Today In History
In 1955
"Billboard" reported that 20th Century Fox had plans to produce a movie starring Fats Domino and Little Richard along with Jayne Mansfield, while Paramount had tapped Elvis Presley for the film "Lonesome Cowboy." The Domino-Richard flick was released the next year as "The Girl Can't Help It," but the Presley film was never made.
In 1958
The Kingston Trio's "Tom Dooley" broke into the Top 40.
In 1962
The Beatles made an in-store appearance, signing copies of the single "Love Me Do" backed with "P.S. I Love You" at Dawson's Music Shop in Widnes, England.
Chris Montez's "Let's Dance" peaked at number four on the pop singles chart.
Dickey Lee's "Patches" peaked at number six on the pop singles chart.
The Crystals' "He's A Rebel" broke into the Top 40.
In 1964
The Beatles hit the studio to work on the song "Eight Days A Week." It was the first time John Lennon and Paul McCartney entered the studio with an unfinished tune, which they finalized during the recording process.
In 1965
The Supremes released the single "I Hear A Symphony."
Gary Lewis and the Playboys recorded the song "She's Just My Style."
In 1966
Big Brother and the Holding Company were among the performers at the Love Pageant Rally in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
In 1967
The Matrix club in San Francisco was closed down by police during a show by Big Brother and the Holding Company.
In 1968
A clip for The Beatles' "Hey Jude" was aired on TV on "The Smothers Brothers Show."
The Doors' documentary "The Doors Are Open" aired on British TV.
In 1969
The Beatles released the single "Something" backed with "Come Together." It marked the first time a song written and sung by George Harrison was the A-side of a Beatles single.
In 1973
Cher's "Half Breed" hit number one on the pop singles chart.
Paul Simon's "Loves Me Like A Rock" peaked at number two on the pop singles chart.
The Isley Brothers' "That Lady" peaked at number six on the pop singles chart.
The Doobie Brothers' "China Grove" peaked at number 15 on the pop singles chart.
Marie Osmond's "Paper Roses" broke into the Top 40.
Todd Rundgren released the single "Hello, It's Me."
In 1975
The Who released the album "The Who By Numbers."
The Allman Brothers Band's album "Win, Lose, or Draw" was certified Gold.
In 1976
John Denver's album "Spirit" was certified Platinum.
In 1977
Rolling Stones guitarists Keith Richards and Ron Wood flew from Washington, DC to Paris on the Concord so the group could begin sessions on the album "Some Girls."
In 1978
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger apologized to the Reverend Jesse Jackson after the civil rights leader criticized the band's album "Some Girls" for having racist content.
In 1979
The Eagles released the single "Heartache Tonight."
In 1980
The Bee Gees sued manager Robert Stigwood and PolyGram Records for 200-million-dollars, claiming misrepresentation and fraud.
In 1983
Barry Manilow performed at a charity concert in London. Prince Charles and Princess Diana were among those in attendance.
In 1986
David Lee Roth released a Spanish-language version of the album "Eat 'Em and Smile."
In 1988
AC/DC's video "Who Made Who" was certified Gold.
In 1989
Alex Van Halen became a dad to son Eric.
In 1991
The special "Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music" aired on Fox.
In 1992
The Bob Marley and the Wailers album "Songs of Freedom" was released.
In 1994
Eagle Glenn Frey had colon surgery.
James Taylor's album "That's Why I'm Here" was certified Platinum.
In 1998
Bruce Springsteen made an appearance before a British High Court in his court case against Masquerade Music. He was trying to block the company from releasing "Before The Fame," a collection of demos he recorded in the early 1970s.
James Taylor released the video "Live at the Beacon Theater."
In 2003
Santana took part in the ABC's "Monday Night Football" halftime feature Monday Night at the Mic.
Former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth dropped his lawsuit against his former group. He had been seeking more than 200-thousand-dollars in unpaid royalties.
In 2004
Bob Weir cancelled a Ratdog tour five days before it was scheduled to begin, saying in a statement that he had, quote, "reached a point of complete physical exhaustion."
In 2005
The Rolling Stones took an unplanned 45-minute intermission during the group's concert in Charlottesville, Virginia after someone phoned in a bomb threat to the venue, specifying the stage was the target. After police and bomb-sniffing dogs combed the area, the show continued. No explosives were found.
Bruce Springsteen officially began his tour behind the album "Devils and Dust" with a show in Rochester, New York.
In 2007
John Mellencamp released a statement responding to the controversy over his song "Jena," saying it was, quote, "not, strictly speaking, about the town of Jena or this specific incident but of racism in America." He said he was just referencing the situation in Jena, Louisiana, in which six black teenagers were accused of beating a white classmate in 2006, to highlight his point.
The Paul McCartney-Stevie Wonder duet "Ebony and Ivory" topped a BBC 6 Music poll of the worst duets ever.< |