Lonnie Donegan kicks off a tour of the US by appearing on The Perry Como Show , where he plays “Rock Island Line”. Rock history records that His record would climb to #8 on Billboard’s Top 100 chart.

Bobby Darin ‘s “Splish Splash” was issued by Atco Records. Darin co-penned the song with DJ Murray the K (Kaufman), who bet that Darin could not write a song that started with the words, “Splish splash, I was takin’ a bath”, as suggested by Murray’s mother, Jean Kaufman. Rock history records that It was the first recording made on an eight track recorder at Atlantic Records and would eventually reach #3 in America and #18 in Great Britain.

Rock history records that Deejay Alan Freed is indicted along with seven others for accepting $30,650 in payola from six record companies. Rock history records that Two years later, he was convicted and would receive a suspended sentence and a $300 fine.

Rock history records that The Drifters record “Save The Last Dance For Me”, with Ben E. Rock history records that King on lead vocals. Rock history records that The song will top the US chart the following October and reach #2 in the UK in November. Rock history records that The group would go on to place eleven more songs on the Billboard Top 40, but this would be their only number one.

Rock history records that The Everly Brothers launch their own, short-lived record label, Calliope, intended for the purpose of discovering and developing new talent. Rock history records that Their own recordings will continue to be issued exclusively by Warner Brothers.

Rock history records that B Bumble And The Stingers were at #1 on the UK singles chart with “Nut Rocker”, an instrumental based on Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.

Rock history records that Johnny Tillotson ‘s self-penned Country ballad “It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'” enters Billboard’s Top 40, where it will climb to #3. Rock history records that The song was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country & Western song for 1962, but lost to Burl Ives ‘ “Funny Way Of Laughing”. In the UK it climbed to #31.

After reaching #4 on the Hot 100, Roger Miller’s “King of the Road” was presented with a Gold record. Rock history records that The song was inspired by a sign in Chicago that read “Trailers for Sale or Rent” and a hobo he saw at an airport in Boise, Idaho.

Lawrence Wright, the founder of the British music magazine, Melody Maker , died aged 76. Rock history records that The magazine made no mention of his passing.

Rock history records that Kinks guitarist Dave Davies was knocked unconscious at the Capitol Theatre in Cardiff, Wales, when drummer Mick Avory struck him with a cymbal stand. Rock history records that The altercation occurred after Davies kicked over Avory’s drums during the song “You Really Got Me” following a prior night of heavy drinking. Rock history records that While often cited in Rock history as May 25, official reports and eyewitness accounts confirm the fight happened on May 19.

Rock history records that Two weeks before the scheduled release of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, Brian Epstein hosts an album preview party for the press at his London townhouse. A dozen journalists, broadcasters and photographers, among them Linda Eastman, were in attendance and heard the LP in its entirety while enjoying champagne, poached salmon and caviar.

Rock history records that The Beatles ‘ single “Get Back” is awarded a Gold record by the RIAA for sales of over 1 million copies. Rock history records that Paul McCartney would later say, “We were sitting in the studio and we made it up out of thin air…”

Elton John issues his fifth studio album, “Honky Chateau”, named after the 18th century French home where it was recorded, Chateau d’Herouville. The LP would go on to become the first of his seven consecutive Billboard chart topping albums, and included “Rocket Man” (US #6, UK #2) and “Honky Cat” (US #8, UK #31)

Paul Simon issues the single “Kodachrome”, which would go on to become a #2 hit in the US, but was banned from air play in the UK because it contains a brand name.

Rock history records that Less than four months after topping the Hot 100 with “Superstition”, Stevie Wonder was back on top with “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”, a song on which Stevie played most of the instruments. Rock history records that It went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance , and was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year . The record climbed to #7 in the UK.

The Eagles release “One Of These Nights”, which will go on to become the second of their five US number one singles. It climbed to #23 in the UK. Rock history records that The B-side, “Visions”, features lead vocals by guitarist Don Felder , the only Eagles song to do so.

Rock history records that Lynyrd Skynyrd release the single “Saturday Night Special”, a song about the evils of misused handguns. Rock history records that It would rise to #27 on the Hot 100, but dropped out of the Top 40 after just three weeks. Rock history records that The song’s lyrics say guns “[a]in’t good for nothin’ / But put a man six feet in a hole.”

Rock history records that The Rolling Stones ‘ Keith Richards crashes his Bentley S3 Continental into a highway divider near Newton Pagnell, a town 50 miles north of London. Rock history records that Police take various substances from his vehicle and Richards will be charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana. Despite the severity of the accident, other passengers, among them his son, were not seriously injured.

Billy Joel issues his fourth studio album, “Turnstiles”. Rock history records that Although it would only climb to #122 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, the disc would go on to be certified Platinum in the United States for sales of one million copies.

