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Events for this day
- Composer Paul Dukas was born.
- John Philip Sousa was appointed leader of the United States Marine Corps Band. He also composed the march “Semper Fidelis”.
- Pianist Vladmir Horowitz was born in Berdychiv, Russia.
- American pianist Roger Williams was born. He had 22 hit singles and 38 successful albums.
- American pianist, composer, and actor Max Morath, nicknamed “Mr. Ragtime”, was born in Colorado Springs.
- Ben Pollack and his band recorded the song “Forever”. The lineup also included Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden.
- Duke Ellington recorded the song “The Mooche”.
- Bonnie Owens was born. She later became a singer associated with the group The Strangers.
- Irish actor and singer Richard Harris was born. He was known, among other things, for the hit song “MacArthur Park”.
- American blues guitarist and singer Albert Collins was born. He was known for playing a Fender Telecaster and for the nicknames “The Master of the Telecaster” and “Ice Man”. One source gives Leona, Texas, as his birthplace.
- English songwriter and record producer Geoffrey Stephens was born in London. He later wrote numerous hits and founded The New Vaudeville Band.
- English actress, singer, and author Julie Andrews, born Julia Elizabeth Wells, was born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. She later won an Academy Award for her leading role in “Mary Poppins” and also became famous as the star of “The Sound of Music”.
- American singer Herb Fame was born in Anacostia, Washington. He became famous as one half of the vocal duo Peaches & Herb.
- American saxophonist Gerald “Jerry” Martini was born in Denver. He became known as a member of Sly and the Family Stone.
- Barbara Parritt, singer and founding member of the girl group The Toys, was born on October 1, 1944, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The group had a hit with “A Lover's Concerto” in 1965.
- American soul singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Donny Hathaway was born in Chicago. He became known for songs including “The Ghetto”, “Where Is the Love”, and “This Christmas”.
- Bing Crosby broadcast his “Philco Radio Time” program on ABC as the first radio program to be prerecorded on magnetic tape. A Magnetophon tape recorder was used for the recording, a technology originally developed in Germany; Crosby later became an investor in the technology, which contributed to the further development of multitrack recording.
- Dutch singer Mariska Veres was born in The Hague. She became famous as the singer of the rock band Shocking Blue.
- Martin Turner, singer, bassist, and founding member of the British rock band Wishbone Ash, was born in Torquay, England.
- Canadian musician Brian Greenway, a longtime member of the rock band April Wine, was born.
- American guitarist Earl Slick was born. He became known for his work with David Bowie, John Lennon, and Robert Smith.
- Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black performed at the Eagle's Nest club in Memphis.
- British music magazine New Musical Express expanded its weekly singles chart from the Top 12 to the Top 20. The rankings were compiled by telephone surveys of approximately twenty record shops about their best-selling records. The growing popularity of the chart led other magazines, including Record Mirror and Melody Maker, to publish their own charts.
- Elvis Presley performed as part of the Louisiana Hayride at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport.
- American singer and songwriter Howard Hewett was born in Akron, Ohio. He became famous as the lead singer of Shalamar.
- The Platters’ debut single, “Only You (And You Alone)”, was performed publicly for the first time.
- Andy Walton of the group Kenny, which had several UK hits in the mid-1970s, was born.
- The USS Randall arrived in Bremerhaven, West Germany, where more than 1,500 fans were waiting for Elvis Presley and where he gave his first European autograph. He then traveled with his unit by military train to Friedberg, where he joined the US Army’s 3rd Armored Division; his time in Germany lasted until early 1960.
- Little Anthony and the Imperials recorded Neil Sedaka’s song “The Diary”. The songwriter was dissatisfied with their version and decided to record it himself, giving him his first chart hit.
- Painter and multi-instrumentalist Martin Cooper was born in Liverpool. He is best known as a keyboardist and member of the British electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
- Tommy Edwards reached No. 1 on the US Billboard chart with “It’s All in the Game”.
- Jimmy Driftwood, writer of “The Battle of New Orleans”, appeared as a guest on the CBS television program To Tell the Truth.
- Senegalese singer, songwriter, musician, percussionist, and film composer Youssou N'Dour was born.
- The song “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight?)” reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Lonnie Donegan’s biggest American hit. In the UK, it had already reached No. 3 two years earlier.
- Barbra Streisand signed a recording contract with Columbia Records. Although financially modest, the contract gave her creative control over her music.
