In 1943, Frank Sinatra recorded "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning" and "People Will Say We're In Love," which became a two-sided hit single for him later that year.
In 1955, in Memphis, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash made a joint appearance at the Overton Park Band Shell.
In 1957, Sonny Bono was hired by Specialty Records as their Hollywood "artists & repertoire" man.
In 1958, the Coasters were the guest performers on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand" on its first-year anniversary show.
In 1959, at RCA Victor’s Music Center of the World studios in New York City, Della Reese recorded "Don't You Know," a song adapted from the aria "Musetta's Waltz" in Puccini's "La Boheme." It became Reese's first single for RCA Victor and the biggest hit record of her career.
In 1959, Frankie Avalon's "Just Ask Your Heart" was released and it sold a reported 200,000 copies nationally (10,000 in Chicago alone).
In 1960, Johnny Cash's backup band, the Tennessee Two, became the Tennessee Three with the addition of drummer W. S. "Fluke" Holland. A pioneer in the use of drums in rock 'n' roll music, Holland had played on Carl Perkins' recording of "Blue Suede Shoes" and on the Sun Records "Million Dollar Quartet" session.
In 1964, at Western Recorders in Los Angeles, Brian Wilson produced the instrumental track for the Beach Boys'"When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)." The vocals and guitar solo were overdubbed five days later.
In 1965, Jan Berry of Jan and Dean was accidentally knocked off a camera car and broke his leg on the first day of filming a new film Easy Come, Easy Go. Several other people were also hurt, causing Paramount to cancel the movie entirely.
In 1966, the Beatles released the single "Eleanor Rigby" b/w "Yellow Submarine.""Eleanor Rigby" spent four weeks at #1 on the British charts, but in the US it only reached the eleventh spot. The song was nominated for three Grammys and won the 1966 Grammy for Best Contemporary (R&R) Vocal Performance, Male or Female for McCartney. "Yellow Submarine" went to #1 on every major British chart, remained at #1 for four weeks and charted for 13 weeks. It also won an Ivor Novello Award for the highest certified sales of any single issued in the UK in 1966.
In 1968, country guitarist Luther Perkins died at the age of 40 as a result of severe burns and smoke inhalation. Perkins fell asleep at home in his den with a cigarette in his hand. He was dragged from the fire unconscious with severe second and third degree burns. Perkins never regained consciousness. He worked with Johnny Cash and The Carter Family and featured on the live album At Folsom Prison.
In 1969, George Harrison had his new Moog synthesizer brought into the studio for the Beatles to use in finishing their forthcoming album Abbey Road.
In 1971, "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" by the Bee Gees was the #1 song.
In 1972, in New York, CBS Records executive Clive Davis caught Aerosmith's act at the club Max's Kansas City and immediately signed them to the label for $125,000.
In 1972, one of the UK's first 1950s revival shows, "The London Rock & Roll Show," was held at Wembley Stadium and featured Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley, Bo Diddley, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
In 1972, the Moody Blues re-released the single "Nights in White Satin," almost five years after it was first issued.
In 1975, Stevie Wonder signed a $13 million contract with Motown, the largest contract to date.
In 1976, "The Beach Boys: It's OK" TV special (with guests John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) aired on NBC.
In 1977, the Police, the Clash, the Damned, the Boys, the Rich Kids, Electric Kellar and Asphelt Jungle all appeared at the Mont de Marsan Punk festival in France.
In 1978, the Rolling Stones went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1978 with "Miss You," the group's eighth US #1 hit.
In 1979, Def Leppard signed a recording contract with Polygram that provided them with an advance of $180,000 plus a 10% royalty on 100% of sales for the first two years.
In 1983, Crosby Stills Nash & Young member David Crosby was sentenced to five years in jail in Texas for cocaine and firearms offences. Crosby had slept through most of his trial. (the conviction was overturned after he spends less than a year in prison).
In 1985, Bruce Springsteen began the fourth leg of his "Born in the USA" world tour at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C.
In 1989, in Boston, Rod Stewart headlined a sold-out Terry Fox benefit concert that raised nearly $175,000 for the American Cancer Society. Fox died in 1981 after trying to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
In 1990, in St. Louis while on her "Rhythm Nation World Tour," Janet Jackson passed out backstage at the St. Louis Arena after performing three songs. Three concerts had to be cancelled and two were postponed while the singer dealt with a viral infection.
In 1992, Jeff Porcaro, drummer from Toto, died at age 38. His death has been the subject of controversy: some say the attack was caused by an allergic reaction to garden pesticide, while others say Porcaro’s heart was weakened by smoking and cocaine use. Porcaro also worked with many other acts, including Sonny and Cher, Roger Waters, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Steely Dan, Paul Simon and Boz Scaggs.
