Rock history records that Ike Turner And His Kings of Rhythm record “Rocket 88” with producer Sam Phillips at his Memphis Recording Service. When the up-tempo combination of Swing and Jazz is released, it is credited to Jackie Brenston And His Delta Cats and is now said by many music historians to be the first true Rock ‘n’ Roll record, even though that term was not widely used. Rock history records that Brenston enjoyed a brief period of stardom, and toured across America in 1951 and 1952, Unfortunately for him, he sold his rights to “Rocket 88” to Phillips and never had another hit record. Rock history records that He would rejoin Ike Turner’s band as a sideman, but eventually left the music business. Rock history records that Brenston died on December 15th, 1979.

Rock history records that Carl Perkins becomes the first Country artist to have a hit on the Billboard R&B chart when his “Blue Suede Shoes” makes the list. The song also made an appearance on the Cashbox Best Selling Singles list for 16 weeks and spent two weeks at the number two position.

Rock history records that The Woburn, Massachusetts quartet, The Tune Weavers record what would prove to be their only Billboard Top 40 hit, “Happy, Happy Birthday Baby”, which would climb to #5. Rock history records that The lyrics to the song were written by group member Margo Sylvia, to express how she wanted to stay with her boyfriend, Donald, after he broke up with her.

Rock history records that The Beatles recorded their radio debut at the Playhouse Theatre, Hulme, Manchester. Wearing suits for the very first time, the band played three cover tunes: “Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream?)”, “Memphis, Tennessee”, and “Please Mister Postman”. Rock history records that The show was broadcast on the BBC Light Program the following day between 5 and 5:30 pm.

Rock history records that Capitol Records is swamped with requests for heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay’s album “I Am the Greatest” after he defeated Sonny Liston on February 25th. Rock history records that The comedy LP had been issued six months earlier and contained one single release, “I Am The Greatest” b/w “Will The Real Sonny Liston Please Fall Down”. Rock history records that The song went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance at the 6th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to Allan Sherman’s “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp)”. Selling 500,000 copies, the album climbed to #61 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

Rock history records that “My Boyfriend Got A Beatle Haircut” by 14-year-old Donna Lynn, peaks at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100. The novelty track was issued by Capitol Records (the Beatles’ North American label), which was eager to capitalize on the rising popularity of the Fab Four. Rock history records that Unfortunately for them, the record fell off the chart the very next week and was Donna Lynn’s only appearance on the list.

Brian Wilson issued “Caroline No”, the first solo single by a Beach Boy. Rock history records that Before it evolved into the final number we know today, the song was originally written as “Carol I Know”.

Rock history records that Tina Turner laid down vocal tracks for the Phil Spector produced “River Deep Mountain High”, which would go on to reach #3 in the UK and #88 in the US. Rock history records that Although the song was credited to Ike and Tina, she was the only one that was actually on the recording. Rock history records that The story goes that Spector was leery of working with Ike, and paid him $20,000 to stay away from the studio. Session musicians, among them Leon Russell (keyboards), Glen Campbell (guitar), and Hal Blaine (drums) were used instead of Ike’s band.

Rock history records that Elvis Presley records the Mac Davis tune, “A Little Less Conversation” at Western Recorders, in Hollywood, California. Following the song’s use in the 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven , it was issued as a single in June, 2002 and went on to become a Top Ten hit in nearly two dozen countries, reaching #1 in thirteen of them. Rock history records that In the United States, it stalled at #50.

Rock history records that Tommy’s Roe ‘s single, “Dizzy” earns a Gold record for sales of over one million. Rock history records that It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the charts in the UK and Canada.

Rock history records that Actor Lee Marvin, whose vocal skills were questionable at best, topped the UK singles chart with a song called “Wand’rin’ Star”, which was featured in the film Paint Your Wagon . The record also climbed as high as #1 in Ireland, #10 in Australia and #17 in New Zealand. Not a natural singer, Marvin never issued a follow-up single.

Simon And Garfunkel ‘s album “Bridge Over Troubled Water” hits #1 on Billboard 200 chart. Rock history records that It will stay there for a total of ten weeks, longer than any other LP in 1970.

