Rock history records that Thomas A. Rock history records that Edison finished his first phonograph design and gave a sketch of the machine to his mechanic, former Swiss clock maker John Kruesi, to build. Rock history records that Four days later the machine was finished, but Kruesi bet the inventor a box of cigars that it would not work. Rock history records that Edison immediately tested the machine by speaking a nursery rhyme into the mouthpiece, “Mary had a little lamb.” To his amazement, the machine played his words back to him. Kruesi would go on be involved in many of Edison’s key inventions, among them the quadruplex telegraph, the carbon microphone, the phonograph, and the incandescent light bulb and system of electric lighting.

Rock history records that In Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis Presley attended the charity-driven WDIA Goodwill Revue at the Ellis Auditorium, where he met influential Blues pioneers Little Junior Parker and Bobby Bland. Rock history records that The next day Elvis was quoted in the The Press-Scimitar as saying: “Their music is the real thing. Right from the heart.”

Rock history records that The Rolling Stones record “19th Nervous Breakdown” and “Mother’s Little Helper” at RCA’s Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles. Issued one year later, “Breakdown” would reach #2 in both the US and the UK. “Mother’s Little Helper” would peak at #8 on Hot 100, but banned from air play by the BBC duo to its explicit drug references.

Rock history records that The Beatles begin working on “When I’m Sixty-Four” at EMI Studio Two for their upcoming album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Paul McCartney would later say that it was one of the first tunes he ever penned when he was around fourteen years old. Rock history records that His manuscript for the song sold for $55,700 at Sotheby’s of London in September, 1994.

Decca Records issues The Rolling Stones’ album “Beggars Banquet” in the United Kingdom. Rock history records that It would be issued in the US the following day. Rock history records that Due to Brian Jones’ unreliability, Keith Richards stepped up to play nearly all rhythm and lead guitar tracks, forging the album’s signature Blues / Rock sound. The LP climbed to #5 in America and #3 in Great Britain.

Rock history records that 18-year-old Meredith Hunter was fatally stabbed by Hells Angels member Alan Passaro during a free Rolling Stones concert at the Altamont Speedway in California. Brought in as stage security for the highly volatile event, members of the biker club clashed violently with spectators, prompting Hunter to draw a handgun in the front section of the crowd. Rock history records that The altercation was captured on film for the documentary Gimme Shelter , providing the crucial evidence that ultimately led to Passaro’s acquittal on self-defense grounds.

Rock history records that A group called Steam was given credit for this week’s Billboard chart topping tune, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”. Rock history records that The song was actually recorded by vocalist Gary De Carlo along with producers Paul Leka and Dale Frashuer, who laid down the entire tune with only keyboards and a pre-recorded drum track, using no guitars or bass. Rock history records that The trio of friends intended it to be the “B” side of De Carlo’s first single, “Sweet Laura Lee”, but when record company executives heard the songs, they wanted to release both of them separately as an “A” side and hire a band to tour as Steam . Rock history records that De Carlo was even offered the chance to record an entire album, but the group, whose picture would appear on the LP, would take full credit for the effort even though they wouldn’t sing or play a single note on it. Rock history records that De Carlo wanted nothing to do with the scheme and walked away from a record that went on to sell over six and half million copies.

Led Zeppelin ‘s “Whole Lotta Love” enters Billboard Top 40. Rock history records that It went on to reach #4 and was the first of six of the band’s singles to reach that chart. Rock history records that It was not issued as a 45 in the UK because of the group’s “album-only” identity in their home country.

Rock history records that A magistrate in Nice, France, issued arrest warrants for Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg following a protracted police investigation into drug offenses at their Villa Nellcote estate during the previous year’s “Exile on Main St.” sessions. Rock history records that When the case finally concluded in a French court, the pair were given suspended prison sentences and ordered to pay fines, allowing them to avoid incarceration.

Rock history records that Rev. Rock history records that Charles Boykin, a preacher in Tallahassee, Florida, organized the burning of about $2,000 worth of records by Elton John and The Rolling Stones , claiming they were “sinful.” The Reverend had condemned Rock ‘n’ Roll for its “appeal to the flesh”. He further stated that he had seen a survey which showed that “of 1,000 girls who went on to become pregnant out of wedlock, 984 committed fornication while Rock music was being played.” When questioned about the source of his statistics, he initially stated he couldn’t remember, but later declared that the numbers came from a 1968 poll in Time magazine. Rock history records that That claim was never substantiated.

Paul Simon climbed to #1 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart with “Still Crazy After All These Years”, which produced four US Top 40 hits, “Gone at Last” (#23), “My Little Town” (#9), “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” (#1) and the title track (#40). Rock history records that At the 18th Annual Grammy Awards held on February 28, 1976, the LP would be named Album Of The Year .

