Week in Music History

Influential jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer Charlie Parker, nicknamed Bird, was born in Kansas City, Kansas. He developed the innovative style known as bebop, which influenced musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis.

The New Orleans Rhythm Kings made their first recordings.

American singer and pianist Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones, was born in Chicago. In 1959, she had the US single "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes" at No. 8, and in 1960 she recorded two successful duets with Brook Benton, "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" and "A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall in Love)". She died on December 14, 1963, at the age of 39.

Country singer Jimmy C. Newman was born near Big Mamou, Louisiana. He became known for the 1957 hit "A Fallen Star".

Singer Bob Markley, controversial co-founder of the West Coast Pop Experimental Art Band, was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sterling Morrison, guitarist and founding member of the rock group The Velvet Underground, was born as Holmes Sterling Morrison Jr. in East Meadow, New York.

American musician, composer, and arranger Richard "Dick" Halligan, a founding member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, was born in Troy, New York. Halligan was a keyboardist, flutist, and singer. In 1969, the group had the US single "Spinning Wheel" at No. 2 and "You've Made Me So Very Happy" at No. 12, while its 1968 album "Blood, Sweat & Tears" reached No. 1 in the US. In the 1970s and 1980s, Halligan composed and arranged music for a number of films. He died on January 18, 2022, in Rome at the age of 78.

English multi-instrumentalist and singer Chris Copping was born in Middleton, Lancashire. He became known as a member of Procol Harum. In 1967, the group had the UK No. 1 single "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", which reached No. 5 in the US, and also had the hits "Homburg" and "Conquistador".

British racing driver James Hunt was born. He also took part in musical collaborations.

English composer, classically trained violinist, and keyboardist Simon House was born. He became known as a member of Hawkwind and the backing band of David Bowie.

Dave Malone, singer, songwriter, and guitarist of The Radiators, was born.

Rick Downey, drummer of the American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, was born. In 1976, the group had the US single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" at No. 12, and in 1978 it had a UK single at No. 16. Blue Öyster Cult have sold more than 24 million records worldwide.

Elvis Presley recorded his first spoken-word single, "The Truth About Me", which was released as a flexidisc attached to magazine covers.

Elvis Presley arrived in Spokane, Washington, at 11:20 p.m. at the beginning of his tour, which was managed by Al Dvorin.

The Alan Freed's Big Beat Show revue began its run at the Fox Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. Frankie Avalon, Jimmy Clanton, Chuck Berry, Bobby Freeman, Bill Haley and His Comets, and The Elegants performed. The program deliberately brought together Black and white performers and brought rock and roll to a large mixed teenage audience at a time of strong racial segregation in the United States.

George Harrison joined The Quarrymen, which already included John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, and was later known as the "King of Pop". He was a singer, songwriter, and member of Jackson 5 and The Jacksons, as well as a successful solo artist. Guinness World Records recognized him as the most successful entertainer of all time. His music videos for "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller" helped break down racial barriers and transformed the music video into an art and promotional form. His 1982 album "Thriller" is the best-selling studio album of all time. Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Beverly Hills.

Scottish singer and songwriter Sadenia "Eddi" Reader was born in Glasgow. She became known as the frontwoman of Fairground Attraction. The group had the UK No. 1 single "Perfect" in 1988. Reader had the UK solo hit "Patience of Angels" in 1994.

The Quarry Men, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ken Brown, performed in front of approximately 300 teenagers at the grand opening of the Casbah Coffee Club in the basement of Mona Best's house in Liverpool. It was the first of seven consecutive Saturdays on which The Quarry Men performed there. The group still had no drummer and used a single microphone connected to a home sound system. Pete Best did not play that night, but the performance brought him into the band's inner circle, and exactly one year later he became the group's permanent drummer. The group was supposed to receive 15 shillings for each performance.

Elvis Presley's song "It's Now or Never" was in its third week at No. 1, while "Kiddio" by Brook Benton took the No. 1 spot on the Easy Listening chart.

