Sun Records artists Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins opened an eleven-date Southern tour at Fair Park Auditorium in Abilene, Texas. The bill joined three future icons while each was helping define rockabilly’s emerging sound.

Gerry Marsden married Pauline Behan, secretary of the Gerry and the Pacemakers fan club and formerly George Harrison’s girlfriend. Marsden had written “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” after one of their disagreements; they reconciled and remained married until his death in 2021.

Grand Funk Railroad’s debut album On Time entered Billboard’s LP chart at No. 65. Despite hostile reviews from many critics, the Michigan trio went on to become one of rock’s biggest-selling concert and recording acts.

Neil Sedaka’s comeback produced a second U.S. No. 1 of the year with “Bad Blood.” Within eight months he also wrote the chart-toppers “Laughter in the Rain” for himself and “Love Will Keep Us Together” for the Captain and Tennille.

Janis Ian performed “At Seventeen” on the premiere of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, hosted by George Carlin. Billy Preston was the other musical guest and sang his No. 1 hit “Nothing from Nothing.”

Casablanca released Donna Summer’s fourth studio album, Four Seasons of Love. Its five tracks occupied two sides of the LP, which peaked at No. 29 and earned U.S. Gold certification for 500,000 sales.

ABBA released Arrival, featuring “Dancing Queen,” “Money, Money, Money,” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You.” The album topped Britain’s chart, reached No. 20 in America, became the UK’s best-selling LP of 1977, earned RIAA Gold status, and was selected for the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2024.

Billy Joel released his sixth studio album, 52nd Street. It spent eight nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1, produced “My Life,” “Big Shot,” and “Honesty,” won Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and became one of the first fifty titles issued on compact disc in 1982.

Michael Jackson attended the dedication of an auditorium bearing his name at Hollywood’s Gardner Street Elementary School. Officials covered the name after his 2003 arrest, but following Jackson’s death a fan petition led the district to restore it.

Elton John reached No. 1 in America with “Candle in the Wind 1997,” his eighth solo chart-topper. Written in memory of Princess Diana, it sold an estimated 33 million copies worldwide, ranking behind only Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” in Guinness sales records.

Mojo readers selected Elvis Presley’s July 1954 recording of “That’s All Right” as rock history’s most pivotal moment. Bob Dylan going electric ranked second, followed by the Clash’s “White Riot,” the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, and the Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”

Liverpool singer Russ Hamilton died in North Wales at 76. His 1957 hit “Rainbow” made him the first Liverpool performer to break the American market, reaching No. 4 after U.S. distributors accidentally promoted it instead of the intended A-side “We Will Make Love.”

George Michael left Highpoint Prison after serving 27 days of an eight-week sentence for marijuana possession and drug-impaired driving stemming from a July incident. Outside his London home, he thanked supporters who had stood by him.

The Rolling Stones released “Doom and Gloom,” their first new studio recording in seven years and the lead single from GRRR! It reached No. 61 in Britain and, although missing the Hot 100, peaked at No. 30 on both Hot Rock Songs and Rock Airplay.

Experience Hendrix sued Tucson’s Rainbow Guitars for the return of Jimi Hendrix’s rare Black Widow acoustic, valued between $750,000 and $1 million and allegedly stolen by a relative. The store said it had paid $80,000 in good faith, but a court ultimately returned the instrument to the Hendrix estate.

Rod Stewart became Sir Roderick David Stewart when Prince William knighted him at Buckingham Palace. The 71-year-old singer was recognized for contributions to music and charities including the British Red Cross, Breast Cancer Care, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

BBC Radio 2 listeners chose the Beatles as the ultimate British group, followed by Queen, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac. Led Zeppelin, Take That, Coldplay, Oasis, and Electric Light Orchestra completed the Top 10.