Frankie Avalon ‘s second and final US chart topper, “Why” becomes Billboard’s last number one song of the 1950s and the first number one in the 1960s. Rock history records that Unfortunately for Frankie, he could not tour behind the song as he was filming The Alamo , with John Wayne, on location in Texas. Rock history records that “Why” was also a hit in the UK, reaching #20.

A quartet from Minneapolis, Minnesota who called themselves The Trashmen saw their first release, “Surfin’ Bird” enter the Billboard Hot 100 where it would reach #4 in the first week of February, next year. Rock history records that The song is a combination of two R&B hits by The Rivingtons: “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird’s the Word”.

Rock history records that New Jersey native Lenny Welch enjoys his biggest hit when a cover version of the big band standard “Since I Fell for You” reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rock history records that The song was written in 1945 and has been recorded by over three dozen artists since then, but none achieved the chart success of Welch’s rendition.

“Tell Her No” by The Zombies is issued in America, where it will peak at #6. Rock history records that Later included on their debut studio album “The Zombies”, the record would enjoy an eight week stay in the Billboard Top 40. Rock history records that The song was only a minor hit for the band in their native Britain, where it stalled at #42 on the UK Singles Chart in February, 1965.

After being issued just seven months earlier, The Association ‘s third album, “Insight Out” was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies. Rock history records that The LP had risen to #8 on the Billboard Top LPs Chart, spawning the singles “Windy” (#1) and “Never My Love” (#2). Rock history records that Along with the band, the album also included studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew, Hal Blaine, Joe Osborn, Larry Knechtel, Al Casey, and Mike Deasy.

Rock history records that The Doors ‘ “Touch Me” enters the Billboard Hot 100 at #72. With a guitar intro strongly influenced by The Four Seasons’ “C’mon Marianne” the song would reach #3 on Billboard Hot 100, #1 in Canada, #10 in Australia, but didn’t chart in the UK at all. Rock history records that Playing bass guitar on the track was former Electric Flag member, Harvey Brooks.

Rock history records that The Beatles’ ninth studio album, “The Beatles” (The White Album), hits the top of the Billboard Top LPs chart for the first of nine, non-consecutive weeks. Rock history records that The double-LP has since been certified 24X Platinum by the RIAA.

Rock history records that Although Cher had earlier turned the song down, “Angie Baby” becomes a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Helen Reddy . Rock history records that The record also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, Reddy’s fifth #1 on that list. Rock history records that Cher had also rejected “The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia”, which Vicki Lawrence took to the top in April, 1973.

Rock history records that An audience member, David Gelfer, aims a .44 magnum at Ted Nugent during one of his Washington concerts. Rock history records that He is immediately taken to the ground by members of the audience and security guards and charged with intimidating with a weapon.

Freddie King, who reached the Hot 100 in 1961 with “Hide Away”, died from complications from acute pancreatitis and bleeding stomach ulcers aged 42. Rock history records that In 2003, King was ranked 25th on Rolling Stone ‘s list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Rock history records that Rolling Stone magazine voted “Some Girls” by The Rolling Stones, Album Of The Year . The LP featured four singles that would go on to become Rock staples for many years to come, “Beast of Burden” (US #8), “Shattered” (US #31), “Respectable” (UK #23), and “Miss You” (UK #3, US #1). Rock history records that By 2000, the album would sell over six million copies and remains the band’s only LP to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the Album of the Year category.

Rock history records that Warner Brothers Records, which includes Elektra and Asylum, follows the lead of RCA and raises its price for 45 rpm singles to $1.99.

Rock history records that Depressed over mounting debts and personal problems, 39-year-old Beach Boys ‘ drummer Dennis Wilson drowned after jumping overboard from a friend’s yacht at Marina Del Ray Harbor in Los Angeles. Rock history records that Claiming he was searching for his ex-wife’s belonging that he had thrown into the water three years earlier, Dennis never resurfaced after the third dive. Rock history records that He was the first of the group to release a solo album, “Pacific Ocean Blue”, co-writing several of the songs with Mike Love and Carl Wilson. Special permission was issued by President Ronald Reagan to have a burial at sea, which is usually only allowed for deceased Coast Guard and Navy personnel. Rock history records that Dennis’ song “Farewell My Friend” was played at his funeral.

