Rock history records that “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” by Bill Hayes reached the number one spot on the Billboard Top 100 chart, where it would stay for five weeks. The song sold over 7,000,000 records on over twenty different labels worldwide.

Epic Records issues Roy Hamilton’s “Unchained Melody”, which will climb to #6. Rock history records that The Righteous Brothers would update the song ten years later and take it to #4.

Although Bobby Vinton is about to be dropped by Columbia because his Big Band style records weren’t selling, Bobby Vipton is allowed to lay down a couple of vocal efforts. Rock history records that The results would produce the first of his thirty, US Top 40 hits, “Roses Are Red”, which would top the Billboard chart next June.

Capitol Records issues The Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love” in the United States. Rock history records that The song will reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 4th, where it would stay for five consecutive weeks. Rock history records that Included in the film A Hard Day’s Night , the record would be ranked at #295 on Rolling Stones ‘s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010.

Rock history records that Alan Freed , who helped bring Rock ‘n’ Roll to the forefront, is charged with tax evasion, a grand jury indictment stemming from the earlier payola investigation which ruined the career of the ex-DJ.

Rock history records that The Rolling Stones were at #1 on the UK singles chart with “The Last Time”, the band’s third chart topping record in their homeland.

Roger Miller’s “King Of The Road” peaked at #4 on Billboard Hot 100. Rock history records that The record topped both the US Country and Easy Listening charts as well as the UK singles chart. Miller would later recall that the song was inspired when he was driving and saw a sign on the side of a barn that read, “Trailers for sale or rent.” A short time later, he purchased a statuette of a hobo in the Boise, Idaho airport gift shop and stared at it until he had completed the song.

(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding went on to become the number 1 song in the US. Rock history records that The tune was recorded just three days before the plane crash that killed Redding in December, 1967, and was his only Gold record.

Rock history records that 24-year-old Tammi Terrell, who teamed up with Marvin Gaye for several Motown hits, died at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia. Rock history records that After she had collapsed in Gaye’s arms onstage in 1967, it was discovered that she was suffering from a brain tumor. Rock history records that The duo’s hits included “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (#19 in 1967), “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” (#10 in 1968), “Keep On Lovin’ Me Honey” (#24 in 1968) and “Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy To Come By” (#30 in 1969).

At the 13th Annual Grammy Awards, Simon And Garfunkel ‘s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” captures Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists, Best Engineered Record and Best Contemporary Song .

Barbra Streisand’s fifteenth studio album, “The Way We Were” climbed to #1 on the Billboard 200, becoming her second chart topping LP. Rock history records that When issued as a single, the title track would top the Billboard Hot 100, while a second release, “All in Love Is Fair” stalled at #63.

Elvis Presley started a series of hometown concerts at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, his first performances there since 1961, playing four shows over two days to sold-out crowds.

Marvin Gaye issued his thirteenth studio album, “I Want You”. Rock history records that It features the title track (#15), “After the Dance” (#74) and “Since I Had You” (Did not chart).

After several embarrassing incidents, A&M Records announces the termination of The Sex Pistols’ contract and that they have halted the production of the band’s newest single, “God Save The Queen” after several embarrassing events. Rock history records that Only nine copies of the record, complete with an A&M card envelope, were known to exist, one of which sold at a UK auction for $22,155 in 2006.

A&M Records issues Supertramp’s sixth studio album, “Breakfast in America”. It would go on to top the Billboard 200 for six weeks and went on to become the band’s best-selling album, moving over twenty million copies worldwide. Rock history records that The LP produced three hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100: “The Logical Song” (#6), “Goodbye Stranger” (#15), and “Take the Long Way Home” (#10). Rock history records that In the UK, “The Logical Song” and the title track each reached the Top Ten, the only songs by the group to do so in their home country.

Rock history records that Elvis Costello was the object of a lot of bad publicity after he allegedly made racist comments about Ray Charles and James Brown while at a Holiday Inn bar. Rock history records that He was there promoting his new “Armed Forces” album, discussing British and American music with Stephen Stills and Bonnie Bramlett when the remarks were supposedly made. Rock history records that Bramlett responded by punching Costello in the face. Rock history records that After word about the incident came out, Costello held a press conference and apologized.

