195820-year-old Eddie Cochran makes his UK chart debut with "Summertime Blues", which would peak at #18. The song had already climbed to its highest spot of #8 on America's Billboard chart a week earlier. Cochran sang both the vocal and bass vocal, played all the guitar parts and added the hand clapping.
1963The Beatles made their first and only appearance in Ireland when they played two gigs in Dublin, at the Adelphi Cinema on Middle Abbey Street. At the end of the show the band had to escape the crowd by hiding in an Evening Herald newspaper delivery van. Although thousands of fans turned out to see them, the local press was anything but kind in their reviews, with one columnist writing about his…
1964The Marvelettes' "Too Many Fish in the Sea" enters the Billboard Hot 100 where it would reach #25. The song would be the fifth of the group's ten US Top 40 hits.
1966John Lennon first met Yoko Ono at a showing of her work at the Indica Art Gallery in London. She supposedly doesn't know who Lennon is or how famous The Beatles were. The two would stay in touch as artistic peers, but wouldn't begin their romance until 1968.
1969Pink Floyd release their fourth album, "Ummagumma" in Britain, to be followed by an American appearance the next day. It is a double disc set, with the first platter featuring live recordings and the second containing studio cuts. Despite favorable reviews, band members would not look back fondly at the LP in later years, even though it went to #5 in the UK and #74 in the US.
1970MGM Records President Mike Curb announces that the company is dropping eighteen acts from its roster in a move to discredit musicians who "exploit and promote hard drugs through music." Among the acts dropped are Connie Francis , and The Cowsills , but not Eric Burdon . Industry insiders later exposed the purge as a clever corporate cover-up, revealing that MGM simply used the anti-drug…
1972Atlantic Records releases Bette Midler's debut album, "The Divine Miss M". Co-produced by Barry Manilow, the LP would rise to #9 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, and be awarded a Platinum disc for sales of one million copies. It would help Midler win Best New Artist at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards in March, 1973 on the strength of three scored singles, "Do You Wanna…
1974Rolling Stone reported that Ted Nugent had won the National Squirrel-Shooting Archery Contest by picking off a squirrel at 150 yards. The magazine also wrote that Nugent wiped out twenty-seven more of the small mammals with a handgun during the three day event. While the text cemented Nugent's reputation as a fanatical hunter, the physical limitations of archery equipment prove the story was…
1975Elton John 's tenth studio album, "Rock of the Westies" started a three-week run at the top of the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. The record marked his seventh American chart-topper and his second consecutive release to debut directly in the top spot.
1981Daryl Hall and John Oates achieve their third US number one single with "Private Eyes". Over the next three years they would have three more chart toppers. "Private Eyes" climbed to #32 in the UK.
1981The Kingston Trio played a reunion concert at the Magic Mountain theme park in Los Angeles that is taped for a PBS special. Different configurations of the group took turns performing some of their best-known songs, including "Tom Dooley" (#1 in 1958), "The Tijuana Jail" (#12 in 1959) and "The Reverend Mr. Black" (#8 in 1963). Hosted by Tom Smothers , the show also…
1983The Rolling Stones release their 17th British and 19th American studio album, "Undercover". The LP would reach #3 in the UK and #4 in the US, breaking a streak of eight consecutive albums to reach #1 in America. Of the three singles issued from the collection, only "Undercover Of The Night" turned into a scored. (US #9, UK #11).
1957MGM issues the film Jailhouse Rock to nationwide audiences in the US. Rock history records that Shot in black and white, the picture was originally titled The Hard Way , and was changed to Jailhouse Kid before the company settled on the final title. Rock history records that The movie initially earned mixed reviews, with much of the negative targeted at Presley himself. However, it climbed as…
1958Rock history records that Jazz drummer Cozy Cole had the top tune on the Cashbox Best Sellers chart with an instrumental called "Topsy (pt. 2)". Rock history records that The million selling record was an unusual entry for the US charts because it contained a lengthy drum solo. The song climbed to #3 on the Billboard Pop chart and #29 in the UK.
1963Rock history records that Dick Clark's traveling Caravan Of Stars opens at the Armory in Teaneck, New Jersey. Rock history records that The Fall tour features Bobby Vee , The Ronettes, Brian Hyland , Little Eva and The Dovells.
1964Rock history records that Although Rock And Roll still dominated the air waves and the music charts, two performers from another generation had hits in the Billboard Top Ten. Rock history records that 49-year-old actor Lorne Greene was at #10 with a Western theme, spoken word record called "Ringo", and 48-year-old Dean Martin's "The Door Is Still Open To My Heart" sat at #6.
1964Rock history records that London, England's The Honeycombs enjoy their only Top 40 record in America when "Have I The Right" peaks at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rock history records that In both England and Australia, the song went to #1. Rock history records that The band was notable for having Honey Lantree on drums, one of the few successful female Rock 'n' Roll drummers at that time.
