In 1954, guitarist Danny Cedrone died following a freak accident; 10 days after he had recorded the lead guitar break on ‘Rock Around The Clock’ with Bill Haley and His Comets. Session player Cedrone was paid $21 for his work on the session, as at that time Haley chose not to hire a full-time guitarist for his group. He died of a broken neck after falling down a staircase.
In 1954, the British music magazine Record Mirror was published for the first time.
In 1955, after a month of booking gigs in larger venues in Dallas and Houston, Colonel Tom Parker arranges a meeting with Elvis Presley's manager, Bob Neal, which results in an agreement that will see the Colonel handle Presley's show dates and career strategy from now on.
In 1958, in New York, Bobby Darin recorded "Early In The Morning," which was released as being by the Ding Dongs on the Brunswick label, then as the Rinky-Dinks on Atco.
In 1962, the Dave Brubeck Quartet performed "Take Five" on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1964, Jay and The Americans record the Tex-Mex hit, "Come A Little Bit Closer," which would climb to #3 in the US by the following November.
In 1965, working at Abbey Road studios in London, the Beatles completed work on the new Paul McCartney song "Yesterday" with the overdubbing of an additional vocal track by McCartney and a string quartet. They also recorded "Act Naturally" for Ringo's vocal contribution on the ‘Help!’ album and the song "Wait," in four takes. "Wait" will not be included on ‘Help!,' it was included on the following LP, ‘Rubber Soul.'
In 1965, the Kinks and the Moody Blues made their US concert debut at the Academy of Music in New York City.
In 1966, guitarist and future Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green started a one-year stint with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers after Eric Clapton departed the band.
In 1966, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles finished recording "Got To Get You Into My Life." Paul McCartney later disclosed that the song is about marijuana, not a person.
In 1966, the Moody Blues and Danny Hutton guested on ABC-TV's "Where The Action Is."
In 1967, Moby Grape released 5 singles simultaneously on CBS Records.
In 1967, in New York's Central Park, Barbra Streisand sang for 135,000 fans at a free concert that was recorded and later released as a CBS-TV special and a soundtrack album called 'A Happening In Central Park.'
In 1968, the Ohio Express are awarded a Gold record for their Bubble Gum hit, "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy." In TIME magazine's 2011 list of top 10 songs with silly lyrics it ranked #8.
In 1969, Charles Mingus came out of a two-year, self-imposed retirement to make a concert appearance at the Village Vanguard in New York City.
In 1971, Carole King saw her 'Tapestry' album hit #1 in the US for the first of 15 consecutive weeks. The LP contained such classic tracks as "It's Too Late,""I Feel the Earth Move,""So Far Away,""Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" and "You've Got a Friend." The Grammy Award winning disc is considered by many to be one of the best rock 'n' roll albums of all time.
In 1972, keyboardist Ron (Pigpen) McKernan played his final gig with the Grateful Dead at the Hollywood Bowl. He would die the following March of alcohol-induced liver failure and internal bleeding.
In 1972, Don McLean earned his first UK #1 single in In 1972, with "Vincent." The song was written about the 19th century artist Vincent Van Gogh. The song is played daily at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
In 1972, the Rolling Stones album 'Exile On Main Street' started a four-week run at the top of the US charts in 1972 (also #1 in the UK).
In 1975, "Love Will Keep Us Together" by the Captain & Tennille was the #1 song.
In 1977, Steve Winwood released his first solo album, 'Steve Winwood."
In 1977, NBC-TV's "The Midnight Special" featured guest host Neil Sedaka and performances by Fleetwood Mac, Van Morrison, George Benson, Carole Bayer Sager, and Kenny Rogers.
In 1978, "You're The One That I Want" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John started a nine week run at #1 on the UK singles chart. The song was from the film Grease.
In 1978, in St. Goarhausen, West Germany, Grace Slick was thought to be too drunk to go onstage with Jefferson Starship but did anyway, singing poorly and verbally abusing the audience with Nazi taunts. The crowd rioted, causing more than a million dollars in damage. Slick quit the band and did not return until 1983.
