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1955, Elvis Presley (plus Scotty Moore and Bill Black) played the first of three nights at the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. The local paper ran a preview which read: “A good looking youngster who has become a jukebox favorite with his ‘That’s Alright, Mama’ and ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky.’ Presley is expected to repeat some of his hit tunes at the Airmen's Club show in addition to mixing up a few country tunes with some ‘bop’ and novelty numbers.”
1961, “Quarter to Three,” by Gary “U.S.” Bonds hit #1 on the U.S. singles charts. For more on this story, see This Day in Music Spotlight.
1965, The Byrds went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with their version of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Only Roger McGuinn from the band played on the song.
1969, Joni Mitchell appeared on the ABC’s Mama Cass Television Program from Los Angeles, California.
1974, Cher divorced Sonny Bono after 10 years of marriage. Four days later, Cher married guitarist Gregg Allman. The couple split 10 days after that, got back together and split again. They did stay married for three years, producing Elijah Blue Allman.
1977, Elvis Presley made his last ever live stage appearance when he appeared at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Presley would die less than two months later. The last two songs he performed were “Hurt” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Before the show, Elvis was presented with a plaque commemorating the 2 billionth record to come out of RCA’s pressing plant.
1981, Bob Dylan played the first of five nights in London during his current European tour.
1982, American singer and one-hit wonder Charlene was at #1 on the U.K. singles chart with “I’ve Never Been to Me.” The song was recorded in 1976 and was reissued by Motown records in 1982, by which time Charlene had moved to England and was working in a sweet shop in Ilford, East London.
2005, Tickets for a forthcoming Rolling Stones gig at the Hollywood Bowl were set to become the most expensive in rock and roll history.
Born on this day:
1938, Billy Davis Jr., vocals, The 5th Dimension
1943, Georgie Fame, singer, keyboardist
1955, Mick Jones, guitar, vocals, The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite
1956, Chris Isaak, singer-songwriter
1957, Patty Smyth, vocals, Scandal
1961, Terri Nunn, vocals, Berlin
1969, Colin Greenwood, bass, Radiohead
1973, Gretchen Wilson, country singer
1979, Nathan Followill, drums, Kings of Leon