Today in Music History

British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams is born. He becomes a major figure in English classical music.

Guitarist Joe Olivier, a member of Bill Haley and His Comets, is born in Maastricht, in the Dutch province of Limburg.

American R&B musician James “Sugar Boy” Crawford is born. He wrote the 1954 song “Jock-A-Mo,” later made famous as “Iko Iko” in a version by The Dixie Cups.

Opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti is born in Modena, Italy. He later becomes world-famous and a member of the vocal group The Three Tenors. Among his notable successes are the recording of “Nessun Dorma” and the album The Essential Pavarotti.

American jazz and R&B drummer Paul Humphrey is born. He played on Marvin Gaye’s album Let’s Get It On and also recorded with Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Dusty Springfield, and Marc Bolan.

Sam Moore, born Samuel Hicks, is born in Miami, Florida. He later takes his stepfather’s surname and forms the soul and R&B duo Sam & Dave with singer Dave Prater. Their best-known hits include “Soul Man,” “I Thank You,” “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” and “You Don’t Know Like I Know.”

Jean King, an American singer with The Blossoms, is born. The group was produced by Phil Spector. She also sang with Ray Charles’s backing group the Raelettes and worked as a backing vocalist with other well-known artists.

Louis Armstrong marries for the fourth time, to Lucille Wilson. They remain married until Armstrong’s death in 1971.

Melvin Franklin, born David Melvin English and also known as Blue, is born in Montgomery, Alabama. He becomes the bass singer and longtime member of The Temptations, a group that plays a major role in the development of soul and R&B.

Frank Sinatra returns to New York’s Paramount Theatre, where he is greeted by a huge crowd of fans. The predominantly female audience refuses to leave, and police intervention is required. The incident becomes known as the “Columbus Day Riot.”

Rick Parfitt is born in Woking, England. He is a singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist with British rock band Status Quo, known for hits including “Pictures of Matchstick Men,” “Whatever You Want,” and “In the Army Now.”

Frankie Laine’s recording of “That Lucky Old Sun” reaches No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Pop chart.

American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Donnie Dacus is born. He played with Chicago and worked with artists including Billy Joel, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young, and John Lennon.

Elvis Presley performs at the High School Auditorium in Midland, Texas. Other performers include Jimmy Newman, Johnny Cash, Floyd Cramer, Jimmy Day, Wanda Jackson, Porter Wagoner, and Bobby Lord.

Chrysler introduces record players for its 1956 model-year cars. The device, mounted beneath the dashboard, plays seven-inch records at 16⅔ rpm. The system lets drivers listen to vinyl records in their cars; production ends in 1961.

Singer-songwriter Jane Siberry is born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is known for songs including “Mimi on the Beach,” “I Muse Aloud,” “One More Colour,” and “Calling All Angels.”

Don’t Knock the Rock, the second film associated with radio disc jockey Alan Freed, premieres in U.S. cinemas. It features Little Richard, Bill Haley and His Comets, and The Treniers. The story follows Freed as he tries to prove to parents that rock ’n’ roll is not harmful to young people.

Elvis Presley performs at the Heart O’ Texas Coliseum in Waco, Texas. His set includes “Heartbreak Hotel,” “I Got a Woman,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Money Honey,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Love Me Tender,” and “Hound Dog.”

“Chances Are” reaches No. 1 on the Cashbox Best Sellers chart. More than two million copies are sold, and in 1998 the song is inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

During an Australian tour, Little Richard publicly announces that he is giving up rock ’n’ roll and turning to gospel music. At a bandmate’s urging, he throws four diamond rings worth $8,000 into Sydney’s Hunter River. He later devotes himself to religion and returns to rock ’n’ roll in 1962.

The Highwaymen reach No. 1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the African-American spiritual “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore.”

The Beatles perform as the opening act for their musical idol Little Richard at the Tower Ballroom in Wallasey. Period photographs show the Beatles with Little Richard and his young touring keyboardist Billy Preston.

Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs’ “Sugar Shack” reaches No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and stays there for five weeks. It becomes the best-selling U.S. record of 1963, sells more than a million copies, and reaches No. 45 on the UK chart.

The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” reaches No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard chart and spends ten weeks in the Top 40. Producer Phil Spector reportedly demanded 42 takes before accepting the recording.

Production begins on Tickle Me, starring Elvis Presley.

English musician and songwriter Phi Creswick is born. He is a member of British boy band Big Fun, which scored a hit with “Blame It on the Boogie” in 1989.

The Beatles record “Run for Your Life” in five takes at Abbey Road Studios in London for the album Rubber Soul. They also work on “This Bird Has Flown,” later reworked and renamed “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown).” John Lennon later admits that he borrowed two lines of “Run for Your Life” from Elvis Presley’s “Baby Let’s Play House.”

Irish singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy is born. He has worked with Van Morrison’s band and also performed as a solo artist. In 2006, he represents Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience perform at the Olympia Theatre in Paris before an audience of 14,500. The British press describes Hendrix as the “wild man of pop.”

The Moody Blues break up, and Denny Laine signs a solo deal with Deram Records. A month later, the group reforms with new members Justin Hayward and John Lodge.

The Doors perform at the Surf Club on Nantasket Beach in Massachusetts, with Ultimate Spinach as the opening act.

Cheap Thrills reaches No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and spends a total of eight non-consecutive weeks at the top. More than a million copies are sold, making it the year’s best-selling album. The cover is created by underground cartoonist Robert Crumb. It was originally intended for the back, but Janis Joplin insisted it be placed on the front. In 2013, the album is added to the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers perform at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan.

John Sebastian leaves The Lovin’ Spoonful to pursue a solo career.

Pink Floyd film at the ORTF studios in Paris. Footage of the band and London landmarks accompanies their performance of “Let There Be More Light” on the program A L’Affiche Du Monde.

The Hollies’ Greatest reaches No. 1 on the UK albums chart and stays there for six weeks. It is the group’s first and only album to top the UK chart.

The British press announces that Led Zeppelin will receive the highest fee ever paid to a British group in the UK for a one-off performance at London’s Lyceum. The exact amount is not disclosed.

Martie Maguire is born in York, Pennsylvania. She is a singer and multi-instrumentalist and a founding member of The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks. She later forms the duo Court Yard Hounds with her sister Emily Robison.

Detroit radio DJ Russ Gibb receives a call from a listener who claims that playing The Beatles’ “Revolution 9” backwards reveals the message “Turn me on, dead man.” Gibb broadcasts the track in reverse, helping spread rumors about Paul McCartney’s supposed death, known as “Paul Is Dead.” Other alleged clues are said to be hidden in “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Revolution 9,” and the Sgt. Pepper album cover.

Bill Graham holds an auction of rock memorabilia at New York’s Fillmore East.

The musical Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice premieres on Broadway.

Rock ’n’ roll pioneer Gene Vincent, born Vincent Eugene Craddock, dies at age 36 from a perforated stomach ulcer. He is best known for the 1956 hit “Be-Bop-A-Lula,” as well as “Lotta Lovin’,” and appeared in the film The Girl Can’t Help It. He also achieved considerable success on the UK charts between 1956 and 1961.

Lady Sings the Blues, a musical biographical film about singer Billie Holiday, premieres in New York. Diana Ross makes her feature-film debut as Holiday, starring alongside Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, and Scatman Crothers. The film receives five Oscar nominations, including one for Ross for Best Actress.

Joseph Kahn, born Ahn Jun-hee, is born in Busan, South Korea. He later becomes a music-video director for Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, Chris Brown, and Eminem.

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.