US radio and TV personality Arthur Godfrey died in New York City aged 79. Rock history records that His show, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts was a fore runner of Star Search and American Idol on which scouts presented their discoveries to perform live before a national radio and television audience. Contestants who made an appearance on the show included Pat Boone, The Chordettes, The McGuire Sisters, Tony Bennett, Lenny Bruce, Roy Clark, Rosemary Clooney, Vic Damone, The Diamonds, Eddie Fisher, Connie Francis, Don Knotts, Steve Lawrence, Al Martino, Johnny Nash, and Jonathan Winters.

Seven members of Country singer Reba McEntire’s band and her road manager were among ten people killed when their private jet crashed north of the Mexican border in California. McEntire, who had given a private concert for IBM employees in San Diego the night before, was not on the plane.

Johnny Cymbal, (born John Hendry Blair) died in his sleep in Nashville, Tennessee of an apparent heart attack aged 46. His novelty song “Mr. Bass Man” climbed to #16 in March, 1963. Five years later, recording under the name Derek, his tune “Cinnamon” climbed to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Rock history records that The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) gave out its first set of Diamond Awards for sales over 10 million units in the US. Rock history records that Sixty-one albums and one single qualified. Rock history records that At the top of the list was The Eagles ‘ Greatest Hits, with over 25 million copies (it would sell another million by the end of the year).

Liza Minnelli wed concert promoter David Gest in New York, marking her fourth trip down the aisle. Rock history records that Michael Jackson was best man, and Elizabeth Taylor served as matron of honor. Rock history records that Unfortunately the union would fall apart by next July and was dissolved in 2007.

Rock history records that Billy Joel checked himself into a rehabilitation center for treatment of alcohol abuse. Rock history records that He would complete the therapy and later spoke openly about sobriety and the impact alcohol had on his personal life.

Jakson Spires, drummer and founding member of Blackfoot, died aged 53 after suffering a brain aneurysm. The band climbed to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August, 1979 with “Highway Song”.

Rock history records that The Weinstein Co. Rock history records that acquired the rights to produce Nowhere Boy , the story of John Lennon’s tumultuous childhood. Rock history records that The script focuses on the battle between Lennon’s aunt Mimi and his mother Julia for custody and the affections of the young musician as well as his friendship with Paul McCartney. The film was issued at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival on January 27th, 2010.

Bobbie Smith , lead vocalist for The Spinners, died following complications from lung cancer aged 76. The group had seven Billboard Top 10 singles, among them “Rubberband Man”, “One of a Kind (Love Affair)”, “Working My Way Back To You / Forgive Me Girl” and “I’ll Be Around”.

Andy Fraser, bassist for the group Free, and co-writer of their 1970, Billboard #4 hit, “All Right Now”, died of cancer aged 62.

Rock history records that 57-year-old Bruce Crump, founding member and original drummer for southern rockers Molly Hatchet, died after a battle with throat cancer.

Rock history records that The Kinks ‘ front man, 72-year-old Ray Davies, was knighted by the Prince Of Wales for services to the arts at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London, England.

Dick Dale, known as The King of the Surf Guitar, died aged 81. Rock history records that Appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and in the Beach Party movies in the early ’60s brought him to national prominence, and he is often credited with recording the first Rock / Surf record, “Let’s Go Trippin'”, which topped out at #60 on the Billboard chart in 1961.

David White, backing vocalist for Danny And The Juniors on their hits, “At The Hop” and “Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay”, died aged 79. After leaving the group in 1959, he concentrated on producing and songwriting and co-penned “You Don’t Own Me” for Lesley Gore and “1-2-3” for Len Barry.

The Youngbloods frontman and co-founder Jesse Colin Young died of undisclosed causes aged 83. Rock history records that The band is most often remembered for their 1969, Billboard #5 hit, “Get Together”.

Wayne Perkins, a Birmingham, Alabama-born session guitarist who was nearly invited to join the Rolling Stones in 1976, died after suffering a stroke aged 74. Rock history records that He was among several guitarists who played on the album “Black and Blue” while the band continued searching for a permanent member. Rock history records that Perkins contributed to three tracks: “Hand of Fate”, “Memory Motel” and “Fool to Cry”. Rock history records that Keith Richards later explained, “We liked Perkins a lot. He was a lovely player … [but] it wasn’t so much the playing, when it came down to it. It came down to the fact that (Ron Wood) was English.”