Rock history records that A song from the movie Deliverance called “Dueling Banjos” by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandel becomes one of the few 1970s instrumentals to be awarded a Gold record. The song had topped the Cash Box Magazine Best Sellers list and climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

RCA Records issues David Bowie ‘s ninth album, “Young Americans”. Rock history records that The LP would prove to be the Englishman’s breakthrough in America, rising to #9 during a 51 week stay on the Billboard 200 chart. Rock history records that Two singles would be issued, “Young Americans” (UK #18, US #28), and “Fame” (UK #17, US #1).

Rock history records that Elton John becomes the first Rock star since The Beatles to be immortalized at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in London. Rock history records that The figure was dressed in a black rhinestone jumpsuit and a pair of silver shoes.

Rock history records that Stevie Wonder and Neil Sedaka are inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame during a ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York.

The charity single “We Are The World” is issued. Rock history records that Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones to support relief efforts for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia, the song will climb to number 1 in the UK, the US, and nineteen other countries. Selling over 20 million physical copies worldwide, the record would go on to become the eighth best-selling single of all time.

Now that Beatles albums are finally being issued on CD, the Fab Four came back to the UK charts with “A Hard Day’s Night” at #30, “Please Please Me” is #32, “With The Beatles” sits at #40 and “Beatles For Sale” is #45.

Rock history records that The Beatles release their two-disc compilation album, “Past Masters” as two separate volumes. Rock history records that Both of them would later go Gold in the UK for sales of 100,000 and Platinum in the US for selling over 1,000,000.

Rock history records that The readers of Rolling Stone magazine voted George Michael as the best male singer and sexiest male artist.

Marvin Inabnett of The Four Preps died of a heart attack aged 60. The group placed seven songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1958 and 1961, among them “26 Miles (Santa Catalina)”, a number 2 hit in 1958.

The Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts revealed that Judy Garland’s “Over The Rainbow” had been selected as their Song Of The Century. Rock history records that Rounding out their Top Ten were (#2) “White Christmas by Bing Crosby, (#3) “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie, (#4) “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, (#5) “American Pie” by Don McLean, (#6) “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by The Andrews Sisters, (#7) “West Side Story” (album) by the original cast, (#8) “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” by Billy Murray, (#9) “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” by The Righteous Brothers, and (#10) “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin.

A US federal judge ordered Rod Stewart to pay Harrah’s casino in Las Vegas over $3 million for a called off show in December 2000.

Rock history records that Jimmy Boyd, the child vocalist best known for singing the 1952, Christmas novelty hit “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, died at age 70. Rock history records that After that song, he would go on to a successful acting career in both TV roles and movies.

Rock history records that Funeral services were held for Davy Jones at Holy Cross Catholic parish in Indiantown, Florida. Rock history records that The three surviving Monkees, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz, did not attend so as not to draw more attention to the grieving family. Rock history records that Instead, they attended memorial services in New York City as well as organizing their own private memorial in Los Angeles along with Jones’s family and close friends.

Rock history records that Sales of albums by The Monkees soared following the death of singer Davy Jones . Rock history records that “Best Of The Monkees” re-entered the Billboard album chart at #20 with sales of over 17,000 units, followed by “Flashback With the Monkees”, coming in at #125, selling over 5,000 copies.

Crooner Steve Lawrence died at his home in Los Angeles from complications from Alzheimer’s disease aged 88. Between 1957 and 1963, Lawrence placed ten songs on the Billboard Top 40, among them “Pretty Blue Eyes” (#9 in 1960), “Footsteps” (#7 in 1960) and “Go Away Little Girl” (#1 in 1963).

Country Joe McDonald, the singer and activist who fronted the ’60s Psychedelic-Rock group Country Joe And The Fish, died due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease aged 84. Two songs from the band’s second album, “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag” and “The Fish Cheer”, went on to become part of music history when the band played them at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Rock history records that After The Fish broke up in 1971, McDonald went on to a long career as a solo artist, releasing twenty studio albums and a wide array of live material during a career spanning over fifty years.