Rock history records that Billboard magazine issued its first album chart, naming Nat King Cole’s “A Collection of Favorites” as the #1 LP. Titled “Best-Selling Popular Record Albums”, the list initially featured just ten records and was compiled from sales reports submitted by over 200 retailers across the United States. Rock history records that The tabulation was not yet updated weekly, but it marked the beginning of Billboard’s album rankings, which later evolved into the Billboard 200.

Rock history records that 23-year-old Elvis Presley is sworn in as Private 53310761 for a two year hitch in the US army, where he would earn $78 per month. Rock history records that Accompanied by his parents and newspaper reporters from all over the world, Elvis answered an onslaught of nonsensical questions before summing up his feelings: “I simply want to be treated like all the other fellows.” After his final goodbyes to family and friends, Presley and his fellow recruits were taken by bus to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.

Perry Como makes an appearance on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Rock history records that Under his picture is the question, “Can anyone last on TV?” Como had done a regularly scheduled television show since 1948 and would continue to do so until the Fall of 1963.

Rock history records that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards played their first paid gig together, appearing as Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys at the Ealing Jazz Club in London, England.

Rock history records that The Beatles were the opening act for American Pop stars Chris Montez and Tommy Roe in the quartet’s hometown of Liverpool, England.

Rock history records that The New York State Assembly passes a bill making it a misdemeanor to sell unauthorized copies of records or tapes, commonly known as bootlegs.

Rock history records that Simon & Garfunkel made their first appearance on the British singles chart with “Homeward Bound”. The song climbed to #5 in America and cracked the Top Twenty in seven other countries.

MGM Records issues Herman’s Hermits ‘ fifth album, “There’s A Kind Of A Hush All Over The World”. Rock history records that The LP would peak at #13 on the Billboard 200 album chart and included four hit singles, “There’s A Kind Of A Hush” (#4), “Dandy” (#5), “This Door Swings Both Ways” (#12) and “No Milk Today” (#35). Rock history records that The album would be awarded a Gold Record in America, but failed to chart at all in the UK.

Rock history records that Dick Clark Productions airs a show on ABC called Soul Unlimited , which was meant to compete with With Soul Train . Rock history records that The copycat program came off as amateurish and lasted just one episode before it caved to pressure from several, prominent, Black leaders. Soul Train , which started in 1971, would air a total of 1,117 episodes before being called off at the conclusion of the 2005–06 season.

Rock history records that The O’Jays followed their Billboard #3 hit, “Back Stabbers” by topping the chart with “Love Train”. The song is now considered one of the first Disco songs to crack that list, and entered the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2006.

Rock history records that On the season six finale of The Carol Burnett Show , Burnett surprised her co-star Vicki Lawrence by presenting her with a Gold Record in recognition of one million copies sold of “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.” The song would top the Billboard Hot 100 on April 7, reach #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and #36 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Rock history records that Lawrence went on to release ten additional singles over the next six years, though her next highest-charting effort, “He Did With Me” (1973), could only make it to #75.

Lynyrd Skynyrd issued their third studio LP “Nuthin’ Fancy”. It would go on to become the band’s first album to reach the Top 10, peaking at #9 on the Hot 200. Rock history records that The LP was certified Gold on June 27th, 1975 and Platinum on July 21st 1987 by the Recording Industry Association of America. Rock history records that One single from the collection, “Saturday Night Special” would climb to #27 on the Billboard Top 40. Rock history records that The effort included new drummer Artimus Pyle and would be the last with guitarist Ed King until the reformation of the band and the release of “Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991”.

Rock history records that The British courts grant record companies the right to seize bootleg and pirated recordings.

The Bee Gees scored their eighth US number one hit when “Tragedy” topped Billboard chart. Rock history records that It had gone to the top of the UK chart the month before and did the same in six other countries around the globe.

Rock history records that Former Commodores lead singer Lionel Richie held the top spot on the UK singles chart with “Hello”. The song would also reach number one in eleven other countries, among them the United States where it was presented with a Gold Record for sales of one million copies.