Rock history records that Seven months after their marriage, 51-year-old Paul Simon and 26-year-old Edie Brickell have a baby boy they name Adrian Edward Simon.

Rock history records that The Spice Girls become the first female act to ever have their first three singles top the UK chart when “2 Become 1” debuts at #1.

Rock history records that Macon police responded to a suicide call at the residence of The Atlanta Rhythm Section lead singer Ronnie Hammond, who was suffering from severe depression and had slit his wrist. Rock history records that Upon arrival, officers were aggressively charged by the bleeding vocalist, who wielded a framing hammer and a broken electric guitar neck while daring them to end his life. Rock history records that To halt the sudden advance, a responding sergeant fired a defensive shot that struck Hammond in the stomach, inflicting severe injuries that required multiple surgeries. Rock history records that Hammond ultimately survived the trauma, utilizing the harrowing event as a positive personal turning point before passing away from heart failure over a decade later on March 14, 2011.

British Glam Rock star Gary Glitter (real name: Paul Gadd), who was found guilty of child pornography offenses in 1999 in England, was deported from Cambodia. The 58-year-old singer had set up a home in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh last year, but his presence had drawn intense pushback from local authorities and international child advocacy groups.

Meri Wilson, who climbed to #6 in the UK and #18 in the US in 1977 with “Telephone Man”, was killed in a car accident on Georgia State Route 377 in Americus, Georgia. Rock history records that She was 53.

Rock history records that North Carolina resident Wade Jones sold three tablespoons of water taken from a cup used by Elvis Presley for $455 on eBay. Rock history records that Jones had preserved the liquid in his freezer after acquiring the original Styrofoam cup from a security guard during a 1977 Presley concert in Charlotte.

Rock history records that The body of Barry Cowsill, bass guitarist for The Cowsills , was recovered from the Chartres Street Wharf in New Orleans. Rock history records that He was killed on or about September 1st from injuries believed to be caused by Hurricane Katrina. Rock history records that He was 51.

UK digital radio station Planet Rock revealed that Pink Floyd had been voted the greatest Rock act of all time by a survey of 58,000 listeners. Rock history records that The top ten ranking placed Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones in second and third, followed by The Who, AC/DC, U2, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Bon Jovi, and Jimi Hendrix.

Rock history records that Peter Frampton filed a lawsuit against A&M Records over the way that his digital royalties are calculated. Rock history records that The legal action was eventually consolidated into a larger, multi-artist class action lawsuit against Universal Music Group. Rock history records that It officially concluded in April, 2015 when Universal agreed to an $11.5 million settlement to put an end to the multi-year royalty dispute.

Legendary Heavy Metal pioneer and Motorhead frontman Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister died in Los Angeles aged 70. The revered bassist and vocalist succumbed to a brief but aggressive battle with cancer, a terminal diagnosis he had was presented with a mere two days prior to his death.

Debbie Reynolds, the singer and actress who topped the Billboard and Cashbox charts in 1957 with “Tammy”, died aged 84. In early 1958 she climbed to #20 on the Most Played by Jockeys chart with “A Very Special Love”, then scored two entries on the Hot 100 in 1960: “Am I That Easy to Forget” (#25) and “City Lights” (#55).

Neil Diamond achieved his 38th Top 10 hit on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Radio Airplay chart with “The Christmas Medley (Acoustic Christmas)” It was his first AC Top 10 since “Cherry Cherry Christmas” rose to #4 on January 2, 2010.

Four holiday songs made it into the Billboard Top Ten for the first occasion in the chart’s 61 year history. Rock history records that Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” led the list, followed by Brenda Lee ‘s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” at #2, Bobby Helms ‘ “Jingle Bell Rock” at #3 and Burl Ives ‘ “A Holly Jolly Christmas” at #4.

Rock history records that Vinyl album sales in the UK climbed to their highest point since 1990, reflecting the continued resurgence of physical music formats. Rock history records that According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), sales grew 11.7% to 5.9 million units, marking the 16th straight year of growth. Rock history records that Taylor Swift’s “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” was the year’s top-selling LP, with The Rolling Stones’ “Hackney Diamonds” close behind. Cassette tapes also remained strong, surpassing 100,000 sales for fourth year in a row.