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson premiered on NBC. Its famous instrumental opening theme, “Johnny's Theme”, was written by Paul Anka. According to the source variants, Johnny Carson contributed either an unused section of lyrics or the opening drum part, and an agreement gave him half of the royalties. According to one source variant, the theme earned each of them approximately $200,000 a year over the years. The program subsequently became one of the most important television formats of its era.
- The Beach Boys released their debut album, “Surfin’ Safari”, on Capitol Records. The album also included their first single, “Surfin’”, and reached No. 32 on the US chart.
- Brian Epstein signed The Beatles’ first formal management contract with the group. John Lennon and Ringo Starr signed it themselves, while the parents of the underage George Harrison and Paul McCartney signed on their behalf. The contract entitled Epstein to 25% of the group’s income above a specified earnings threshold.
- Vee-Jay Records released the double album “The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons” shortly before its rights to distribute Beatles recordings expired. The album contained no new material and combined the previously released recordings “Introducing… The Beatles” and “Golden Hits of the Four Seasons”. It remained on the US Billboard chart for three weeks and reached No. 142.
- Bob Dylan and his new backing group performed their first concert together at Carnegie Hall in New York. The band consisted of Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Levon Helm, who had previously worked as Ronnie Hawkins’ backing group and were known as The Hawks, or Levon and the Hawks; this lineup later became The Band. The program included songs such as “It Ain’t Me Babe” and “Like a Rolling Stone”.
- The Byrds released the single “Turn! Turn! Turn!” in the United States. Pete Seeger adapted it from the biblical Book of Ecclesiastes, except for the final verse. According to the source, the recording required 78 takes over five days. The song became the group’s second US No. 1 hit and their last single to reach the Top 10.
- The McCoys reached No. 1 on the US Billboard chart with “Hang On Sloopy”.
- The Rolling Stones performed at the ABC Regal club in Chester, Cheshire, England.
- WGN-TV in Chicago broadcast the half-hour special “An Evening with Gary Lewis and the Playboys”. The group performed its most successful songs, including material from seven consecutive Top 10 hits, as well as a cover of The Beatles’ “Run for Your Life”. During “Time Stands Still”, Gary Lewis imitated his father, comedian Jerry Lewis.
- Jimi Hendrix performed live in the United Kingdom for the first time when he joined Cream during their concert at London Polytechnic. His official UK debut with The Jimi Hendrix Experience followed a month later.
- The soundtrack album “The Sound of Music” began an extraordinary eighteen-week run at No. 1 in the United Kingdom.
- The Who performed at the Imperial Ballroom in Nelson, Lancashire, England.
- The BBC Radio 1 program “Top Gear”, hosted by John Peel and Pete Drummond, was broadcast for the first time. The first episode featured The Move, Traffic, Pink Floyd, Tim Rose, and Tomorrow with Keith West.
- At RCA Studio B in Nashville, Elvis Presley recorded three songs for the soundtrack to the film “Stay Away Joe”. He was dissatisfied with the quality of the material and promised Felton Jarvis that none of the songs would ever be released.
- Thieves broke into Mick Jagger’s London apartment while he was away and stole valuable jewelry and luxury furs belonging to his then-partner Marianne Faithfull.
- Pink Floyd arrived in New York to begin their first tour of the United States.
- Pink Floyd, together with Tomorrow, The Incredible String Band, and Tim Rose, performed two concerts as part of the Sunday At the Saville program at the Saville Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London.
- The Who appeared as the support act for Herman’s Hermits at the Mississippi State Coliseum in Jackson. In tribute to the location, they performed a one-off cover of Nancy Sinatra’s song “Jackson”. After the concert, Pete Townshend had to see a doctor after cutting his finger to the bone during his trademark guitar movement.
- Traffic made their first stage appearance at the Saville Theatre in London.
- John Sebastian officially left The Lovin' Spoonful and began a solo career. During his solo career, he released twelve albums, worked as a session musician, and composed music for children’s films and television. His greatest commercial success came in 1976 with the song “Welcome Back”, which reached No. 1 on the US Billboard chart.
- Kevin Griffin, American singer, songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, and co-founder of the rock band Better Than Ezra, was born in Atlanta.
- The Beatles’ eleventh studio album, “Abbey Road”, was released in the United States, one week after its UK release.
- Colgems Records released The Monkees’ eighth studio album, “The Monkees Present Micky, David, Michael”. It was the group’s second album after Peter Tork’s departure and the last to feature Michael Nesmith until 1996. The album reached No. 100 in the United States, while the singles “Listen to the Band” and “Good Clean Fun” reached Nos. 63 and 82 respectively.