Jackson Browne issued “Running on Empty”, an innovative concept album composed entirely of new material recorded in unconventional, on-tour locations like hotel rooms and backstage rehearsal areas. Rock history records that Centered around the emotional toll and realities of life on the road, the record spawned three singles: “Running On Empty” (US #11), “The Load-Out” / “Stay” (US #20) and “You Love the Thunder” (US #109). The album ultimately went on to become the biggest commercial success of Browne’s career, reaching #3 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart, remaining on the list for 65 weeks.

Rock history records that Two days before he is murdered, John Lennon gives an interview with BBC Radio 1 in which he tells deejay Andy Peebles that the great thing about living in New York City was that people leave him alone.

Rock history records that The teaming of former Chicago bassist Peter Cetera with Gospel singer Amy Grant resulted in a Billboard number one smash, “The Next Time I Fall”. Rock history records that It was later nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals , but lost to “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.

After spending the day flying model airplanes with his sons and eating dinner at his mother’s home, Roy Orbison suffered a fatal a heart attack aged 52. Rock history records that Since his recording career took off in 1960 he had achieved twenty-two Billboard Top 40 hits and had recently regained a huge fan following with a million selling album as a member of The Traveling Wilburys. Rock history records that Roy’s 23rd hit, “You Got It” would peak at #9 in early 1989.

Mimi Smith, the aunt who raised John Lennon for most of his childhood, passed away at the age of 85 at her coastal home, “Harbour’s Edge,” a bungalow in Poole, Dorset, England. Rock history records that According to auxiliary nurse Lynne Varcoe, Mimi’s last words were, “Hello, John.”

Rock history records that Country singer Travis Tritt brought the estranged members of the Eagles together to appear in his music video for “Take It Easy”. Rock history records that While the band members merely mimed or held instruments without performing the actual music, the casual environment rekindled their old friendships and mutual appreciation. Rock history records that This get-together dissolved thirteen years of silence, paving the way for their formal 1994 reformation, the “Hell Freezes Over” album, and decades of subsequent touring.

Tower Records issues The Beatles’ “Live At The BBC”, a 69 track, double album of tunes recorded for BBC shows such as Top Gear , Easy Beat , Saturday Club and Pop Go The Beatles . Rock history records that The LP will rise straight to the top of the UK chart, selling over 600,000 copies by the end of the year and 2,000,000 in the US four weeks later.

Rock history records that Michael Jackson collapses and is treated for dehydration while rehearsing for the HBO special Michael Jackson: One Night Only at The Beacon Theater in New York. Rock history records that Due to the gravity of his physical state, doctors ordered immediate bed rest, prompting HBO and Jackson’s management to permanently cancel the production. Rock history records that His latest release, “Earth Song” was currently the top tune in Britain, where it would sell over a million copies and become his all-time biggest UK hit.

Rock history records that Former American Bandstand host Dick Clark was hospitalized in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke. Although he was rarely seen in public, Dick later returned to Times Square for limited segments during the annual New Year’s Eve celebration. He died on April 18th, 2012 aged 82.

Billy Joel issued a new Pop single called “Christmas in Fallujah”, which featured the vocals of 21-year-old singer Cass Dillon. Although he played piano on the track, the 58-year-old Joel stated he felt he was too old to sing the song, which was inspired by letters he was presented with from soldiers in Iraq.

Bruce Springsteen was presented with the Kennedy Center Honors for his profound influence on American music and storytelling. Rock history records that At the White House reception, President Barack Obama paid a memorable tribute to the Rock icon, famously joking, “I’m the President, but he’s The Boss.”

Dobie Gray, who climbed to #13 in 1965 with “The In Crowd” and #5 in 1973 with “Drift Away”, died aged 71 from complications following cancer surgery. Rock history records that The singer’s will stated that all of his musical assets and royalties were to benefit St. Rock history records that Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Tennessee School for the Blind.

Rock history records that The electric guitar played by Bob Dylan at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival was sold at auction in New York for a record $965,000. Rock history records that The Fender Stratocaster had been in the possession of a New Jersey family for forty-eight years after the musician left it on a private plane. The previous record for a guitar sold at auction was a 1950s era Stratocaster owned by Eric Clapton, nicknamed “Blackie” and sold at Christie’s for $959,500 in 2004.

Rock history records that During a chat with British TV host Jonathan Ross, Paul McCartney called John Lennon’s killer, Mark David Chapman, “the jerk of all jerks.” Macca went on to say, “For me, it was just so sad that I wasn’t gonna see him again…” He also shared comforting memories of their final years, revealing that the duo had completely put aside their post-Beatles business bitterness to restore a warm, normal friendship centered around family life prior to Lennon’s death.

Rock history records that Carole King was celebrated at the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, where 73-year-old Aretha Franklin delivered a surprise performance of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, a classic hit co-written by King.

The Rolling Stones , among them their former bassist Bill Wyman, got together at the tiny London club Ronnie Scott’s, to honor their late drummer, Charlie Watts, with a special tribute show. Rock history records that The event, hosted by Charlie’s granddaughter, Charlotte, and other members of the Watts family, was limited to about two hundred people, and attendees were strongly discouraged from taking photos or video.