Music History

Elvis Presley performed an evening and midnight show at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. The evening performance began at 8:15 p.m. and the midnight show at 12:00 a.m.; both had a capacity of 2,200. The source provides separate setlists for both performances and their later official releases associated with the albums “Elvis In Person” and “Elvis At The International”.

Grateful Dead performed at Pelletier Farm in St. Helens, Oregon, after local authorities refused to allow organizers to hold a three-day festival at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.

The band Ibex performed at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton, Lancashire. Freddie Bulsara, later known as Freddie Mercury, contributed vocals after joining the group earlier that year. Ibex consisted of Freddie Bulsara, guitarist Mike Bersin, bassist John Taylor and drummer Mick Smith.

Johnny Cash began a four-week run at number one on the US Billboard 200 (Billboard Top LPs and Tape) with his second live album, “Johnny Cash At San Quentin”. The album was a recording of a live concert for inmates at San Quentin State Prison and followed his previous successful live album “At Folsom Prison”. It was nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for the song “A Boy Named Sue”. It was later certified triple platinum in the US and gold in the UK.

The song “A Boy Named Sue” reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and number two on the Hot 100.

The Beatles had their final professional group photo session at John Lennon's Tittenhurst Park estate.

The Rolling Stones began a four-week run at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with “Honky Tonk Women”, their fifth US number-one single. The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and was inspired by Brazilian gauchos at the ranch where they stayed in Matão, São Paulo. In the UK, the song also reached number one; it was released one day after the death of founding member Brian Jones and spent 17 weeks on the UK chart, including five weeks at number one. It was the band's last hit involving Brian Jones, who had died by drowning in his swimming pool on July 3. The song also reached number one in Australia, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland in 1969.

The film „Alice's Restaurant“, based on Arlo Guthrie's song of the same name, was released in New York and Los Angeles several days after its Boston premiere. It grossed $6.3 million in the U.S. and became the 23rd highest-grossing film of 1969.

Elvis Presley performed at the International Hotel in Las Vegas in the evening show at 8:15 p.m. and again at midnight, in both cases before approximately 2,200 people. The evening program included „Blue Suede Shoes“, „I Got A Woman“, „Mystery Train/Tiger Man“, „In The Ghetto“ and „Suspicious Minds“, while the midnight show included „Johnny B. Goode“, „Words“, „Yesterday/Hey Jude“, „In The Ghetto“ and „Suspicious Minds“.

John Lennon wrote the song „Cold Turkey“ about heroin withdrawal, rehearsed it during the afternoon and recorded it that evening with Ringo Starr and Klaus Voormann. During the recording he also drew on his recent experience with primal scream therapy. Despite unfavorable reviews and a BBC ban, the song reached the U.K. Top 20 and U.S. Top 30 and became a precursor to his later album „Plastic Ono Band“.

Led Zeppelin performed at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida, during their North American tour.

Yes performed at Club Paradiso in Amsterdam.

Elvis Presley performed an evening concert at 8:15 p.m. and a midnight concert at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Each was attended by approximately 2,200 people. The evening programme included “Blue Suede Shoes”, “I Got A Woman”, “All Shook Up”, “Love Me Tender”, “Jailhouse Rock/Don't Be Cruel”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Hound Dog”, “Mystery Train/Tiger Man”, “In The Ghetto” and “Suspicious Minds”. The midnight concert had a similar programme and additionally included “I Can't Stop Loving You”, “My Babe”, “Words” and “Polk Salad Annie”, and Elvis introduced Nancy Sinatra, Mac Davis, Buddy Hackett, Thomas Jones and Shelley Fabares.

Luke Scott of Babybird was born. The group had the UK hit “You're Gorgeous” in 1996 and the album “Ugly Beautiful” reached number nine on the UK chart.

The Band's album “The Band” was released.

American drummer and songwriter Adrian Young was born in Long Beach, California. He is best known as a longtime member of No Doubt and also performed with Dreamcar.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performed at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Drummer, percussionist and producer Drew Hester was born. He played with Joe Walsh, Stevie Nicks, Beck, Jewel, Daniel Powter, Foo Fighters and Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders.

Edward Bear performed as the opening act for Led Zeppelin at the Rock Pile club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

During a performance at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, Elvis Presley sang “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” with a section intended for backing singer Cissy Houston. Her way of performing it live made him laugh so much that he could not stop laughing during the song; in the improvised section he also changed the lyrics and sang, “Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair?”

Elvis Presley released “Suspicious Minds”, his 18th and final lifetime No. 1 single in the US.

