In 1927, at the Taylor Christian Hat Factory in Bristol, Tennessee, Jimmie Rodgers, later revered as "The Father of Country Music," made his first recordings, "The Soldier's Sweetheart" and "Sleep, Baby, Sleep." Three days earlier, the Carter Family – Sara, Alvin Pleasant 'A.P.,' and Maybelle – made their first recordings, "Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow,""Little Log Cabin By The Sea,""The Poor Orphan Child," and "The Storms Are On The Ocean," at the same location.
In 1956, the Platters score their third US top ten hit when "My Prayer" went to #1. The song was originally a French tune written by Georges Boulanger called "Avant de Mourir" that had English lyrics added in 1939.
In 1958, Billboard Magazine introduced its "Hot 100" chart, which was part popularity and a barometer of the movement of potential hits. The first number one song was Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool."
In 1962, the Rolling Stones played the first of 22 weekly shows at Ealing Jazz Club in Ealing, London. They were known as the Rollin' Stones during this period.
In 1963, the Beatles appear on the US record charts for the first time as "From Me To You" debuts at #116.
In 1963, the Beatles appeared at the Queen's Theatre in Blackpool. So many fans crowded around the theatre, blocking every entrance, that The Beatles had to go through a construction area, up and across some scaffolding to the roof of the theatre, from where they were lowered through a trap door.
In 1965, ABC-TV's "Shindig!" featured performances by the Dixie Cups, the Righteous Brothers, Jackie and Gayle, Marianne Faithfull, and Bobby Sherman.
In 1966, a ban on the broadcast of Beatles records in South Africa and on some US radio stations went into effect in response to John Lennon saying the band was more popular than Jesus.
In 1966, the Temptations released the single "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep."
In 1967, a female Monkees fan stowed away on the bands plane between shows in Minneapolis and St Louis. The girl's father threatened to bring charges for transporting a minor across state lines.
In 1968, the second day of the two day Newport Pop Festival took place in Costa Mesa, California with Blue Cheer, Eric Burdon & the Animals, Grateful Dead, Illinois Speed Press, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and the Byrds. Over 100,000 fans attended the festival.
In 1973, jazz guitarist/bandleader Eddie Condon, who had his own jazz nightclub in New York City from 1945 to1967, died at the age of 67.
In 1973, Maureen McGovern started a two-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with the insipid “The Morning After.”
In 1975, Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and his wife were both badly injured when the hired car he was driving spun off the road and crashed on the Greek island of Rhodes. Plant smashed both his ankle and his elbow, and was not fully fit for the best part of two years. A forthcoming North American Led Zeppelin tour had to be cancelled.
In 1979, Led Zeppelin played their first show in the UK in four years at Knebworth Park before 120,000 people.
In 1979, a benefit concert was held to raise money for Little Feat guitarist and singer Lowell George featuring members of his band plus Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt.
In 1980, "Magic" by Olivia Newton-John was the #1 song.
In 1988, Brenda Lee filed a $20 million suit against MCA Records, alleging the label had underpaid her royalties. There was an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed amount.
In 1990, three armed bandits carrying handguns and a phony hand grenade stole nearly $300,000 in merchandising receipts from a New Kids on the Block concert at Olympic Stadium in Montréal. Police suspected it was an inside job because the robbers had security passes to get backstage.
In 1990, Mariah Carey's started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Vision Of Love," which was her debut release.
In 1996, Oasis played two sold out nights at Balloch Castle Country Park, Loch Lomand, Scotland to over 80,000 fans. Oasis roadie James Hunter was crushed to death between a fork-lift truck and a lorry during the bands two days shows.
In 2001, the News Of The World reported that Mariah Carey had hired a private eye to spy on her ex husband, record boss Tommy Mottola. Investigator Jack Palladino told the paper that Mariah believed her ex husband was conducting a smear campaign against the singer
In 2002, Bruce Springsteen scored his fifth US #1 album with 'The Rising' (which also hit #1 in the UK).
Also in 2005, the iTunes Music Store in Japan officially opened with one million songs available.
In 2007, singer-songwriter Lee Hazlewood died of cancer, in his home near Las Vegas at age 78. Hazlewood wrote and produced many of Nancy Sinatra’s most famous hits, including “These Boots Were Made for Walkin’,” “Jackson” and “Did You Ever?” He also produced Duane Eddy and Gram Parsons as well as “Something Stupid” – the duet Nancy recorded with her father Frank in 1967.
In 2009, a Federal jury ruled that a 25-year-old Boston University graduate student must pay $675,000 to four music companies for illegally downloading and distributing more than two dozen songs. The man said that he would file for bankruptcy protection.
In 2009, the iTunes Music Store was officially launched in Mexico.
In 2010, the Beach Boys' publishing company, Rondor Music, was threatening to file a lawsuit against Katy Perry for using the lyrics to the band's classic song, "California Girls" on her new song of the same name. A spokesman said "Using the words or melody in a new song taken from an original work is not appropriate under any circumstances, particularly from one as well known and iconic as 'California Girls'."
In 2010, Don Henley reached an out-of-court settlement with Republican Senatorial candidate Chuck DeVore, who used parodies of two of the singer's hits for an election campaign without permission. "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" and "The Boys of Summer" were used in campaign videos on YouTube as "All She Wants To Do Is Tax" and "Hope Of November."
In 2012, blues/session guitarist Johnnie Bassett, who backed Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Little Willie John, Dinah Washington, the Miracles, John Lee Hooker, and Tina Turner, among others, died of cancer at 76.
