Rock History

On this day...

2009 – Paul McCartney was named Songwriter of The Year at the 29th Annual ASCAP — 2009 – Paul McCartney was named Songwriter of The Year at the 29th Annual ASCAP Awards in London, England. The awards presentation honored songwriters and publishers of the [...]

2008 – Illustrator and rock cartoonist Ray Lowry died. — 2008 – Illustrator and rock cartoonist Ray Lowry died. He contributed illustrations for NME, Punch, Private Eye and The Guardian and designed the artwork for The Clash album London Calling. [...]

2006 – Baldemar Huerta, also known as Freddy Fende… — 2006 – Baldemar Huerta, also known as Freddy Fender dies today this day in rock. Freddy Fender (June 4, 1937 – October 14, 2006), born Baldemar Huerta in San Benito, Texas, [...]

2004 – The Isley Brothers’ Ron Isley (a.ka. Mr. Biggs) is indicted by the IR — 2004 – The Isley Brothers’ Ron Isley (a.ka. Mr. Biggs) is indicted by the IRS for tax evasion. He’s alleged to have deposited royalty checks for his own use that [...]

2004 – Ludacris, Public Enemy and Mase are among t… — 2004 – Ludacris, Public Enemy and Mase are among the acts that perform at Race to the Polls, a voter awareness concert at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – A reformed Duran Duran play their comeback show at London’s Astoria — 2003 – A reformed Duran Duran play their comeback show at London’s Astoria before an audience that includes a member of boy band Take That. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – ZZ Top release their first ever box set, entitled Chrome, Smoke — 2003 – ZZ Top release their first ever box set, entitled Chrome, Smoke & BBQ. They forgot the buffalo. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken releases his debut album — 2003 – American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken releases his debut album, Measure of a Man. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Troubled Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman Scott — 2003 – Troubled Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland files for divorce from his wife of three years. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Barrington Henderson, a former singer with ’60s hitmakers the Temptation — 2003 – Barrington Henderson, a former singer with ’60s hitmakers the Temptations, sues the band, its founder Otis Williams and the Motown label, alleging he is owed millions in royalties. Be [...]

2003 – Montreal punk rock fans destroy cars and smash windows after Total — 2003 – Montreal punk rock fans destroy cars and smash windows after Total Chaos and the Exploited cancel a show. Members of the Exploited were refused admission to Canada. Be Sociable, [...]

2003 – Ozzy Osbourne seeks treatment for Parkinson… — 2003 – Ozzy Osbourne seeks treatment for Parkinson’s Disease-like tremors and postpones a fall European tour, The veteran rock artist says in a statement, “I have been in Boston for [...]

2003 – Celine Dion releases “Une Fille Et 4 Types,… — 2003 – Celine Dion releases “Une Fille Et 4 Types, her first French-language album in five years. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

2003 – Barbra Streisand releases her 60th album on… — 2003 – Barbra Streisand releases her 60th album on Columbia Records. The set finds the chanteuse covering 12 songs made popular in movies from 1935-1988. “The Movie Album” comprises all-new [...]

2000 – Trace Adkins goes back to his hometown, Sar… — 2000 – Trace Adkins goes back to his hometown, Sarepta, La., to attend his 20-year high school reunion. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1998 – B.B. King picks up a lifetime achievement a… — 1998 – B.B. King picks up a lifetime achievement award at the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1997 – Sir Paul McCartney’s symphonic poem “Standi… — 1997 – Sir Paul McCartney’s symphonic poem “Standing Stone” gets its world debut by the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. The piece earns the former Beatle six [...]

1997 – For the first time ever, the soundtrack to … — 1997 – For the first time ever, the soundtrack to the classic film “Casablanca” is released. The 20 track CD includes Max Steiner’s score, dialog from the film, and its [...]

1996 – Ms. Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, the daughte… — 1996 – Ms. Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, the daughter of Madonna and the pop/movie star’s personal trainer, Carlos Leon, is born at 4:01 p.m. at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los [...]

1994 – At a Pink Floyd concert at London’s Earls Court, a section of seating — 1994 – At a Pink Floyd concert at London’s Earls Court, a section of seating collapses, injuring several people Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1993 – Rolling Stone magazine ranks the video for … — 1993 – Rolling Stone magazine ranks the video for Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” as the No.1 video in video history in “The 100 Top Music Videos.” The video also wins nine [...]

1990 – Leonard Bernstein dies in New York at age 7… — 1990 – Leonard Bernstein dies in New York at age 72. The composer and conductor had announced his retirement less than a week earlier. He wins his first Grammy Awards [...]

