Cleveland disc jockey Bill Randle organized a Brooklyn High School concert featuring Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, the Four Lads, and Pat Boone. Universal filmed Presley shortly before his national breakthrough for a planned documentary, but the footage is now considered lost.

Harry Belafonte recorded the traditional Jamaican work song “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” in Webster Hall’s Grand Ballroom. It reached No. 5 in early 1957 and became his signature performance.

The Four Seasons entered the Hot 100 at No. 66 with “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” It became their second consecutive No. 1, leading the pop chart for five weeks and R&B chart for three, and reached No. 13 in Britain.

Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s “Monster Mash,” recorded in under two hours, reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 and became a perennial Halloween favorite.

Apple released John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Wedding Album in an elaborate box with photographs, drawings, a marriage-certificate reproduction, a wedding-cake image, and press clippings. The experimental set lasted three weeks on Billboard, peaking at No. 178, and did not chart in Britain.

The Rolling Stones topped the Hot 100 with “Angie,” also a No. 5 British hit. Contrary to persistent stories connecting it to David Bowie’s then-wife Angela, Keith Richards said he selected the name at random while writing the melody.

Led Zeppelin’s concert film The Song Remains the Same premiered at New York’s Cinema I, blending footage from 1973 Madison Square Garden shows with fantasy sequences centered on each band member.

A plane carrying Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed en route to Baton Rouge, killing Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots. Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, and other survivors suffered serious injuries; the band remained inactive for a decade before returning with Johnny Van Zant.

Herb Alpert reached No. 1 with the instrumental “Rise,” making him the only performer to top the U.S. chart with both vocal and instrumental records. The No. 13 British hit won the next Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

Bob Dylan made his only Saturday Night Live musical-guest appearance, backed by a gospel choir for the live debuts of “Gotta Serve Somebody,” “I Believe in You,” and “When You Gonna Wake Up?” from Slow Train Coming.

Arista released Kenny G’s sixth album, Breathless. Despite critical hostility, it reached No. 2 and earned Diamond status with twelve-times-Platinum U.S. shipments.

Canned Heat guitarist Henry Vestine died from heart and respiratory failure in a Paris hotel at 52. The band placed nine albums on Billboard and scored the Top 40 hits “On the Road Again,” “Going Up the Country,” and “Let’s Work Together.”

David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Elton John, the Who, and many others performed the five-hour Concert for New York City at Madison Square Garden to benefit people affected by the September 11 attacks.

Cat Stevens streamed Tell ’Em I’m Gone, his first album in five years, through NPR. A six-show December tour supported it and marked his first North American concert run in 35 years.

George Harrison’s childhood home at 25 Upton Green in Liverpool sold at a Cavern Club auction for slightly more than $250,000. The modest house had hosted early rehearsals with John Lennon and Paul McCartney and was purchased by a Beatles fan.

Three Dog Night singer Cory Wells died in his sleep from blood-cancer complications at 74. His lead voice featured on “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” “Shambala,” and “Never Been to Spain,” part of the band’s 21 Billboard Top 40 hits.