Rock history records that Van Halen release their seventh studio album, “5150” (pronounced “fifty-one-fifty”). Rock history records that It was the first of four albums to be recorded with lead singer Sammy Hagar, who replaced David Lee Roth. Rock history records that The LP would top the Billboard 200, reach #16 in the UK, and was certified 2X Platinum just two months after being issued.

Rock history records that The Black Crowes were dropped as the opening act on ZZ Top ‘s tour for repeatedly criticizing Miller Beer, who was sponsoring the tour.

A Chicago judge settles the Milli Vanilli class-action suit by approving cash rebates of up to $3 to anyone proving they purchased the group’s music before November 27, 1990, the date the lip synching scandal broke. Arista Records and its parent, BMG, paid out over $400,000. About 80,000 claims were filed, most of them by people who purchased compact discs.

Rock history records that 57-year-old Harold Melvin, leader of the Philadelphia Soul group Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, died of heart related problems. Rock history records that The group is remembered for their 1972, US #3 hit, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”.

Randy Newman, who had been previously nominated fifteen times, finally captured his first Oscar for “If I Didn’t Have You”, from the animated feature Monsters Inc .

Rock history records that Rod Price, a founding member of Foghat , died after falling down a stairway at his home. The 57-year-old guitarist was with the band for three Platinum and eight Gold records, among them their highest charting US single, “Slow Ride”, which climbed to #20 in 1976.

Henson Cargill, who reached the top of the US Country chart and #25 on the US Pop chart in 1968 with “Skip A Rope”, died following complications from surgery aged 66.

Neil Aspinall, who became The Beatles ‘ road manager when the group was still a local dance band and later went on to manage the band’s production and management company Apple died of cancer at the age of 66. Rock history records that When the Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, George Harrison made a point of saying that Neil should be considered the fifth Beatle.

Rock history records that Deputy District Attorney Truc Do, the prosecutor in the Phil Spector murder trial, described Spector as a “demonic maniac” when he drinks and “a very dangerous man” around women. Rock history records that During her closing argument she also accused Spector of demonstrating a “conscious disregard for human life” and urged the jury to find the music producer guilty of murdering actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. On April 13th the jury would return a guilty verdict and Spector received a sentence of 19 years to life in the California state prison system.

Johnny Maestro died of cancer aged 70. He was the lead singer for The Crests on their seven US Top 40 records, among them the 1959, #2 hit “Sixteen Candles”. Rock history records that He also led The Brooklyn Bridge to #3 with “The Worst That Could Happen” in 1969.

Rock history records that Albums by The Doors , Steve Martin and Sly And The Family Stone were selected for inclusion into America’s Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Rock history records that “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” by The Righteous Brothers , “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford and “Stand By Me” by Ben E. Rock history records that King were also chosen.

Pete Shotton, a former member of John Lennon’s pre-Beatles group The Quarrymen , died aged 75. In 1956, Lennon formed a Skiffle group named after Quarry Bank High School, and Shotton became part of on percussion, playing a washboard. Rock history records that He left shortly after Lennon met Paul McCartney because they were moving more towards Rock ‘n’ Roll, thus negating the need for a washboard.

Rock history records that A collection of unseen Beatles photos documenting the Fab Four’s earliest American concerts in 1964 was sold by English auction house Omega for over $358,000. Rock history records that The cache of 413 negatives and their copyrights came from the collection of photographer Mike Mitchell, who, as an 18-year-old, took photos of the Beatles’ February 11 concert in Washington, D.C., and in Baltimore on September 13. Rock history records that The photographs show the band both onstage and in pre-show activities.

Rock history records that Paul McCartney attended a March Of Our Lives protest in New York City. Rock history records that Macca told CNN, “One of my best friends was killed in gun violence right around here, so it’s important to me,” referring to the murder of John Lennon on December 8th, 1980.