In 1950, "Hard Luck Blues" by Roy Brown And His Mighty Mighty Men hit the top of the US R&B chart. Brown wrote Wynonie Harris' 1948 hit, "Good Rockin' Tonight," which is recognized by many rock historians as a precursor to the rock 'n' roll era and was covered by Elvis Presley in 1954.
In 1954, at Sun Studio in Memphis, Elvis Presley recorded "Blue Moon." His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album 'Elvis Presley.'
In 1954, the Platters, B.B. King and Johnny Otis top the bill at a sold out show at the Savoy Ballroom in Hollywood, California.
In 1955, New York City radio station WINS announced it would no longer play white artist cover versions of R&B hits. The disc jockeys were instructed to play, for example, Fats Domino's "Ain't It A Shame," not Pat Boone's rendition.
In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Bowen appeared on ABC-TV's "American Bandstand."
In 1961, the Highwaymen had the top tune on the Cashbox chart with their million selling version of the African-American spiritual "Michael" (Row the Boat Ashore). The five Wesleyan University students would achieve another hit next year with "Cotton Fields" before splitting in 1964 after eight albums and ten singles.
In 1964, the Beatles kicked off a North American tour at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, to a crowd of 17,130. Playing 12 songs which made up their repertoire for the entire tour: ‘Twist and Shout’, ‘You Can't Do That’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Things We Said Today’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Can't Buy Me Love’, ‘If I Fell’, ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’, ‘Boys’, ‘A Hard Day's Night’, and ‘Long Tall Sally’. Supporting acts were The Righteous Brothers, The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, and Jackie DeShannon.
In 1964, the Rolling Stones played the second of six shows at the New Theatre Ballroom, Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
In 1964, the High Numbers, (the Who) played at the Scene in Soho London, England in 1964.
In 1966, right before their first show at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis and while being picketed by local Ku Klux Klan members, the Beatles received an anonymous phone call warning them that at least one of them would be assassinated on stage because of John Lennon's "bigger than Jesus" comment. During their second show, a firecracker was thrown on stage and it went off, frightening the band and leading them look around to see which of them had been shot. The incident is one of the primary reasons the Beatles made this tour their last.
In 1967, the Beatles scored their 14th US #1 single with "All You Need Is Love." Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Graham Nash, Marianne Faithfull and Walker Brother Gary Leeds all sang backing vocals on the track.
In 1969, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, George Harrison overdubbed a Moog synthesizer part as the Beatles finished recording "Here Comes The Sun."
In 1969, at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama, R.B. Greaves recorded his composition, "Take A Letter Maria." The song has a Latin music flavor, complete with a mariachi-style horn section, featuring trumpets. It tells of a man who has learned of his wife's infidelity the night before, and dictates a letter of separation to Maria, his secretary. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and is certified gold by the RIAA for singles sales of one million copies.
In 1969, Crosby, Stills & Nash appeared on ABC-TV's "Dick Cavett Show" to discuss the just-concluded Woodstock festival. Jefferson Airplane also appeared on the show, as did Joni Mitchell who debuted "Woodstock," a song she wrote about the festival.
In 1970, the Carpenters released their second album, 'Close to You,' ranked #175 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
In 1971, Led Zeppelin kicked off a North American tour at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada. The band played to a sold out crowd of over 17,000 fans, another 3,000 fans outside the venue who didn't have tickets started a battle with local police.
In 1972, Chicago started a nine-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Chicago V.' The single "Saturday In The Park" was the band's biggest hit thus far, reaching #3 in the US. Chicago V was critically acclaimed and became the biggest hit album of 1972.
In 1972, NBC-TV presented "The Midnight Special" for the first time with John Denver as the first host and Wolfman Jack announcing. The first show featured War performing their million selling US hit "Slippin' Into Darkness." The last episode was aired on May 1, 1981.
In 1979, Dorsey Burnette, who reached #23 in 1960 with "There Was A Tall Oak Tree," suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 46.
In 1980, a riot broke out after Alice Cooper cancels a Toronto concert due to an asthma attack. Police arrested 31 people after debris was thrown at the stage and $25,000 in damage was done to CNE Stadium.
In 1982, in Biloxi, Mississippi, Queen performed at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
In 1988, "Crazy" by Patsy Cline, and Elvis Presley’s, "Hound Dog" were announced as the most played jukebox songs of the first hundred years. The jukebox had been around since 1906, but earlier models had been first seen in 1889.
In 1991, trumpeter/arranger/conductor/bandleader Richard Maltby, Sr. died at age 77.
In 1996, James Brown appeared in Montauk, New York, as part of his Back at the Ranch tour. Brown who had a history of beating his wife, offered money that was raised at the event to an anti-violence organization called The Retreat, but was turned down.
In 1998, "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica was the #1 song.
In 1999, Lauryn Hill won New Artist Of The Year and Album Of The Year at the US 'Source Hip Hop Music Awards' in Los Angeles. R. Kelly won R&B Artist of The Year; DMX won Artist Of The Year and solo and live performer Of The Year.
In 2001, soul singer Betty Everett died (age 61). She had the 1964 US #6 single "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss')."
In 2004, a suitcase thought to contain Beatles memorabilia and recordings discovered at an Australian flea market turned out to be a hoax with many of the items mere photocopies or phonies. There are no recordings.
In 2006, VH1 Classic broadcasted the final episode of the legendary BBC music program Top Of The Pops with performances by the Rolling Stones and David Bowie. The program includes rare footage of John Lennon, T. Rex, U2, Elton John and Rod Stewart.
In 2007, the surviving founding members of Boston play Come Together, a concert in Beantown paying tribute to late frontman Brad Delp. Extreme and Godsmack (playing mostly acoustic) also perform. The show culminates with an introduction of the past and present Boston members in attendance and a performance of "Don't Look Back."
In 2007, Elvis Presley went to #1 on the UK album chart with 'The King.'
In 2008, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum benefit begins in Cary, NC. Performing during the two-day event are Cream's Jack Bruce, Jefferson Starship, former Styx singer-keyboardist Dennis
DeYoung and one-time Traffic guitarist Dave Mason. Concert proceeds also go to the John Entwistle Foundation, a charity named for the late Who bassist.
In 2008, saxophonist LeRoi Moore, a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, died at the age of 46. Publicist Ambrosia Healy said he died from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident in June on his Virginia farm.
In 2013, Richie Havens' ashes were scattered from a plane across the site of the original Woodstock concert. He was the first act to perform at the 1969 event held in upstate New York, where he made history with his performance of "Freedom." Havens died last April from a heart attack at the age of 72.
In 2013, hard bop jazz pianist/composer Cedar Walton, a former member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, died at age 79.