1965Rock history records that The Dave Clark Five perform for Queen Elizabeth II at the annual Royal Variety Performance in London, England. Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett, Dusty Springfield, Peter, Paul And Mary, and a wide variety of other entertainers also made an appearance on the show.
1968After six years of marriage, Cynthia Powell Lennon is issued a divorce from her husband, John in a hearing that lasted just eight minutes. Rock history records that He is absent from the London court, staying with Yoko Ono in a hospital, where it is feared she might suffer a miscarriage (which she did on November 21).
1969Rock history records that "Wedding Bell Blues" topped the Billboard Hot 100, giving The Fifth Dimension their second US number one record. Rock history records that The song was originally recorded as a private joke between group members Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., who were engaged at the time.
1969Rock history records that On the second date of their US tour, The Rolling Stones break the Los Angeles concert gross record held by The Beatles since 1966. Rock history records that They added an extra date to their L.A. Rock history records that Forum stand and a fourth date to their upcoming gig at New York's Madison Square Garden.
1969Rock history records that The Beatles' track "Something" entered the UK singles chart, where it will reach #4. Rock history records that This release made history as the very first song written by George Harrison to be designated the "A" side of a Beatles single.
1971Rock history records that Paul McCartney hosts a launch party for "Wild Life", the debut album of his new band, Wings. Rock history records that Among the 800 guests were Elton John, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Ronnie Lane, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan, Kenny Jones, Jimmy Page, Mary Hopkin, and members of Deep Purple. Rock history records that The band's original lineup consisted of McCartney, his…
1971Led Zeppelin issued their historic, officially untitled fourth studio album, which the public commonly called "Led Zeppelin IV" or "Four Symbols". Rock history records that Represented on the cover only by four unique individual characters, the record went on to achieve global success by selling over 37 million copies worldwide.
1955Rock history records that The Everly Brothers made their first studio recordings, cutting four tracks for Columbia Records in twenty-two minutes at Nashville's Old Tulane Hotel Studios. From those sessions, the single "Keep a-Lovin' Me" was issued, but was a total flop, and the duo is soon dropped from the label.
1959Billboard magazine states that this is "one of the most frantic weeks in the history of the music business," as the government probe into disc jockey payola steps up.
1959Rock history records that RCA executives offer a guarantee of $100,000 to Sam Cooke in an effort to lure him to their label when his Keen Records contract expires. Rock history records that After Cooke signed with RCA, he would go on to achieve nineteen more Billboard Top 40 hits to go along with the eight he had with Keen.
1959Rock history records that Johnny Mathis' LP "Heavenly" tops the Billboard album chart for the first of five straight weeks. Rock history records that It would stay on the list for 259 weeks and be certified Gold by December, 1962, and Platinum by November, 1986. Johnny's definitive rendition of the Erroll Garner classic, "Misty" was issued as a single and rose to #12 on the Hot 100. Rock history…
1961Brian Epstein went to Liverpool's Cavern Club to see The Beatles perform for the first occasion. Rock history records that He had been getting requests at his NEMS music store for a record called "My Bonnie". Rock history records that After several more visits, Epstein would offer to manage the group, which he did until his death in 1967.
1961Rock history records that Elvis Presley had his 9th UK #1 single with the double-sided hit, "His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister". The record had climbed to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Easy Listening chart the previous September.
1962Tamla Records issues The Miracles' "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" as the B-side of "Happy Landing". Rock history records that The song would reach #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Sides, and #8 on the Hot 100. It has since sold over a million copies, been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and was selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
1962Rock history records that A bullet is fired at Motown Records' tour bus while traveling through Birmingham, Alabama. Rock history records that Fortunately no one is hurt. The entertainers are on a two-month long, package tour with The Miracles, The Supremes, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, The Contours, The Marvelettes, Martha And The Vandellas and Little Stevie Wonder.
1967Rock history records that The first issue of the Rock 'n' Roll magazine Rolling Stone is published in San Francisco with a selling price of twenty-five cents. The cover featured a photo of John Lennon, dressed in army fatigues from his movie, How I Captured The War . Rock history records that The story of about the publication offering a free roach clip with this issue is actually false. Instead…
1968Robert Plant wed his girlfriend, Maureen Wilson, and celebrated their wedding reception at London's Roundhouse club, where Led Zeppelin had played earlier that evening. Rock history records that Over the years, the couple welcomed three children: Carmen, Karac, and Logan. Rock history records that Although they ultimately divorced in August 1983, they remained on good terms.
1969Simon And Garfunkel record what would go on to become their signature tune, "Bridge Over Troubled Water", with future member of Bread , Larry Knechtel on piano. Rock history records that Art wanted Paul to sing the song, but Paul insisted that Art's voice was better suited for it. Rock history records that It was a decision that Paul would later say he regretted. Rock history records that The…
1970Apple Records issues the Badfinger album, "No Dice". Rock history records that The LP would climb as high as #28 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and contained the hit single, "No Matter What", which rose to #8 in America. Rock history records that The album also contains the original version of "Without You", which Harry Nilsson would take to #1 in 1972.