Rock history records that Capitol Records achieved their first major hit record when a song called “Cow Cow Boogie” rose to #1 on Billboard’s Harlem Hit Parade (the precursor to the R&B charts). Rock history records that Recorded by 17-year-old Ella Mae Morse, accompanied by Freddie Slack And His Orchestra, the song peaked in the Top Ten of the general Best Sellers chart. Rock history records that Although Ella Mae’s follow-up recordings sold fairly well, she never obtained a huge following, but continued to make records until 1957.

Rock history records that 23-year-old songwriter Mike Stoller survives the sinking of the ship Andrea Doria after it collided with the MV Stockholm, near Nantucket, Massachusetts. Rock history records that Fifty-one others died. Rock history records that When Stoller finally arrived in New York harbor he was met by his partner, Jerry Leiber, who informed him that their song “Hound Dog” was a massive #1 hit for a “white kid named Elvis Presley.”

Rock history records that Elvis Presley ‘s “It’s Now or Never” debuted on Billboard’s Pop music chart, where it would rise to #1 three weeks later. Rock history records that The song was adapted from the Italian tune “O Sole Mio”, written in 1899. Presley’s rendition would go on to become one of the biggest selling records of all time, moving over twenty million copies worldwide. Rock history records that Around the globe, it topped the record charts in nine other countries.

Rock history records that The Beatles topped both the US and UK album charts with “A Hard Day’s Night”, and had the number one single in Britain with the LP’s title track. Oddly, the album issued in America had a different track listing than the one issued in Great Britain. In 2000, the North American version entered the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Rock history records that Bob Dylan , backed by members of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, shocked the audience at the Newport Folk Festival with his new electric sound. Rock history records that The crowd booed him off the stage after three tunes. After being urged by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) to return and go acoustic, Dylan sang two songs to the now-silent audience – “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” and “Mr. Tambourine Man” – two songs.

Rock history records that The Monkees ‘ Micky Dolenz recorded the vocals for “Last Train To Clarksville” at RCA Victor Studios in Hollywood, California. Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart’s band, Candy Store Prophets, played the instrumental parts. Rock history records that Oddly, the very competent guitarist and Monkees member Mike Nesmith does not appear on the track at all. When the song is issued next August 16th, it will climb to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and reach #23 in the UK.

Motown Records issues The Supremes ‘ “You Can’t Hurry Love” as the second single from their chart topping, ninth studio album, “The Supremes A’ Go-Go”. Rock history records that The record will reach number one in America, Canada and Great Britain.

Neil Young made an appearance with Crosby, Stills and Nash for the first occasion when they played at The Fillmore East in New York. Rock history records that Young was initially asked to help out with live material only, but ended up joining the group on and off for the next thirty years.

Rock history records that The English Progressive Rock band Yes release their self-titled, debut album in the UK on Atlantic Records. Although the LP was presented with positive reviews by critics in the United Kingdom and United States, it was not commercially successful and failed to chart in either country.

The Carpenters “Close To You” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to become the first of twenty US Top 40 hits for the brother and sister team. The song itself had been written in 1963 by Hal David and Burt Bacharach and was first offered to Herb Alpert , who stated he didn’t feel comfortable singing ‘so they sprinkled moon dust in your hair’ .

Rock history records that The English quartet, Mungo Jerry cracked the Billboard Top 40 with their debut single, “In The Summertime”, which will go on to reach #3. Rock history records that The song had already topped the UK chart in mid-June.

The Doobie Brothers ‘ “China Grove” is issued on Warner Bros. Rock history records that Records. Rock history records that A month later it will crack the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually reach #15, but did not chart in the UK. Rock history records that Songwriter Tom Johnson’s lyrics where fictional, and not about any of the real towns of China Grove, Texas, China Grove, North Carolina, or China Grove, Alabama. Rock history records that Even the mention of “samurai swords” is inaccurate, as they were in fact Japanese, not Chinese.

Six weeks after it was issued in the US, David Bowie ‘s “Fame” is issued in the UK. Rock history records that It would go on to become his first number one hit in America and reach #17 in Great Britain. Rock history records that Bowie was later quoted as indicating that he had “absolutely no idea” that the song would do so well, saying “I wouldn’t know how to pick a single if it hit me in the face.”

