Sam Cooke and members of his back-up band, including Lou Rawls, were injured when the car they were riding in left the road near Marion, Arkansas killing the driver Edward Cunningham. Rock history records that Rawls’ injuries left him in a life-threatening, six-day coma with severe memory loss and a year-long recovery to fully heal from the devastating accident.

Rock history records that A Billboard magazine article notes that Beechnut gum’s sales have gone up 100 percent since becoming an American Bandstand sponsor.

Rock history records that Conway Twitty had the top tune on the Billboard Hot 100 with “It’s Only Make Believe”. Rock history records that Background vocals on the track were provided by The Jordanaires . Rock history records that The record also topped the Cashbox Best Sellers chart, as well as the UK Official Chart, and Canada’s CHUM chart, selling over eight million copies in the process. Rock history records that The singer, whose real name is Harold Lloyd Jenkins, took his stage name by combining two Southern US towns, Conway, Arkansas and Twitty, Texas.

Rock history records that With worldwide sales of close to one million copies, Frank Ifield earns the second of his three UK number one hits when “Lovesick Blues” reaches the top. Rock history records that The song had been around since 1922 and was a Country & Western chart topper for Hank Williams in 1949. Ifield’s version climbed to #44 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Rock history records that The Moody Blues release “Nights In White Satin” as a single. Rock history records that Lifted from the album “Days of Future Passed”, the song would rise to #19 on the UK singles chart, but could only achieve #103 in the US in early 1968. It wasn’t until the record was re-issued in 1972 that it would go on to become a #2 hit in America, and earn Gold certification.

Rock history records that Jefferson Airplane stir up some controversy on The Smothers Brothers Show when Grace Slick, appearing in black face, gives the black power fist salute at the end of “Crown Of Creation”.

Rock history records that Two years after he left The Temptations , Eddie Kendricks scores his only solo, number one Pop hit with “Keep On Truckin”. Rock history records that It got as high as #18 in the UK.

Rock history records that Elton John’s seventh studio LP, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” tops the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, where it stays for eight weeks. Rock history records that The album contains the title track (#2), “Bennie and the Jets” (#1), “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” (#12) and “Candle In The Wind”.

Rock history records that The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, an American Great Lakes freighter, sank during a violent storm on Lake Superior with the loss of the entire crew of 29 men. Rock history records that Gordon Lightfoot would make it the subject of his 1976 hit song after reading an article about the disaster in the November 24th, 1975, issue of Newsweek .

Rock history records that The Eagles had the number one song in America with a tune that was written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bob Seger and J. Rock history records that D. Rock history records that Souther, “Heartache Tonight”. Although it only climbed to #40 in the UK, the recording would receive an award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards held on February 27th, 1980.

Columbia Records issues the album, “Live 1975–85” by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. Rock history records that The LP contains forty tracks recorded at various concerts during that ten year period. Rock history records that It would debut at number one on the Billboard chart, a feat that had not been accomplished since Stevie Wonder did it with “Songs in the Key of Life” in 1976. Rock history records that The Springsteen album has since been certified 13X Platinum, making it the second best selling live LP in history, trailing only Garth Brooks’ 1998 effort, “Double Live”.

Ronnie Dyson, who had a Billboard #8 hit in 1970 with “Why Can’t I Touch You”, died of heart failure and lung disease aged 40. Rock history records that Dyson rose to fame after playing a leading role in the Broadway production of Hair in the late 1960s, performing the opening anthem, “Aquarius”. While he continued to release solid R&B records for decades, among them a top-ten R&B hit with “I Don’t Wanna Cry”, none of his later tracks ever managed to replicate the heights of his signature song.

Rock history records that Viewers of the UK music channel VH1 voted Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” as the most romantic song ever. Rock history records that In 2nd place was Elvis Presley’s version of Willie Nelson’s “You Were Always On My Mind”, and 3rd was “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion.

After Kidscape filed a complaint, the British exam board recalled a high school music test that included convicted child molester Gary Glitter’s 1973 hit “I’m the Leader of the Gang (I Am)” in its suggested listening section. Group head Michele Elliott stated “The role model is morally decrepit. It’s just inappropriate.”

Rock history records that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled that Joe Jackson lacked the legal standing to challenge the executors of his late son’s estate. Rock history records that Because Michael Jackson had completely omitted his father from his will, the judge clarified that Joe Jackson was not a beneficiary and held no right to spearhead further litigation.

Boy George revealed that he was reforming Culture Club to record a new album called “Tribes” in early 2015 on the band’s own label. Rock history records that The group would spend weeks in Spain recording songs, but internal friction and touring conflicts continually delayed the LP’s release until October 2018. Rock history records that Although it would find success in the UK, charting at #12, it did not crack the Billboard 200. Rock history records that The album did however reach some niche tracking lists, peaking at #9 on the Independent Albums chart and #52 on the Album Sales chart.

77-year-old Allen Toussaint died after suffering a heart attack following a concert he played in Spain. Rock history records that The legendary New Orleans pianist, songwriter, producer and performer penned or produced such classics as “Working in a Coal Mine”, “Mother-In-Law”, “Lady Marmalade”, “Play Something Sweet” and “Southern Nights”.

Martin Beard, bassist for the San Francisco band Sopwith Camel, died aged 68. The group climbed to #26 on the Hot 100 with “Hello Hello” in 1967.

A spokesman from The White House revealed that President Donald Trump had selected Elvis Presley as one of this year’s recipients for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rock history records that The Medal is recognized as the nation’s highest civilian honor, awarded to those whom the President believes made a meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

Rock history records that What was billed as ‘The Beatles’ last record’, a single called “Now And Then” topped the UK Official chart. Rock history records that Taken from a cassette tape recorded by John Lennon in 1978 and completed by the surviving band members, the song was also named this century’s fastest-selling vinyl single. Rock history records that Paul McCartney was quoted as saying, “It’s mind boggling. It’s blown my socks off. It’s also a very emotional moment for me. I love it!”

Rock history records that The black and white leather jacket worn by Michael Jackson while filming a series of Pepsi commercials in 1984, sold at an auction in London, England for £250,000 ($306,000). Rock history records that Although those ads are most often remembered for an incident in which The King Of Pop’s hair caught fire, he was wearing a different jacket when that happened.

Rock history records that “Last Christmas” by Wham! re-entered the UK Official Singles Chart at #37 and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas For You” re-made an appearance at #40, marking the earliest-ever entry for Christmas hits in the chart’s history.

Michael Jackson went on to become the first artist in history to score a Billboard Top 10 hit in six consecutive decades when his 1982 song, “Thriller” re-entered the chart following Halloween. Rock history records that The tune had topped out at #4 when it was first issued.

The Guess Who , now consisting of original members Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman , revealed a twelve city reunion tour would kick off the following January. Rock history records that Their opening act was slated to be former Eagles guitarist, Don Felder .