In 1950, the King Cole Trio, featuring pianist/vocalist Nat "King" Cole and backed by the Stan Kenton Orchestra, recorded the Milton DeLugg composition "Orange Colored Sky."
In 1955, Elvis Presley attended a meeting in Memphis with his manager Bob Neal, Colonel Tom Parker and Vernon Presley, at which a new contract is signed that names Colonel Parker as "special advisor" with control of virtually every aspect of Elvis' career. Parker was not really a Colonel at all, but a Dutch immigrant named Andreas Cornelius van Kujik, whose honorary title was given to him in 1948 by Governor Jimmie Davis of Louisiana. He was a flamboyant promoter whose pre-Elvis experience included shows called The Great Parker Pony Circus and Tom Parker And His Dancing Turkeys and was a veteran of carnivals, medicine shows and various other entertainment enterprises.
In 1955, after hearing that RCA Victor had bid $20,000 to land Elvis Presley, Columbia Records A&R man Mitch Miller replied "no singer is worth that much."
In 1958, Buddy Holly was married to 25-year-old Maria Elena Santiago, a woman he had met only two months earlier. The wedding took place at the home of Buddy's parents in Lubbock, Texas.
In 1960, Elvis Presley's "It's Now Or Never" sits on top of the Billboard singles chart, where it would stay for a month. The record would have international sales of over 20 million and become a personal favorite of The King.
In 1963, at Western Recorders in Hollywood, Rick Nelson recorded "Fools Rush In."
In 1963, the 4 Seasons headlined a stage show at the Dundas Arena in suburban Hamilton, Ontario. Also on the bill were Dionne Warwick, Randy & the Rainbows, the Chiffons, Johnny Cymbal, and Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, all backed by Carl Holmes & the Commanders. Tickets were $1.75 each.
In 1964, trying to capitalize on the Beatles' film success, MGM signs the Dave Clark Five to a movie contract for picture called 'Having A Wild Weekend.'
In 1965, Otis Redding released the single of his composition "Respect."
In 1966, Bobby Darin recorded Tim Hardin's "If I Were A Carpenter."
In 1966, during a US tour the Beatles appeared at the D.C. Stadium in Washington DC to over 32,000 fans. Tickets cost $3. Five members of the Ku Klux Klan, led by the Imperial Wizard of Maryland, picketed the concert.
In 1967, Fleetwood Mac appeared at the Marquee Club London, England.
In 1969, during a North American tour Led Zeppelin appeared at the Hemisfair Arena in San Antonio. Jethro Tull and Sweet Smoke were also on the bill. During the show Zeppelin received abuse from locals due to the length of their hair.
Also in 1969, Three Dog Night were awarded a Gold record for their self-titled debut album. The LP featured two modest selling 45s, "Nobody" and "Try A Little Tenderness" and the group had moved on to record their second album, 'Suitable for Framing' when ABC Dunhill released a third single, "One." It shot to #5 in the US and subsequent copies of the LP were labeled 'Three Dog Night - One.'
In 1970, Derek and the Dominoes appeared at Tofts Club, Folkestone, England.
In 1971, singer Thomas Wayne was killed in a car crash aged 29. Had the 1959 US No.5 single "Tragedy."
In 1972, in Philadelphia, the Eagles performed in concert at the Spectrum.
In 1979, the futuristic satire film 'Americathon' premiered in Los Angeles featuring Meat Loaf. The soundtrack included songs by the Beach Boys, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello.
In 1980, George Harrison's autobiography, "I Me Mine," went on sale. It was named named after the song he wrote and sang more than ten years earlier for the Beatles'"Let It Be" album. Originally offered as a hand-bound edition limited to 2000 signed copies, the book, with forward written by Beatles press officer Derek Taylor, quickly sold out and was subsequently published in hardback and paperback. In 2002, "I Me Mine" was re-published with a new foreword from Olivia Harrison, George's widow.
In 1982, during a North American tour Queen played at the Civic Centre, St. Paul, Minnesota.
In 1984, musician/composer/record producer Norman Petty died of leukemia at age 57.
In 1985, "Shout" by Tears For Fears was the #1 song.
In 1987, Michael Jackson had his third UK #1 with the single "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," a duet with Siedah Garrett. It was originally intended to be a duet between Jackson and either Barbra Streisand or Whitney Houston. Session singer Siedah Garrett also worked with Madonna.
In 1987, in observance of the upcoming tenth anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, thousands of people visited his grave at Graceland in Memphis.
