Music History

At the end of his Las Vegas engagement, Elvis Presley had a public argument backstage with Colonel Tom Parker. Later that night, according to the source, Elvis fired him, although Parker had already announced his own departure and demanded money that Elvis owed him.

American singer Jennifer Paige was born Jennifer Paige Scoggins in Marietta, Georgia. She became known for the hits “Crush”, “Always You” and “Sober”.

Stevie Wonder released the album Innervisions, which became one of his most significant albums in soul and funk.

The Rolling Stones performed at the Eisstadion in Mannheim, Germany.

Elvis Presley hired a Nashville gospel quartet featuring Donnie Sumner and Sherrill Nielsen as his personal backing group. He named the group Voice and reportedly paid them $100,000 a year.

The Rolling Stones performed at the Sporthalle in Cologne, Germany.

Anika Noni Rose, an American singer and Tony Award-winning actress, was born. She appeared in the 2006 musical film "Dreamgirls".

Jethro Tull performed at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

Elton John performed at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles; actress Linda Lovelace introduced him.

The Grateful Dead performed at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.

The Rolling Stones began their nine-date UK tour at Empire Pool in London. Tickets cost £2.20.

King Crimson performed at the Ice Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Pink Floyd began recording the album “Wish You Were Here” at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Ringo Starr released the single “Photograph”.

Simon Park Orchestra reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “Eye Level”, the theme from the television series “Van der Valk”. According to the source, it was the first television theme to reach the top of the UK chart.

The Carpenters released the single “Top of the World”.

LaTocha Scott, singer of the group Xscape, was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

Lene Grawford Nystrom, singer of the Danish Eurodance group Aqua, was born on October 2, 1973, in Tønsberg, Norway. In 1997, Aqua reached No. 1 on the British singles chart with “Barbie Girl” and, according to the source, sold approximately 33 million albums and singles.

Lene Grawford Nystrom, singer of the group Aqua, was born in Tønsberg, Norway.

The Rolling Stones performed at Ernst Merck Halle in Hamburg, Germany.

American rapper, singer and actor Tariq Luqmaan Trotter, known as Black Thought, the lead MC of hip-hop group The Roots. In 2000, The Roots won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “You Got Me.” Black Thought and The Roots serve as the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

“Half-Breed” by Cher was the first song on the US Billboard Pop chart.

The Who were forced to re-record the song "5:15" for their appearance on Top Of The Pops because of union regulations. At the end of the performance, they expressed their frustration with a destructive display: Pete Townshend smashed the equipment and made a two-finger gesture at the producer, while Keith Moon threw wigs from the prop department into the audience. When the program was broadcast the following evening, these problematic sections had been cut.

American singer and songwriter M. Ward was born. He has released ten studio albums and is also a member of the duo She & Him and the folk-rock supergroup Monsters of Folk.

The J. Geils Band performed at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

BBC broadcast the 500th episode of Top of the Pops. Performers included Slade, Gary Glitter, and The Osmonds. The Who broke the show's rules against miming during their appearance, and Pete Townshend smashed a guitar on stage, which led to the group being banned from appearing on the program.

Elton John released his seventh studio album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which became his most successful and best-selling studio album. It includes “Candle in the Wind,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and the title track. Bernie Taupin's lyrics were written in two and a half weeks, and Elton John composed most of the music in three days in Kingston, Jamaica. The album sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, sold eight million copies in the United States, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.

King Crimson performed at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas.

“ All I Know” by Art Garfunkel reached No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart.

Cher began a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with “Half-Breed,” her second solo single to top the chart. The song was written for her by Mary Dean, Al Capps and Snuff Garrett; it did not chart in the UK and later received a gold certification in the U.S.

Slade reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with the compilation album Sladest, which began a three-week run at the top.

The Allman Brothers Band performed at the State Fairgrounds in Hamilton, New Jersey.

The Steve Miller Band released the single “The Joker.”

Elton John played at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley finalized their divorce after six and a half years of marriage. Priscilla was awarded property, $725,000 in cash and $4,200 a month in support, plus half the proceeds from the sale of a Los Angeles home and five percent of the outstanding stock in two publishing companies. The couple left the Santa Monica courthouse arm in arm after the short hearing.

Paul Simon's "Loves Me Like a Rock" was certified gold in the United States.

Rod Stewart & The Faces and Rory Gallagher performed at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California.

Scott Morriss, bassist of the British indie rock band The Bluetones, was born on October 10, 1973. The band's 1996 debut album knocked Oasis from the top of the UK album chart for one week. The single “Slight Return” reached number two.

Brendan Brown, guitarist and singer with the American rock band Wheatus, was born. In 2001, the band reached No. 2 on the UK singles chart with "Teenage Dirtbag," which also appeared in the film Loser. Their 2001 cover of Erasure's "A Little Respect" also attracted attention.

Elvis Presley experienced breathing difficulties shortly before flying to Memphis with Linda Thompson.

The divorce of Elvis and Priscilla Presley was officially finalised. They remained close friends and held hands as they left the courthouse in Santa Monica.

The Rolling Stones performed at the Grugahalle in Essen, Germany.

The double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is certified gold. According to the supplied source, it is Elton John’s third consecutive album to reach No. 1 on the chart.

Pink Floyd perform at Olympiahalle in Munich’s Olympic Park. The second part of the concert features The Dark Side of the Moon. Fumble is the opening act.

Genesis released the album Selling England by the Pound, one of the significant recordings from the band's early progressive-rock period.

Cher's single "Half-Breed" remained at number one on the US singles chart. The Allman Brothers Band's "Ramblin' Man" moved up from number seven to number two.

Queen performed at the Underground club in Bad Godesberg, near Bonn, Germany.

The album Goats Head Soup began a four-week run at number one on the US Billboard 200. It was the band’s fourth album to top the American chart. A week later, the album’s ballad “Angie” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In second place on the album chart was Brothers and Sisters by the Allman Brothers Band, followed by Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye in third place.