- Curtis Mayfield left The Impressions to focus on a solo career and his own record label, Curtom Records, which he had co-founded with Eddie Thomas in 1968. Over the following five years, nine of his songs reached the Billboard Hot 100, including the million-selling hits “Freddie’s Dead” and “Superfly” from 1972.
- Janis Joplin held her final recording session at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood. During the session, she recorded an a cappella solo version of “Mercedes Benz”, which was later released on the posthumous album “Pearl”. According to one source variant, she also recorded a humorous version of “Happy Trails” during the same session as a birthday gift for John Lennon. She died three days later.
- Cat Stevens released his fifth studio album, “Teaser and the Firecat”. The album reached No. 2 in both the USA and the UK, reached No. 1 in Australia, and sold more than four million copies. It also produced major hits including “Moonshadow”, “Morning Has Broken”, and “Peace Train”.
- John Lennon’s album “Imagine” received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States. The certification was later upgraded to double platinum for more than two million copies sold in the USA.
- The Allman Brothers Band performed at the Community Concourse Convention Hall in San Diego, California.
- David Bowie performed at the Music Hall in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Jon Mark lost his left ring finger, causing the remainder of the tour to be canceled.
- 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”.
- Elvis Presley performed at the Notre Dame Athletic and Convention Center in South Bend, Indiana. The concert began at 8:30 p.m., attracted 12,301 people, and Presley performed in a Chinese Dragon costume.
- Irish singer and actor Keith Duffy was born in Dublin. He became famous as a member of the boy band Boyzone.
- Olivia Newton-John reached No. 1 on the US Billboard chart with the song “I Honestly Love You”.
- Roxy Music performed at De Montfort Hall in Leicester, England.
- The Who released the album “Odds and Sods”, compiled from previously unreleased recordings and rarities. The selection was prepared by John Entwistle, while the liner notes were written by Pete Townshend.
- David Bowie moved to West Berlin, or according to one version to West Germany, to escape Los Angeles and deal with his personal problems and drug addiction. This period laid the foundation for his Berlin Trilogy; Bowie also worked with Iggy Pop on the albums “The Idiot” and “Lust for Life” and with Brian Eno, while the song “Heroes” also came from this period.
- English musician and songwriter Richard Oakes was born. He is best known as the guitarist of the band Suede.
- Styx released the album “Crystal Ball”.
- The Grateful Dead performed at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.
- Elton John became the first non-sporting figure inducted into the Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame in New York, in recognition of the record attendance at his concerts in June 1977.
- Meco’s “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band” rose from No. 8 to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and began a two-week run at the top. The approximately fifteen-minute disco version of music from the film “Star Wars” also included a sound effect resembling R2-D2 and became the best-selling single in the USA. The recording was led by producer and musician Domenico Monardo; both the single and the album “Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk” received platinum certification in the United States.
- The Grateful Dead performed at the Paramount Theater in Portland, Oregon.
- Golden Earring released their thirteenth studio album, “Grab It for a Second”. After the previous tour with Ted Nugent, the band wanted to make a hard rock album, but the record label chose producer Jimmy Iovine. It was also the band’s last album with second guitarist Eelco Gelling.
- Rory Gallagher released his seventh solo studio album, “Photo-Finish”. The band was reduced to a power trio with drummer Ted McKenna of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Notable tracks on the album included “Shin Kicker”, “Shadow Play”, and “Overnight Bag”.
- Black Sabbath performed at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago during the tour supporting the album “Heaven and Hell”. The band featured Ronnie James Dio on vocals, with Blue Öyster Cult among the supporting acts.
- The semi-autobiographical film “One Trick Pony”, starring Paul Simon, premiered in New York. The film was also released in US cinemas, and the soundtrack song “Late in the Evening” reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Rush performed at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine.
- The Pretenders had to cancel the final part of their US tour after drummer Martin Chambers injured the tendons and arteries in his hand when he broke a window pane, or according to another source variant put his hand through a sheet of glass.
- The first compact disc was released in the United States; it was a German-made reissue of Billy Joel’s 1978 album “52nd Street”.
- John Cougar Mellencamp simultaneously topped the US album and singles charts with the album “American Fool” and the song “Jack and Diane”. He released the album under the name John Cougar, and “Jack and Diane” became his biggest hit.
- Sony launched the first commercially available compact disc player, the CDP-101, in Tokyo. The device cost 168,000 yen, equivalent according to different source variants to approximately $650–$730.
- ABBA was honored in Sweden with the issuance of a postage stamp.
