Buddy Holly and the Crickets began a six-night run at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where the initially skeptical audience soon warmed to their music.

The Beatles dismissed drummer Pete Best; Ringo Starr would formally join the group two days later.

Louis Armstrong recorded “What a Wonderful World,” a song that later became one of his best-known performances.

The Jackson 5 gave one of their first major billed concerts, opening for Diana Ross and the Supremes in Los Angeles.

Peter Gabriel publicly confirmed that he had left Genesis after the band’s Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tour.

Elvis Presley died at Graceland in Memphis at age 42, prompting worldwide mourning.

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, died in Detroit at age 76.