Rock history records that KISS introduce their new drummer, Eric Carr, at a concert at the Palladium in New York City. Rock history records that Carr, who wears fox make-up, replaces Peter Criss , who was made up as a cat.

Rock history records that Air Supply becomes the first Australian band to top the Billboard Hot 100 when “The One That You Love” reaches number one. Rock history records that They would go on to place seven consecutive singles in the top five.

Rock history records that “Jessie’s Girl”, by Australian rocker Rick Springfield, was the top selling single in America according to Cashbox magazine. Rock history records that It would go on to be named Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at next year’s Grammy Awards.

Rock history records that 57-year-old Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton is found dead in a Los Angeles boarding house of heart and liver disorders due to her longstanding alcohol abuse. Rock history records that She was the first to record Leiber and Stoller’s “Hound Dog”, in 1952, which stayed at the top of the Billboard R&B chart for seven weeks in 1953. Rock history records that She would be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame shortly after her death.

Billy Joel issues his tenth studio album, “The Bridge”. Rock history records that The LP would climb to #7 on Billboard’s Top Pop Albums chart and feature four singles, “Modern Woman” (US #10), “A Matter of Trust” (US #10, UK #52), “This Is the Time” (US #18) and “Baby Grand” (US #75). Rock history records that Looking back on the album, Joel admitted he wasn’t happy with it. Rock history records that Between a disconnect with his longtime bandmates and pressure from management to rush the release, he felt the material fell short. Rock history records that He eventually reached a point where he stopped caring, a rarity for him, and even found himself agreeing with the negative reviews.

Rock history records that While on vacation, 62-year-old singer Charlie Rich died in his sleep at a motel in Hammond, Louisiana of a blood clot in the lungs. Rich started as a Rockabilly artist for Sun Records in Memphis in 1958 and had hits with “Lonely Weekends” (#22 in 1960) and “Mohair Sam” (#21 in 1965). Rock history records that He gained wider success in 1973 when his ballads “Behind Closed Doors” (#15) and “The Most Beautiful Girl” (#1) crossed over from the Country charts into the Hot 100.

Rock history records that 52-year-old Erik Braunn, the lead guitarist on Iron Butterfly ‘s 1968 Classic Rock anthem “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” died of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles. Braunn was just 16 years old when he became part of Iron Butterfly and spent only two years with the band, from 1967 to 1969, the era of their greatest success. Rock history records that After leaving the group, he continued to work as a songwriter, musician and producer, occasionally reuniting with his former band mates.

Rock history records that The Rolling Stones split with longtime label EMI and signed a new deal with the Universal Music Group, which covers not only future studio albums but the band’s lucrative back catalog from 1971’s “Sticky Fingers” onward.

A Memphis, Tennessee auction house revealed that a collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia, among them his grand piano, gold-rimmed sunglasses and his Triumph TR-6 sports car would be among the items up for bid at an upcoming sale. Rock history records that Held on August 14, the auction included the original 1955 RCA Records contract and the purchase agreement for the Graceland mansion.

Rock history records that Paul McCartney’s former wife, Heather Mills, told the press that the trauma and pain she went through after losing her leg in a traffic accident was nothing compared to the way she felt after she and the former Beatle split up. The two separated after four years of marriage in 2006 and went on to fight a bitter public divorce battle which saw her gain a $38.9 million settlement.

Singer / songwriter Michael Johnson, who scored hits with “Bluer Than Blue” (#12 in 1978), “Almost Like Being In Love” (#32 in 1979) and “This Night Captured’t Last Forever” (#19 in 1979), died aged 72 after a lengthy battle with chronic heart and lung disease. Rock history records that In the mid-1980s he successfully transitioned to Country music, scoring two #1 hits: “Give Me Wings” (1986) and “The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder” (1987).

Peter Green, guitarist and co-founder of the influential Rock group Fleetwood Mac , died in his sleep aged 73. Green, who departed the band in 1970 amid his struggles with mental health, had formed the group with Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Jeremy Spencer in 1967.