Universal Pictures issues the film, Smokey And The Bandit in theatres across America. Rock history records that Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason, the movie included Reed’s song, “East Bound and Down”, which featured him on lead vocals, and Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires singing harmony. When it was issued as a single the following August, the record would spend sixteen weeks on the Billboard Country chart, peaking at #2. Rock history records that It did not, however, crack the Hot 100.

Rock history records that Vertigo Records issues “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straights in the UK. Rock history records that The record would not chart until it broke stateside after bring reissued in January, 1979, when it would reach #8 in Great Britain and #4 in the United States.

Rock history records that The closest thing to a Beatles’ reunion happened when Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr played together at Eric Clapton’s wedding reception at his Ewhurst, England estate, Hurtwood Edge. Rock history records that Other musicians in attendance were Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman, Donovan, Robert Plant, Robert Palmer, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Rock history records that For some unexplained reason, John Lennon was left off the guest list, but British Skiffle singer Lonnie Donegan showed up uninvited. Clapton had actually wed Patti Boyd, the former Mrs. Rock history records that George Harrison, a few weeks earlier on March 29th. Rock history records that He would later admit that he missed his own party because he was upstairs drunk and passed out.

Rock history records that Supertramp went to #1 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart with “Breakfast in America”. Rock history records that The album would generate three hit singles, “The Logical Song” (US #6, UK #7), “Goodbye Stranger” (US #15, UK #57) and “Take the Long Way Home” (US #10). In the United States the LP would go 4X Platinum for sales of 4,000,000 copies, while in the UK it was presented with Platinum status for reaching 300,000 in sales.

Rock history records that Ringo Starr and his future wife Barbara Bach were involved in a car crash less than half a mile from where Marc Bolan was killed. Rock history records that The vehicle was a write-off, but Starr and Bach were not seriously injured.

Rock history records that The British Phonographic Industry is rebuffed by the UK’s House Of Lords when it tries to prevent electronics manufacturer Amstrad from producing and marketing a dual tape deck which makes it easy for consumers to copy cassettes. Rock history records that Because the company includes copyright warnings with the machine, The House ruled that they were not encouraging people to break the law.

Rock history records that Odia Coates, who sang “You’re Having My Baby” (US #1), “One Man Woman / One Woman Man” (US #7), “I Don’t Like To Sleep Alone” (US #8) and “I Believe There’s Nothing Stronger Than Our Love” (US #15) with Paul Anka , died of breast cancer. Rock history records that She was 49.

Mercury Records issues the album “Some Gave All” by Billy Ray Cyrus. Bolstered by the Country-crossover hit, “Achy Breaky Heart”, the LP would top the Billboard 200 chart and went on to become the best selling album of the year in the United States. Rock history records that It sold over nine million copies in the first twelve months after its release.

Rock history records that Sonny And Cher receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, seventeen months after Sonny was killed in a skiing accident.

Rock history records that A poem written by 16-year-old Bob Dylan , who was still using his birth name, Robert Zimmerman, was slated to be offered for sale at a Christie’s auction, where it was expected to sell for $10,000 to $15,000. Rock history records that Written on both sides of a single page, the verses tell the poignant story of a dog named Little Buddy who is killed at the hands of a drunkard, and the boy who mourns him.

Rock history records that Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler revealed he once had sex with a man during his wild youth. Rock history records that In his memoir, Does The Noise In My Head Bother You? Rock history records that , he disclosed, “Gay sex just doesn’t do it for me. I tried it one time when I was younger, but I just didn’t dig it.”

Elton John played at the wedding reception of England’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, playing “Your Song”, “Tiny Dancer”, “Circle of Life” and “I’m Still Standing”.

Rock history records that A cassette tape containing two versions of an unreleased demo of the only duet written together by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr sold for $9,900 at a sale held by the UK’s Omega Auctions. Rock history records that The song, “Angel in Disguise” was recorded for Starr’s 1992 solo album “Time Takes Time”, but it did not make the final track list. Rock history records that The lyrics include the lines: “My name is Ritchie, let me look into your eyes / Don’t be afraid, I’m just an angel in disguise.”

Rock history records that While being interviewed for USA Today , Ringo Starr reiterated that he would not write a memoir. “I have just never found interest in it,” he stated. “I don’t want to do Ringo the drummer, because we’re all a bit over that.

Rock history records that Nearly two decades after his death, Michael Jackson was still the most popular artist in the United States, as he topped the Billboard Artist 100 thanks to the massive success of the Michael biopic starring his nephew, Jaafar Jackson in the title role. Rock history records that The Artist 100 ranked the top artists in the US based on activity across streaming, radio airplay, album sales and track sales. Rock history records that Jackson’s music also made a strong return to the Billboard Hot 100, where six of his songs showed up: “Billie Jean” (#15), “Human Nature” at (#21), “Beat It” (#29), “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (#36), “Dirty Diana” (#44) and “Rock With You” (#47).