1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Red Red Wine… — 1988 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Red Red Wine,” UB40. The song reached No. 34 when the group first released the single in 1984. It is written by [...]

1979 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Rise,” Herb… — 1979 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Rise,” Herb Alpert. The single is Alpert’s first to hit the Hot 100 in five years. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1977 – The third game of the World Series opens with Linda Ronstadt — 1977 – The third game of the World Series opens with Linda Ronstadt singing the national anthem. The Los Angeles Dodgers are said to have personally requested her performance. Be Sociable, [...]

1977 – Bing Crosby dies of a heart attack at the a… — 1977 – Bing Crosby dies of a heart attack at the age of 76. Crosby sold more than 300 million records and was featured in more than 50 movies. His [...]

1972 – The Temptations release their definitive single “Papa Was a Rollin — 1972 – The Temptations release their definitive single “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” The song becomes their fourth No. 1. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1972 – In Adelaide, Australia, Joe Cocker and six members of his band — 1972 – In Adelaide, Australia, Joe Cocker and six members of his band are arrested after police allegedly discover marijuana and heroin in their dressing rooms. Cocker is later released [...]

1971 – John Fogerty is sued by the owners of Specialty Records. Their suit accuses — 1971 – John Fogerty is sued by the owners of Specialty Records. Their suit accuses Fogerty of plagiarizing the song “Good Golly, Miss Molly” in his song “Travelin’ Band,” but [...]

1968 – Ringo Starr flies to Sardinia with his family for a two-week — 1968 – Ringo Starr flies to Sardinia with his family for a two-week vacation. The rest of the Beatles remain in London, where they complete recording for The Beatles double [...]

1967 – The Who release their single “I Can See for Miles” in Britain and the U. — 1967 – The Who release their single “I Can See for Miles” in Britain and the U.S. Pete Townshend is so sure he has a No. 1 on his hands [...]

1966 – At London’s All Saints Hall, Pink Floyd play their first set made — 1966 – At London’s All Saints Hall, Pink Floyd play their first set made up entirely of their psychedelic originals after a band decision to dump its R&B direction. Be Sociable, [...]

1965 – Californian club diva Karyn White, who went to No. 1 — 1965 – Californian club diva Karyn White, who went to No. 1 with “Romantic,” is born in Los Angeles. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1965 – The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, Unit 4 Plus 2, The — 1965 – The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Checkmates, The Habit, The End and Charlie Dickins all appeared at The Odeon, Birmingham during a [...]

1964 – Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts marries Shirley Ann — 1964 – Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts marries Shirley Ann Arnold in Bradford, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1963 – The London papers this morning are filled with coverage of the Beatles — 1963 – The London papers this morning are filled with coverage of the Beatles’ performance last night on the British variety show Sunday Night at the Palladium. More than 15 [...]

1959 – Bobby Darin was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Mack The — Bobby Darin 1959 – Bobby Darin was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Mack The Knife’. From Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera, won the Grammy Award for Record of the [...]

1958 – Electro pioneer – well, he seemed like one at the time – Thomas Dolby — 1958 – Electro pioneer – well, he seemed like one at the time – Thomas Dolby is born in Cairo, Egypt. In 1983 he went to No. 5 with “She [...]

1957 – The Everly Brothers had their first No.1 on the US singles chart — 1957 – The Everly Brothers had their first No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Wake Up Little Susie’, (a No.2 hit in the UK). LYRICS: Wake up, little Susie, wake up Wake [...]

1957 – The Elvis Presley classic, ‘Jailhouse Rock’ was released. It become — 1957 – The Elvis Presley classic, ‘Jailhouse Rock’ was released. It become his ninth US number one single and stayed on the Billboard chart for nineteen weeks. The film clip [...]

1955 – Buddy Holly opens for Bill Haley & the Comets in Lubbock, Texas — 1955 – Buddy Holly opens for Bill Haley & the Comets in Lubbock, Texas. His performance is seen by Nashville talent scout Eddie Crandell, who sets up a demo session [...]

1946 – Singer Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues is born — 1946 – Singer Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues is born in Swindon, England. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1940 – Cliff Richard (Harry Rodger Webb) is born i… — 1940 – Cliff Richard (Harry Rodger Webb) is born in Lucknow, India. Be Sociable, Share! [...]

1930 – Louisiana bandleader Robert Parker, who went to No. 7 — 1930 – Louisiana bandleader Robert Parker, who went to No. 7 in 1966 with “Barefootin’,” is born in Crescent City. Be Sociable, Share! [...]