- Bonnie Tyler became the first Welsh woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. The song began a four-week run at No. 1 and also topped the charts in seven other countries. It was later nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
- A David Bowie convention, or according to the source variants a worldwide gathering of his fans, was held at the Cunard Hotel in London. According to the source variants, the event presented the largest collection of Bowie memorabilia assembled up to that time, or was the first fan gathering dedicated to Bowie. Among those attending were his former dance teacher, manager, guitarist, archivist, and photographer.
- Paul Young reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with his debut studio album, “No Parlez”, where it remained for two weeks.
- The album “Apollonia 6” was released.
- U2 released the album “The Unforgettable Fire”, on which they began working extensively with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The album included, among other songs, the hit “Pride”.
- British rapper and MC Dylan Kwabena Mills, known as Dizzee Rascal, was born. He later became one of the pioneers of British hip hop and grime.
- Andy McVann, the 21-year-old drummer of Liverpool band The Farm, died in a car accident during a police pursuit. The band’s 1991 album “Spartacus” was dedicated to him.
- Def Leppard began the North American leg of their world tour for the album “Hysteria” with a concert at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, New York.
- Soundgarden released their debut EP, “Screaming Life”, on Sub Pop Records.
- Bon Jovi reached No. 1 on the UK album chart for the first time with “New Jersey”. The band’s fourth album also topped the charts in the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, and Switzerland. It produced five Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest number of Top 10 hits at the time for a hard rock album; “Bad Medicine” and “I’ll Be There for You” reached No. 1.
- Iron Maiden released the album “No Prayer for the Dying”, which foreshadowed guitarist Adrian Smith’s departure from the band.
- Forbes magazine ranked New Kids On The Block among the five highest-earning American artists, with the group reportedly earning $78 million during the previous year.
- Michael Jackson’s crystal-encrusted white glove was stolen from the Motown Museum in Detroit. According to one source variant, the glove was found two days later; M.C. Hammer offered a $50,000 reward for its return.
- A revived production of the musical “Oba Oba '93” was staged.
- Wilson Pickett was sentenced to one year in prison after driving under the influence of alcohol and hitting an 86-year-old pedestrian with his car. During his sentence, he suffered an eye injury in a confrontation with another inmate that required several operations.
- Eric Clapton entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 with his twelfth solo studio album, “From the Cradle”. The album also reached No. 1 in the UK, Austria, and Switzerland. The blues recording followed the success of “Unplugged” and won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album; it was also nominated for Album of the Year.
- Luther Vandross reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with his ninth studio album, “Songs”, which consisted mainly of cover versions of well-known songs.
- Megadeth became the first musical act to launch its own official website on the then newly accessible World Wide Web. The site included a chat, photo gallery, and song samples.
- The British Daily Mirror published a photograph of Michael Jackson wearing a scout leader’s uniform with five young scouts. It was later clarified that the photograph came from a ceremony in Los Angeles in September 1990, where Jackson received the Good Scout Humanitarian Award. A representative of the scouting organization subsequently stated that Jackson had no connection with the organization and had never served as a scout leader.
- The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center opened in California at California State University, Long Beach.
- Farm Aid 8 took place in Louisville, Kentucky. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Hootie and the Blowfish, and The Dave Matthews Band performed; according to the source variants, the concert raised nearly one million dollars, or more than one million dollars, to support American farmers.
- English singer, songwriter, and musician Jade Bird was born.
- John Fogerty received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard; according to the source, it was star number 1356.
- INXS, Men at Work, and John Paul Young performed at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games.
- Madonna topped the US album chart with “Music”, her fourth album to reach No. 1 in the United States.
- Midnight Oil performed “Beds Are Burning” at the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Sydney. The members of the band wore the word “sorry” on their black clothing as a symbolic gesture toward Australia’s Indigenous people.
- The Recording Industry Association of America introduced rules for labeling recordings containing material considered unsuitable for children in the United States.
- Barry White’s record label announced that the 58-year-old singer was suffering from kidney failure caused by long-term high blood pressure and was undergoing maintenance dialysis. A planned transplant could not be carried out; White died nine months later.
- Good Charlotte released their second album, “The Young and the Hopeless”, which became an important recording in the pop-punk scene. It included songs such as “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and “The Anthem”.
- James Blunt left the British Army after six years of service with a cavalry regiment. Several years later, he established himself as a singer with the album “Back to Bedlam” and the hits “You're Beautiful” and “Goodbye My Lover”.
- The White Stripes played a free concert in New York’s Union Square Park for a large lunchtime audience. They performed a mixture of cover versions and songs from their first three albums.