Elvis Presley's tenth feature film, "Kid Galahad", premiered in US cinemas. Elvis played an amateur boxer in the film. Gig Young, Lola Albright, Joan Blackman, and Charles Bronson also appeared in the film.

Jerry Fehily of the Irish rock group Hothouse Flowers was born. In 1988, the group had the UK single "Don't Go" at No. 11. Its first album, "People", released in 1988, became the most successful debut album in Irish history, reaching No. 1 in Ireland within a week and eventually No. 2 on the UK album chart.

Billboard reported that guitar sales in the US and UK had risen sharply as a result of the British Invasion. Sales during the first half of the year were 40% higher than during the same period in 1963, while sales of more expensive models increased by more than 80%. The magazine also reported that guitar sales had reached their highest level since the rise of Elvis Presley.

Dean Martin's "Everybody Loves Somebody" spent its fifth week at No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart.

Monument Records released Roy Orbison's single "Oh, Pretty Woman". Four weeks later, it reached No. 1 on Billboard and entered the Top 10 in fifteen other countries. The single sold more than seven million copies worldwide. The title was inspired by Orbison's wife Claudette, who announced during a conversation that she was going out. When Orbison asked if she had enough money, his co-writer Bill Dees remarked that a beautiful woman never needs money.

The Honeycombs reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart with their debut single "Have I the Right?", which became their first and only career number-one hit. Produced by the legendary Joe Meek, the track became a massive international success, also topping the charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Sweden, while peaking at No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and selling over two million copies worldwide.

The Supremes remained at No. 1 on the R&B chart with "Where Did Our Love Go".

During their US tour, The Beatles performed at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California. Tickets cost $3. The live album "The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl", released in May 1977, was compiled from two performances at the Hollywood Bowl in 1964 and this 1965 concert.

The television variety show "Hullabaloo" aired its final episode on NBC. The program was hosted by Paul Anka, with Peter & Gordon, Lesley Gore, and The Cyrkle among the guests.

The Beatles played their final paid public concert in front of 25,000 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. They performed 11 songs in just over half an hour, opening with "Rock & Roll Music" and closing with "Long Tall Sally". John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who knew it would be their final concert, took photographs during the performance. Although the album "Revolver" had been released only a few weeks earlier, not a single song from it was performed.

The Beatles released the single "Day Tripper" / "We Can Work It Out", which was among the songs commemorated as part of the musical anniversaries for August 29.

Anton Newcombe, singer, songwriter, and guitarist of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, was born.

Brian Epstein's funeral was held in Liverpool. The Beatles did not attend because they wanted to give his family privacy and prevent the media and fans from being drawn to the funeral. They later attended a memorial service at New London Synagogue in St John's Wood.

Chris Gorman, drummer of the American alternative rock band Belly, was born. In 1993, the group had the UK single "Feed The Tree" at No. 32, which also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The Doors appeared on the television program The Ed Sullivan Show following the success of the song "Light My Fire".

The Who performed at the Municipal Auditorium in Atlanta, Georgia.

American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Michelle Lynn Johnson, professionally known as Me'Shell NdegéOcello, was born in Berlin, Germany. She grew up in Washington, D.C.

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.

Anne Murray's "Snowbird" reached No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart.

Black Sabbath released the title track from their second studio album "Paranoid" as a single. The song reached No. 1 in Denmark and West Germany, No. 4 in the UK, and No. 61 in the US.

R&B singer Carl Martin of the group Shai was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is known for the 1992 hit "If I Ever Fall in Love".

Edwin Starr's "War", written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for three weeks. It reached No. 3 in the UK and became his only US No. 1 hit. The song was later nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance but lost to B. B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone". According to Starr, the song was not specifically about the Vietnam War but concerned gang violence and other domestic conflicts.

Elvis Presley performed at the International Hotel in Las Vegas before an audience of 2,200. During the evening, he gave an 8:30 p.m. concert as well as a midnight concert.

Elvis Presley's single "I've Lost You/The Next Step Is Love" reached No. 32 on the US chart.