Elvis Presley’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky” reached No. 6 in Nashville and No. 3 in New Orleans, becoming his first hit beyond Memphis. Elvis and his band had transformed Bill Monroe’s slow bluegrass waltz into an energetic 4/4 rockabilly performance.

Dion’s “Runaround Sue” reached No. 1 in America and later No. 11 in Britain. Despite the title, the song was not written about his wife, Susan.

J. Frank Wilson was seriously injured and his manager, Sonley Roush, was killed when their car collided head-on near Lima, Ohio. Their tragedy ballad “Last Kiss” was already in the Top 10 on its way to No. 2.

The Temptations’ “My Baby” became their seventh Hot 100 entry, eventually reaching No. 13 on the pop chart and No. 4 on Billboard’s R&B list.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded “Hey Joe” at De Lane Lea Studios in London. Their British debut single reached No. 6, though its 1967 American release failed to chart.

MGM released Elvis Presley’s Live a Little, Love a Little, co-starring Rudy Vallee. Its soundtrack included “A Little Less Conversation,” whose remix returned in 2002 to reach No. 1 in Britain and No. 50 in America.

Elton John received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard, arriving in a gold golf cart for the ceremony near the Chinese Theatre.

Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now” topped both the U.S. and UK charts and became the group’s biggest international seller. It earned Chicago its first Grammy, for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus, and a Record of the Year nomination.

Led Zeppelin made its U.S. television debut on Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert through film clips of “Black Dog” and “Dazed and Confused” from The Song Remains the Same. By then the band already had seven Top 10 albums, five of them No. 1.

Sid Vicious attempted suicide by cutting his wrist at New York’s Hotel Seville while free on bail in Nancy Spungen’s murder case. He died the following February from an accidental heroin overdose.

Mark David Chapman left his security job in Honolulu and reportedly signed out using the name “John Lennon.” He murdered Lennon outside the Dakota on December 8.

Michael Jackson visited Detroit’s Motown Museum and donated a fedora, glove, a 1972 costume, and a then-record $125,000 contribution, while praising label founder Berry Gordy.

Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” began its UK chart reign. It topped the U.S. chart two weeks later and ultimately reached No. 1 in twenty-eight countries.

Def Leppard entered Guinness World Records by performing on three continents in one day: Tangier, London, and Vancouver. The qualifying concerts had to be acoustic and draw at least 200 people each.

A federal court upheld Fort Zumwalt North High School’s ban on an instrumental performance of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” accepting the school’s argument that the song conflicted with its anti-drug message despite an ACLU-supported challenge.

Santana earned its first U.S. No. 1 single after thirty years when “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas, topped the Hot 100. It stayed there twelve weeks and set a then-record thirty-week run in the Top 10.

Actress and singer Shelley Fabares received a liver transplant after autoimmune hepatitis caused organ failure. She recovered fully and became an advocate for organ donation.

Robin Gibb’s estate, valued at about £93 million or $148 million, was left principally to his wife and three eldest children and included properties in Britain and Miami.

Ringo Starr released Photograph, a photographic memoir filled with rare Beatles-era images. He said the visual format suited him better than a conventional autobiography.

A 1971 John Lennon letter to television host Joe Franklin sold for $28,000. Written on Apple stationery, it praised Yoko Ono’s Fly album and sought a guest appearance; Lennon and Ono later appeared on Franklin’s show.

A thirteen-foot bronze statue of Gordon Lightfoot was unveiled in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario. The singer called the tribute a very special honor.

The Zombies’ Still Got That Hunger debuted at No. 35 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart with about 3,000 copies sold, their first charting album since Odessey and Oracle.

Jack Jones died at 86. He placed five songs in America’s Top 40 during the mid-1960s, including “Wives and Lovers” and “The Race Is On,” and later sang television’s The Love Boat theme.