In 1993, Randy Hobbs, bassist for the McCoys on their 1965 hit, "Hang On Sloopy," passed away at the age of 45.
In 1995, in High River, Alberta, the all-Canadian Big Sky Concert began. The three-day event featured 33 acts – including Bryan Adams, Tom Cochrane, Anne Murray, and Céline Dion – and raised about $1 million for the Adventurer's Foundation for Youth.
In 1998, George Strait set the record for most lifetime Country Music Association nominations with 47.
In 1999, music written by Johann Sebastian Bach was found in the Ukraine. The music was thought to have been destroyed over 50 years ago during World War II. The material was found in the musical estate of Carl Phillipp Emanuel Bach, who was on of J.S. Bach's children.
In 2000, police were called to Gary Glitter's West London home after a crowd gathered outside and started to shout abuse. The former pop star was back in London to attend to business affairs before heading abroad again.
In 2005, Bob Dylan's song "Like a Rolling Stone" topped a poll of rock and film stars to find the music, movies, TV shows and books that changed the world. The 1965 single beat Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" into second place in a survey for Uncut magazine. Sir Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher, Robert Downey Jr, Rolling Stone Keith Richards and Lou Reed were among those who gave their opinions.
In 2005, a report by 560 UK undertakers revealed that bereaved families preferred pop songs to Hymns at funerals. "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler was the most requested song, along with Robbie Williams "Angels," Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and Elton John's "Candle In The Wind." Among the most unusual songs played was Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust."
In 2006, hundreds of KISS fans, some in full face paint, protested outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, demanding that the band be inducted. According to a Rock Hall rep, the half-hour demonstration was the first of its kind. KISS became eligible for inclusion in the Rock Hall 10 years earlier.
In 2007, DNA testing on about a dozen people who claimed late soul star James Brown was their father revealed that at least two of them were telling the truth. A former adviser for the singer, Buddy Dallas, said he could not confirm exact figures, as further test results were forthcoming. His will, which was being disputed in court, named six children.
In 2007, Beatles fans feared the misuse of the Fab Four’s music had hit rock bottom following the decision to license "All You Need Is Love" for use in a nappy advert. Procter & Gamble had purchased the rights to use the song from Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which now owned Northern Songs, the Beatles’ catalogue. The ad featured a baby jumping on a teddy bear in a disposable nappy which offered "ultimate leak protection."
In 2007, Pearl Jam headlined the closing night of Lollapalooza in Chicago. During the show, lyrics criticizing President Bush are censored from a live webcast by AT&T Inc. The lines are cut from a rendition of "Daughter" (with a part to the tune of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall") include "George Bush, leave this world alone," the second time it was sung, and "George Bush find yourself another home." Days later AT&T says they made a mistake (no kidding). Following the incident Pearl Jam posts a notice. "This troubles us . . . as citizens concerned with the issue of censorship and the increasingly consolidated control of the media," writes the band. They also promise to "work harder to ensure live broadcasts or webcasts are ‘free from arbitrary edits’."
In 2008, Experience Hendrix, a DVD with footage from a pair of ’02 all-star Jimi Hendrix tribute concerts, was in stores. Filmed in San Diego and Seattle, the 17 song set includes performances by Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Double Trouble ("Voodoo Chile"), Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, Living Colour ("Crosstown Traffic") and former Hendrix bandmates Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles.
In 2009, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler suffered serious injuries when he falls off a catwalk during the band's concert at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Tyler was airlifted to a hospital for treatment. He had a broken shoulder, gashes in his back and his head needs stitches. With Tyler on the mend, Aerosmith pulls the plug on the remaining dates. "Words can't express the sadness I feel for having to cancel this tour," says guitarist Joe Perry. "We hope we can get the Aerosmith machine up and running again as soon as possible."
In 2009, a 53-year-old who claimed he was secretly engaged to Miley Cyrus was charged with trying to stalk the singer. Mark McLeod was arrested after trying to contact the Hannah Montana actress on a film set near Savannah, Georgia. McLeod claimed he had met Cyrus 18 months earlier and that she had accepted his marriage proposal. He told police that Cyrus' father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, approved of their relationship and that Cyrus had sent him "secret messages" through her TV show.
In 2009, plans for a free show to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the legendary Woodstock music festival were cancelled by Michael Lang, one of the original promoters. Lang told Rolling Stone magazine that the reason for the cancellation was "Money. No sponsors."
In 2013, the Turtles' Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman led a $100 million class action lawsuit against SiriusXM, claiming the satellite radio provider infringed on millions of old recordings from a multitude of artists.