In 1990, country music singer Lew DeWitt, a founding member of the Statler Brothers, died of heart and kidney disease stemming from complications of Crohn's disease at age 52.
In 1991, Paul Simon gave a free concert in Central Park, New York in front of 600,000 people. The performance was released later in the year as "Paul Simon's Concert in the Park".
In 1992, Jamaican singer-song writer Jackie Edwards died. Edwards worked as a singer, songwriter for Island Records. He wrote both "Keep On Running" and "Somebody Help Me," that became #1 singles for the Spencer Davis Group as well as releasing his own albums.
In 1992, Boyz II Men started a 13 week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "End Of The Road," the group's first US #1. Taken from the Eddie Murphy film 'Boomerang', it broke the 36-year-old record held by Elvis for the longest run at #1.
In 1992, INXS went to #1 on the UK album chart with 'Welcome To Whoever You Are', their first UK #1 album.
In 1993, soul singer Edward Roberts, a member of Ruby & the Romantics, died of cancer.
In 1995, the Dublin hotel owned by U2 'The Clarence' was damaged by a fire which took over three hours to control. Also 'The Kitchen' nightclub in the same building was affected by the fire and was evacuated.
In 1996, a woman's shelter on Long Island, New York refused to accept money from a benefit concert featuring James Brown. Brown's wife had accused him of assaulting her in the past.
In 1997, Tony Nicole Tony Records filed suit against Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS for alleged intentional interference with KISS drummer Peter Criss' contract with the label. The suit maintained that Simmons and Stanley convinced Criss to break his contract with the label.
In 1998, Boyzone scored their fourth UK #1 single with "No Matter What," making them the first Irish group to have four #1 singles. Also Boyzone became the first act in history to reach the Top 5 with their first 12 single releases. The song came from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'Whistle Down The Wind.'
In 2002, a memorial to John Lennon was unveiled in the remote Scottish village of Durness, where Lennon had spent his holidays from age seven to fifteen. The lyrics from "In My Life" were inscribed on three stones.
In 2005, Sly Stone made a rare public appearance when he appeared at Hollywood's Knitting Factory to watch his little sister Vet perform with a Sly And The Family Stone tribute band.
In 2006, Deana Martin's album 'Memories Are Made of This' was released. The album featured her versions of many of her father's hits and other hits by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr..
In 2007, the Osmond Brothers, joined by siblings Donny, Marie and Jimmy, took the stage for the taping of a 50th anniversary reunion show to be aired on PBS. A meeting of no less than seven singing Osmonds onstage hadn't happened in more than 20 years, although no one could remember the exact date of the last full family concert.
In 2008, record producer Jerry Wexler, who influenced the careers of singers including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Bob Dylan, died at his home in Sarasota, Florida aged 91. Wexler produced the Aretha Franklin hit "Respect," the Wilson Pickett song, "In the Midnight Hour" and helped Bob Dylan win his first Grammy award by producing the 1979 album, 'Slow Train Coming.' He also coined the term ‘rhythm and blues’ while writing for Billboard magazine in the late 1940s.
In 2009, U2's first UK gig on their current tour broke the attendance record for a Wembley Stadium concert. Over 88,000 people attended the show.
In 2009, Fabolous was at #1 on the US album chart with 'Loso's Way, the rappers fifth studio album.
In 2010, Robert Wilson, bassist for the Gap Band, passed away at the age of 53. In a career that started in the late '70s, the group had four Platinum albums and fifteen US Top Ten hits, including four that made it to number one.
In 2011, KISS was cut from a Michael Jackson tribute concert because of comments made by bassist Gene Simmons last year when he told Classic Rock magazine "No matter what my fond memories and fond images of Michael were, with one allegation of pedophilia after another and another and another... Oh dear."
In 2012, bassist Bob Birch, who backed Elton John for 20 years, died on an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 56.
In 2012, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley made a surprise visit to Graceland on the eve of the 35th anniversary of Elvis' death. The pair spoke to the surprised crowd from an elevated platform where Lisa Marie said "I've always avoided this because I felt that it would be too emotional, but I really felt it was important to come down here tonight."
birthdays today include (among others): Pete York (Spencer Davis Group) (72), Tommy Aldridge (Black Oak Arkansas, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake) (64), Vinny Denunzio (Feelies) (55), Marcia Schofield (Fall) (52) and Tim Foreman (Switchfoot) (36)