Washington, D.C. disc jockey Bob Rickman founded the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Elvis Presley in response to hostile national coverage that portrayed the singer as a hillbilly and a danger to society.

While on emergency leave at Graceland from his U.S. Army post at Fort Hood, Elvis Presley received a call from his father informing him that his mother, Gladys, had died in a Memphis hospital.

Rockabilly singer Johnny Burnette died at age 30 in a boating accident on California’s Clear Lake. He was best known for the 1960 million-sellers “Dreamin’,” which reached No. 11, and “You’re Sixteen,” a No. 8 hit.

Sonny and Cher topped both Billboard and Cashbox with the Sonny Bono composition “I Got You Babe.” The million-selling Gold single later reached No. 1 in Britain and became a Top 10 hit in nine other countries.

Charles Fizer of the R&B group the Olympics was shot and killed at age 25 during the Watts riots. The group had reached No. 8 in America and No. 12 in Britain with “Western Movies” in 1958; a re-formed lineup continued recording but never returned to the charts.

The McCoys’ “Hang On Sloopy” entered the Hot 100 at No. 99. It reached the Top 40 two weeks later, topped the U.S. chart in early October, and climbed to No. 5 in Britain.

Nineteen-year-old David Jones made his brief Hot 100 debut with “What Are We Going to Do?,” which spent one week at No. 100. The following year, performing as Davy Jones, he was selected for the Monkees.

Britain’s Catholic Herald called John Lennon’s claim that the Beatles were more popular with teenagers than Jesus “arrogant,” while conceding that it was probably true.

Stephen Stills was arrested for cocaine possession at a La Jolla, California motel after police reportedly found him crawling through a corridor in an incoherent condition. He was released on $2,500 bail.

Diana Ross gave birth to her first daughter, Rhonda, seven months after marrying music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein. Berry Gordy Jr. was later revealed as Rhonda’s biological father; Silberstein raised her as his own, and she learned the truth at 13.

Mercury Records promoted Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” from the B-side to the A-side after DJs and listeners favored it over “Reason to Believe.” It became Stewart’s first Billboard entry and a No. 1, eventually earning double-Platinum status, a Grammy Hall of Fame induction, and a place on Rolling Stone’s greatest-songs list.

The Stampeders’ “Sweet City Woman” entered the Hot 100 at No. 83 and reached No. 8 in October. The million-selling single remained on the chart for 16 weeks; despite greater success in Canada, the band managed only two more American chart entries.

Paul Anka and Odia Coates received a Gold record for “(You’re) Having My Baby.” Although criticized by feminists for the possessive wording, the duet reached No. 1 in America and No. 6 in Britain.

Cliff Richard’s “Devil Woman,” his biggest U.S. hit, entered the Billboard Top 40 on its way to No. 6. The British star ultimately accumulated nine American Top 40 entries.

The Beach Boys’ cover of Chuck Berry’s “Rock and Roll Music” peaked at No. 5, giving the group its first U.S. Top 10 hit since “Good Vibrations” in 1966. Berry’s original had reached No. 6 in 1957.

Judge Joseph Evans ruled that Elvis Presley’s estate no longer had to pay Colonel Tom Parker, ending the manager’s 36-year grip over a large portion of Presley’s finances.

Marshall Crenshaw’s “Someday, Someway” entered the Billboard Top 40 and peaked at No. 36. Its inclusion in the film Night Shift also linked it to the breakthrough movie roles of Michael Keaton and Shelley Long.

Reports revealed that Michael Jackson had paid $47.5 million to outbid Paul McCartney for ATV Music Publishing, which controlled most of the Lennon–McCartney catalogue. The purchase permanently damaged their friendship.

Tony Williams, whose lead voice powered Platters classics including “Only You,” “The Great Pretender,” “My Prayer,” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” died of emphysema at 64. He entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the group in 1990.

Boy George, born George O’Dowd, began court-ordered community service sweeping New York sidewalks after pleading guilty to falsely reporting a burglary at an apartment where police found cocaine. Heavy media attention forced officials to move him to a fenced sanitation parking lot.

George Michael was arrested and questioned after his Land Rover collided with a truck on England’s A34. Police suspected impairment by alcohol or drugs, but he was released without charge.

Debbie Rowe testified in the Jackson family’s civil case that Michael Jackson had a very low tolerance for pain and that competing doctors supplied increasingly strong pain medication.

Allen Lanier, a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult, died at 67 after a long struggle with lung disease. The group’s best-known chart hit was 1976’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” which reached No. 12.

Paul McCartney performed the final concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park before its demolition. Roughly 50,000 attended the sold-out show, although severe traffic and parking problems delayed thousands of fans.

Aretha Franklin canceled a Caesars Palace appearance in Las Vegas because of exhaustion after traveling approximately 2,100 miles by tour bus from Detroit to the West Coast.

Ringo Starr became the first Beatle to be a great-grandfather when his granddaughter Tatia Starkey, daughter of drummer Zak Starkey, gave birth to Stone Zakamo Low.

Collectors gathered at Graceland for an auction of 315 Elvis Presley artifacts. Every item came from outside collectors rather than the Graceland Archives owned by Lisa Marie Presley.

After Ted Nugent suggested that his NRA activism had kept him out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, two-time inductee David Crosby responded publicly that Nugent simply was not good enough.