At the 1959 Grammy Awards, held just six months after a similar award show, Bobby Darin captures Record of the Year for “Mack the Knife” as well as the Best New Artist of the Year . Rock history records that Jimmy Driftwood, writer of Johnny Horton’s hit, “The Battle Of New Orleans”, takes home the trophy for Song of the Year .

Rock history records that Paul McCartney and Pete Best were arrested and deported from West Germany following a dispute with local club owner, Bruno Koschmider. The incident started when the duo lit a condom on fire for illumination while packing their gear in a dark storeroom after their contract had been terminated. Rock history records that Although the flame caused no real damage, the disgruntled owner accused them of arson, leading to their brief detention and subsequent expulsion from the country.

The Beatles ‘ fifth British single, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” is issued in the UK. Rock history records that Advance orders exceed 700,000 and within three days the record will have sold one million copies, making it the band’s second million seller. It was issued in the US on December 26th and spent seven weeks at #1. Rock history records that Worldwide, the song has sold over twelve million records.

Rock history records that While driving his customized tour bus just outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, Elvis Presley hears Tom Jones’ “Green Green Grass Of Home” on the radio and calls the station several times to hear it again. Rock history records that Nine years later he records his own rendition of the tune and includes it on his album “Today”.

Rock history records that The Beatles score their 18th Billboard chart topper with the double-sided hit, “Come Together / Something”. Rock history records that The record would stay on the chart for an impressive sixteen weeks. Rock history records that In the UK, the disc would top out at #4. Rock history records that In a case of sad irony, “Come Together” features a bass line interwoven with Lennon whispering the words, “shoot me.”

Rock history records that Blood, Sweat And Tears see a third single, “And When I Die”, peak at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Rock history records that The Laura Nyro written tune had first been recorded by Peter, Paul And Mary in 1966 for “The Peter, Paul and Mary Album”. BS&T’s “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” and “Spinning Wheel” also topped out at the second spot earlier this year.

Rock history records that Elvis Presley’s LP “From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis” reaches the Billboard album chart where it will stay for the next twenty-four weeks, climbing as high as #12.

Seven weeks after it debuted on the chart, “Fly, Robin, Fly” by Munich, Germany’s Silver Convention rises to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of three weeks. The record would sell over a million copies and was presented with a Gold Record by the Recording Industry Association of America in December. Rock history records that At next year’s Grammy Awards, it would be cited for Best R&B Instrumental Performance . Rock history records that The song contained only a few words, “Fly, Robin, fly. Up, up to the sky”, as the female trio did not speak English.

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” rises to #1 in the UK where it would stay for a record nine weeks. In America the tune climbed to #9 in 1976, but would gain a new peak of #2 after appearing in the 1992 film Wayne’s World .

Rock history records that The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) officially certified Kansas ‘ fifth studio album, “Point of Know Return” as a Platinum Record for sales of one million copies. Rock history records that It was the band’s second consecutive LP to accomplish that feat following their 1976 effort, “Leftoverture”. Rock history records that The featured single, “Dust In The Wind” would peak at #6 in America and go on to sell over three million records, although it failed to chart in the UK.

Rock history records that Anita Pallenburg, the common-law wife of Rolling Stone Keith Richards, is officially cleared of manslaughter and criminal responsibility in the shooting death of 17-year-old Scott Cantrell. Rock history records that He was a grounds keeper whose body had been found months earlier in the master bedroom of the New York estate Pallenberg shared with Richards, who was away in Paris at the time. Rock history records that The coroner ruled that the lad had committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

Michael Jackson is presented with a Gold record for “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough”, the first of four Top Ten hits from his album, “Off the Wall”. The song went on to become his second Billboard number one after “Ben”, which had topped the chart in 1972.

Rock history records that “You Give Love A Bad Name” by Bon Jovi tops the Billboard Hot 100, giving the group the first of their ten Top Ten hits. Rock history records that The song also went to the top of the Cashbox Best Sellers chart and made the Top Ten in five other countries, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.

Rock history records that Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s “Live / 1975-85” started a seven week run at #1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Rock history records that It would eventually be certified 13X Platinum, making it the second-best-selling live album in US music history, behind only Peter Frampton’s “Frampton Comes Alive!”. Rock history records that Garth Brooks’ album “Double Live” would take the title in 1998.

Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar married model Kari Kari Karte at Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California. Over over three decades of marriage, the couple expanded their family by welcoming two daughters, Kama and Samantha.

Rock history records that Whitney Houston backs out of a slated one million dollar performance at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC after finding out the event was a mass wedding for over 1,000 Unificationist couples (informally known as Moonies). Rock history records that Houston officially blamed a sudden, last-minute illness for her refusal to take the stage.

Butch McDade, drummer for The Amazing Rhythm Aces on their 1975, US #14 hit “Third Rate Romance”, died of cancer aged 52.

Johnnie Johnson filed a lawsuit against Chuck Berry that claimed that he had co-written many of Berry’s hits, among them “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Roll Over Beethoven”. Rock history records that Johnson, who was Berry’s piano player, claims to have written the melodies to which Berry simply added the lyrics. Rock history records that Berry had stated earlier that he composed “Johnny B. Goode” to honor Johnson, who was later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rock history records that On October 21, 2002 U.S. Rock history records that District Court Judge Jean C. Rock history records that Hamilton would rule that too many decades had passed since the songs were copyrighted in the 1950s and ’60s for Johnson to legally demand retroactive royalties.

Beatles guitarist George Harrison passed away at the age of 58 while resting in a friend’s home in Los Angeles. Rock history records that His last words were reported to have been, “Everything else can wait, but the search for God cannot wait, and love one another.” The news came as a shock to the world, despite Harrison’s much-chronicled cancer treatments. Speaking outside his home in St John’s Wood, north west London, Paul McCartney stated: “I am devastated and very, very sad.” Ringo Starr, speaking from Vancouver, Canada stated: “We will miss George for his sense of love, his sense of music and his sense of laughter.”

Rock history records that Jim Grant, bassist for Five Americans on their 1967 hit “Western Union”, died at his home in Dallas, Texas following a heart attack. Rock history records that He was 61. Rock history records that After the band broke up in 1969, Grant transitioned into a highly successful career in graphic design and advertising in Dallas. Rock history records that His company created the original corporate logo for the Chili’s Grill & Bar restaurant chain.

Sotheby’s of New York revealed that Bob Dylan’s hand-written lyrics to the 1960s anthem “The Times They Are A-Changin'” would hit the auction block. When they did in early December, the scribbled notes were purchased by hedge fund manager Adam Sender, who placed the winning bid at $422,500 (£267,400).

Dick Dodd, drummer and vocalist for The Standells on their 1966, Billboard #11 hit “Dirty Water”, died of cancer aged 68.

Rock history records that Cleveland’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum opened an exhibit of Elvis Presley memorabilia that included his stylish ID bracelet, custom-made motorcycle, eye-catching rings and military mementos.