In 1980, in Dortmund, West Germany, Led Zeppelin began three weeks of European shows on what proved to be the band's last tour.
In 1983, James Brown, UB40, Fun Boy Three, The Beat, Curtis Mayfield, Jimmy Cliff, Marillion and Melanie all appeared at the Glastonbury CND Festival, Shepton Mallet, England.
In 1986, singer/radio-TV show host Kate Smith died from complications of diabetes at the age of 79.
In 1986, pianist/emcee Bert Pearl, star of CBC Radio's "The Happy Gang" (1937-1959), died at age 73.
In 1987, a St. Petersburg, Florida real estate agent named Vittoria Holman sued Mötley Crüe and a concert promoter for hearing loss allegedly incurred at a concert in December 1985. Holman and her daughter had front row seats less than 10 feet (3 meters) from a wall of speakers. The case was settled out of court when the band's insurance company paid Holman over $30,000.
In 1988 singer Jack Leonard, a featured vocalist with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (1935-1939) before beginning a solo career, died of cancer at the age of 73.
In 1989, Ringo Starr announced that he would tour again as Ringo and the All-Starr Band. Members of the group included Clarence Clemons, Joe Walsh, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Dr. John, and Billy Preston.
In 1989, New Kids On The Block went to #1 on the US singles chart with "l'll Be Loving You Forever," the group's first US #1 hit.
In 1995, Rod Stewart set an attendance record for Wembley Stadium with a concert crowd of over 90,000.
In 1997, Ozzy Osbourne cancelled his solo set and his reunion with Black Sabbath, scheduled for an Ozzfest tour stop at the Polaris Amphitheatre near Columbus, Ohio. Osbourne claimed he had lost his voice. Other groups on the bill performed as scheduled but disappointed fans set fires and damaged the outdoor facility. Twenty-three people were arrested and three were slightly hurt. Osbourne and Black Sabbath played a make-up date two weeks later.
In 1997, Jon Bon Jovi released his second solo effort 'Destination Anywhere.' The album charted at #31 on The Billboard 200, #6 on the Top Canadian albums chart and #2 on the UK Albums Chart.
In 1997, Neil Young & Crazy Horse released the live LP 'Year of the Horse.'
In 1997, Megadeath released the album 'Cryptic Writings.' The album debuted at #10 on Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum in 1998 by the RIAA.
In 1999, British shock-rocker David 'Screaming Lord' Sutch was found dead at his London home after he apparently hanged himself. He was 58.
In 2005, gospel singer Ronald Winans of the Winans vocal group died of a heart attack at 48.
In 2005, bassist Karl Mueller, a founding member of the alternative rock band Soul Asylum, died of throat cancer at age 41.
In 2006, the Who (or is it actually Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and backing musicians) return to the scene of one of their most famous gigs, England's Leeds University ("Live At Leeds"), to launch their ‘06 tour. A commemorative plaque marking the ‘70 concert is unveiled.
In 2007, the Traveling Wilburys'"Collection" rose to the top of the UK album chart. The Wilburys consisted of George Harrison, (Nelson Wilbury), Jeff Lynne, (Otis Wilbury), Roy Orbison, (Lefty Wilbury), Tom Petty, (Charlie T. Wilbury Jr.) and Bob Dylan, (Lucky Wilbury).
In 2008, in San Diego, California, George Michael began the North American leg of his 106-date 25 Live world tour at the San Diego Sports Arena.
In 2011, a computer hacker who stole songs from Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Leona Lewis, Kesha and Mariah Carey during 2009 and 2010 was sentenced to 18 months detention in Germany. A court heard how the teenager, who called himself DJ Stolen, earned more than 15,000 euros (£13,260) by breaking copyright laws and hacking personal information from a number of singers. The 18-year-old used software to steal unpublished songs and then offer them for sale on the internet. Anti-piracy teams in the UK and Germany noticed a growing number of pre-release tracks being leaked much earlier than normal. The teen was also ordered to have therapy for an addiction to the internet.
In 2012, Bruce Springsteen set his record for longest show in Madrid, Spain at 3-hours and 48-minutes.
