grateful Dead, Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Association, Booker T. and The MGs, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, David Crosby and Steve Miller. John Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas would later write, "San Francisco" (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) about the festival, which became a big hit for Scott McKenzie later in the year.
In 1967, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and Soft Machine both appeared at The Liverpool Love Festival in Liverpool, England.
In 1969, Captain Beefheart released 'Trout Mask Replica.' Produced by Beefheart's friend and former schoolmate Frank Zappa, it was originally released as a double album on Zappa's Straight Records label; combining elements of blues, avant-garde, free jazz and other genres The releases is often cited as a major influence on genres such as alternative rock, progressive rock, math rock and post-punk.
In 1967, the original Kingston Trio gave their final concert, although other editions of the popular vocal group would continue well into the new millennium.
In 1970, Woodstock Ventures announced that they had lost more than $1.2 million on the festival. They would eventually profit from the sale of the Woodstock sound track and related memorabilia.
In 1970, Mungo Jerry were at #1 on the UK singles chart with "In The Summertime." It went on to become the best selling UK single of 1970 spending seven weeks at #1 and was a hit in 26 other countries. The UK release was a maxi-single playing at 33 rpm, (whereas singles generally played at 45 rpm).
In 1971, Elvis Presley released the album 'Love Letters From Elvis.' The album failed to crack the top 20 of the Billboard album charts but did reach #12 on the US Top Country Albums chart and #7 on the UK best-selling albums chart.
In 1972, Roxy Music released their debut self-titled album. Rolling Stone picked the album as #62 in its list of the best debut albums of all time.
In 1975, John Lennon filed suit against the US government saying they had selectively prosecuted him to deny his immigration. Accusing them of harassment during deportation proceedings, Lennon named former US Attorneys General John Mitchell and Richard Kleindienst in the complaint.
In 1976, the Jackson Five four-week summer variety show premiered on CBS- TV featuring The Jacksons plus sisters Latoya, Rebbie and Janet.
In 1977, Kenny Rogers was at #1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lucille.' It was the American Country music singer's first of two UK #1's.
In 1978, the film Grease, with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, was originally released to theaters.
In 1978, at the Jack Clement Recording Studio in Nashville, Kenny Rogers recorded "The Gambler."
In 1978, Ringo Starr released 'Bad Boy' in North America (April 21 in the UK), his seventh solo album.
In 1979, the Electric Light Orchestra started a five-week run at #1 on the UK album chart with 'Discovery' their first #1 LP, featuring the tracks "Shine A Little Love,""Don't Bring Me Down" and "The Diary Of Horace Wimp."
In 1982, Pretenders guitarist, 25 year old James Honeyman Scott, died in his sleep in London, England. The official cause of death is "cocaine related heart failure."
In 1982, Donny Vanzant of .38 Special was arrested on stage in Tulsa, Oklahoma, (a dry town) for drinking alcohol in a public place.
In 1987, the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia gave formal permission for Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream to name a new flavor (Cherry Garcia) after him.
In 1989, the first day of the UK three day Glastonbury Festival took place featuring Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Throwing Muses, Pixies, All About Eve, Hot House Flowers, The Waterboys, Suzanne Vega and Fairground Attraction. Tickets cost £28 ($48).
In 1989, celebrating 30 years in the music business and 100 singles released, Cliff Richard performs at London's Wembley Stadium to a sell out crowd of over 72,000. Supporting acts included some old friends from his early days, Gerry And The Pacemakers, The Kalin Twins and The Searchers.
In 1990, Roxette started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "It Must Have Been Love." The song, taken from the film 'Pretty Woman' became the duo's third US #1 and a #3 hit in the UK.
In 1993, the US Postal Service released a set of seven stamps that featured Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Clyde McPhatter, Otis Redding, Ritchie Valens, Dinah Washington and Elvis Presley.
In 1994, Kristen Pfaff (Hole) died of a heroin overdose at the age of 26.
In 1995, Michael Jackson released 'HIStory.' This was Jackson's first album on his own label, MJJ Productions, and consists of two discs: the first disc (HIStory Begins) is a compilation of some of his greatest hits from 1979 forward, while the second disc (HIStory Continues) is composed entirely of new material. The album was also commercially successful, debuting and peaking at #1 in many counties, including the US, Canada, Australia, France and the UK, as well as charting within the top ten in Spain and Mexico.
In 1996, the two-day Tibetan Freedom Concert is held in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA. Over 100,000 attend. Artists included Rage Against the Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Lee Hooker, Beck, Sonic Youth, Yoko Ono, and Richie Havens.
In 1999, in Phoenix, Cher started her 122-date Believe Tour at the America West Arena.
In 1999, Screaming Lord Sutch was found dead after hanging himself. The singer turned politician was 58. He was the first long-haired pop star-boasting hair over 18 inches long and the self-styled lord (real name David Sutch), was Britain's longest-serving political leader, standing in nearly 40 elections.
In 2000, on the first night of his 'Up in Smoke' tour in Chula Vista, Snoop Dogg's tour bus was stopped at the Temecula border checkpoint in San Diego after the border patrol smelled marijuana wafting from the tour bus. One member of the crew was arrested.
In 2002, nearly twenty-five years after his death, Elvis Presley was number one again in the UK. A remix of his "A Little Less Conversation" by Dutch disc jockey JXL claimed the top spot on the British singles charts, bringing the King's total of chart-topping hits to eighteen, one more than the Beatles' current tally.
In 2008, Coldplay kicked off their Viva la Vida, 161-date world tour at the Brixton Academy in London, England.
In 2010, Gary Shider, the guitarist for Parliament-Funkadelic who was featured on their hit "One Nation Under A Groove," died from complications of cancer at the age of 56.
In 2013, Black Sabbath established a new UK chart record for the longest gap between #1 albums when their new release, '13' debuted at the top, 42 years and 8 months after their second album 'Paranoid' reached the peak.
birthdays today include: Billy "Crash" Craddock (75), Motown songwriter/producer Lamont Dozier (73), Eddie Levert (O'Jays) (72), Iain Matthews (68), Gino Vannelli (62) and Ian Mosley (Marillion) (61)