- AC/DC Lane, a street named after the Australian rock band, was officially opened in Melbourne. During the ceremony, the band’s song “Long Way to the Top” was played on bagpipes.
- Former Buffalo Springfield bassist Bruce Palmer died at the age of 58 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, of a heart attack. He was also a member of The Mynah Birds and worked with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Neil Young. In 1967, Buffalo Springfield had their only single to reach the US Top 40 with “For What It’s Worth”, which peaked at No. 7.
- John Fogerty, Bruce Springsteen, and R.E.M. launched the Vote for Change tour in Philadelphia. Dave Matthews Band performed in State College and Dixie Chicks in Pittsburgh.
- Ms Dynamite was arrested on suspicion of assault following an incident at a restaurant in central London. She voluntarily went to the police station and was later released on bail.
- Paul Wall reached No. 1 on the US album chart with his second studio album, “The Peoples Champ”.
- Pete Doherty was arrested during a police drug operation in Shrewsbury, where his band Babyshambles was performing. Police said that a man and a woman were arrested for possession of Class A drugs, while another 17 people were searched. A subsequent Babyshambles concert in Norwich was canceled.
- George Michael was arrested in London for possession of drugs.
- A court awarded Kevin Federline custody of his two children with Britney Spears. The judge cited, among other concerns, issues related to her use of controlled substances and alcohol.
- Laura Marling and her band performed outside the Soho Revue Bar in London because the 17-year-old singer was not allowed inside under a rule permitting entry only to people over 18. The concert was therefore performed directly on the street in front of surprised and enthusiastic fans.
- Radiohead’s official website crashed after the band announced that their album “In Rainbows” could be ordered through their own website. Fans could pre-order the digital version for any price they chose, while a special physical package costing £40 contained two CDs, two vinyl records, artwork, and booklets.
- The Spice Girls reunion concert at London’s O2 Arena sold out in 38 seconds after fans were informed that tickets had gone on sale. More than one million people applied for tickets, and three additional London dates were added because of the enormous demand.
- Justin Timberlake portrayed Napster co-founder Sean Parker in the film “The Social Network”, which tells the story of the creation of Facebook and was nominated for an Academy Award.
- Burton Cummings, keyboardist and singer of The Guess Who, was inducted into the Canada Walk of Fame in Toronto.
- Dappy reached No. 1 on both the Scottish and UK singles charts with “No Regrets”.
- Gene Simmons of KISS and actress Shannon Tweed married after 28 years together and two children in an evening outdoor ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Their wedding song, “At Last”, was sung by their daughter Sophie.
- Kasabian reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with their fourth studio album, “Velociraptor!”.
- Lady Antebellum reached No. 1 on the US album chart with “Own the Night”.
- Meat Loaf performed during the Australian Football League AFL final in Melbourne between Collingwood and Geelong. Because of bleeding vocal cords, he had difficulty completing the twelve-minute set and subsequently faced criticism in the media.
- Mandolinist Chris Thile, known from Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers, received a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant. He learned about the award by telephone and initially thought it was an automated political call.
- David Gilmour reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with his fourth solo studio album, “Rattle That Lock”; the album topped the charts in ten other countries.
- An original recording of The Beatles performing at the Cavern Club in 1962 was discovered in Liverpool. The recording included the song “Some Other Guy” and had remained forgotten in a desk drawer for almost 50 years.
- Jason Aldean reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 with his seventh studio album, “They Don’t Know”.
- During Jason Aldean’s performance at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas, a gunman opened fire from a suite in the nearby Mandalay Bay hotel. The incident left 58 people dead and more than 500 injured.
- French singer, songwriter, lyricist, actor, activist, and diplomat Charles Aznavour died at the age of 94. According to the source variants, he was found dead in the bathtub of his home in Mouriès. He became known for songs including “She”, which reached No. 1 on the UK chart in 1974, while his songwriting credits included “Yesterday, When I Was Young” and “If You Go Away”. During his career, he sold more than 180 million recordings and recorded more than 1,200 songs.
- American blues guitarist Beverly Watkins died at the age of 80. During her career, she worked with artists including James Brown, B. B. King, Ray Charles, and Dr. Feelgood.
- Published accounts showed that Ed Sheeran Ltd made a gross profit of £23,770,262 in 2018, equivalent to approximately £65,124 per day. He paid £4,506,139 in taxes.
- Pop Smoke reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with his posthumously released debut album, “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon”.
- Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga released their collaborative album “Love for Sale”.