Johnny Cash, with his backing group The Tennessee Three, performed for the first time at the Minnesota State Fair. June Carter and The Carter Sisters and The Statler Brothers appeared as opening acts. Cash performed a nineteen-song set including the hits “Ring of Fire”, “I Walk The Line”, “Folsom Prison Blues” and “A Boy Named Sue”.

Elvis Presley performed a Dinner Show and a Midnight Show at the International Hotel in Las Vegas on August 27, 1969, during his first Las Vegas engagement.

American actress Chandra Wilson was born. She also has singing credits from Broadway productions.

Led Zeppelin played two concerts at the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, during their North American tour.

Jack Black, American actor, musician, comedian, and songwriter, was born in Santa Monica, California. He is the lead singer and guitarist of the comedy rock and hard rock duo Tenacious D, which he formed with Kyle Gass.

Paul and Linda McCartney became parents to a daughter named Mary. Mary was named after Paul’s mother, whom Paul also mentioned in the song “Let It Be”. She later became a photographer, documentary filmmaker, and cookbook author.

The Grateful Dead performed at the Family Dog at the Great Highway club in San Francisco. The venue was housed in the former Edgewater Ballroom, which was part of the Playland At The Beach complex. Family Dog moved there after being forced to leave the Avalon Ballroom.

The Rolling Stones’ single “Honky Tonk Women” was released in the United Kingdom.

Bob Seger divorced his first wife after only ten months of marriage.

Elvis Presley, Priscilla, Colonel Parker, members of his entourage, and their wives attended the opening night of Nancy Sinatra's engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. After the concert, they attended a party hosted by Frank Sinatra, where Fred Astaire was also present.

During their North American tour, Led Zeppelin played the first of two nights at the Singer Bowl Music Festival in Flushing Meadow Park.

The Rolling Stones released the album "Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" in the UK.

Elvis Presley’s tenth studio album “From Elvis in Memphis” reached No. 1 on the UK albums chart.

Two weeks after the Woodstock festival, the second Isle of Wight Festival was held. More than 150,000 people attended over two days, coming to see Bob Dylan, The Band, Blodwyn Pig, Blonde On Blonde, Bonzo Dog Dooh Dah Band, Edgar Broughton Band, Joe Cocker, Aynsley Dunbar, Family, Fat Mattress, Julie Felix, Free, Gypsy, Richie Havens, The Moody Blues, The Nice, Tom Paxton, Pentangle, The Pretty Things, Third Ear Band and The Who, among others. Tickets cost 25 shillings. Celebrities attending the festival included Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, John and Yoko, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Jane Fonda, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton.

Birmingham group Earth changed their name to Black Sabbath after Ozzy Osbourne announced the new name on stage. At their first concert under the name Black Sabbath in Workington, England, the band played “N.I.B.”, “The Wizard”, “Black Sabbath” and “Warning”.

The three-day Texas International Pop Festival began at Dallas International Motor Speedway, featuring Chicago Transit Authority, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Sam & Dave, Johnny Winter, Grand Funk Railroad, Delaney & Bonnie, Nazz, Spirit, B. B. King and Canned Heat. More than 120,000 fans attended the festival.

The Rolling Stones reached No. 1 on the US chart with “Honky Tonk Women”, their fifth single to reach the top of that chart.

Zager and Evans began a three-week run at No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)”. The song was written by Rick Evans in 1964. That same year, it also reached No. 1 in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the US, where it remained at the top for six weeks.

After a three-year hiatus, Bob Dylan made his first live appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival in England. It was his first paid performance since his motorcycle accident. He performed a one-hour concert with The Band and received a fee of £38,000.

Creedence Clearwater Revival released the single "Green River".

Guitarist, composer, songwriter, singer and co-founder of rock band Tonic, Jeff Russo was born. He is also the composer of the music for FX's "Fargo".

During their North American tour, Led Zeppelin performed at the Texas International Pop Festival in Lewisville. Also on the bill were B. B. King, The Incredible String Band, Sam & Dave and Janis Joplin.

Former boxing champion and occasional recording artist Rocky Marciano died at the age of 45.

Decca Records released The Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man", described as their most political song. Mick Jagger wrote it after attending an anti-war demonstration outside the U.S. embassy in London in March 1968, during which mounted police attempted to control a crowd of 25,000 people. In the United States, the song reached only No. 48 because a number of radio stations refused to play it because of its allegedly subversive lyrics.

Elvis Presley returned to Los Angeles. For the first time in ten years, he had no work commitments or anything scheduled until January 1970. Because he was restless, he frequently traveled between his homes and took several vacations.

The Grateful Dead performed at International Raceway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

American singer and songwriter Cedric Renard Hailey, known as K-Ci, was born in Monroe, North Carolina. He became known as a member of Jodeci and K-Ci & JoJo.