Today in 1931, RCA Victor unveiled the inaugural long-playing record, a 331?3 rpm recording, at the Savoy Plaza Hotel in New York. However, due to the steep cost of compatible record players, which commenced at approximately $95 (equivalent to around $1140 in today’s currency), the LP format remained dormant until its resurgence in 1948.
In 1955, actor James Dean created a public service announcement for television, where he passionately encouraged teenagers to practice safe driving. By the end of that same month, he would die in a high-speed car accident.
In 1956, the BBC pulls Bill Haley And His Comets’ song “Rockin’ Through The Rye.” saying that the song deviated from traditional British standards. Despite being based on an 18th-century Scottish folk tune and reaching the #5 position on the UK chart, the song featured lyrics such as “All the lassies rock with me when rockin’ through the rye,” which led to its exclusion.
In 1960, Sam Phillips celebrated the grand opening of the Sam C. Phillips Recording Studio, located at 639 Madison Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, with an extravagant party attended by nearly two hundred guests. This state-of-the-art facility was designed to replace the original Sun Studio at 706 Union Avenue and served as the headquarters for Sun’s roster of artists until 1969, when it was acquired by Nashville’s Shelby Singleton, a producer for Mercury Records.
In 1964, Charles Finley, owner of the Kansas City Athletics baseball team, offered The Beatles $150,000 to perform a concert at his Municipal Stadium. The Beatles accepted the offer and included their rendition of “Kansas City” in their performance, making it their sole American rendition of the song.
In 1967, The Doors made an appearance on Ed Sullivan’s Sunday-night variety show. During their performance of “Light My Fire,” Sullivan requested that Jim Morrison either omit or change the lyrics, “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher.” To his credit, Morrison chose to disregard Sullivan’s request. Consequently, this decision led to The Doors not receiving another invitation to appear on the program.
In 1967, Keith Moon, the drummer of The Who, set up his bass drum to detonate at the conclusion of “My Generation” as part of the group’s performance on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. However, unbeknownst to him, the stage crew had already armed the explosive charge. As a result, when the explosion occurred, it unexpectedly injured Moon’s leg, caused Pete Townshend’s hair to get singed, and startled fellow guests Bette Davis and Mickey Rooney.
In 1968 -The Supremes record “Love Child.” and The 5th Dimension’s “Stoned Soul Picnic” is certified Gold.
In 1969, Tiny Tim made a public announcement about his upcoming wedding to “Miss Vicki” Budinger. The event would go on to set television viewership records when their marriage ceremony was televised on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. However, their marriage encountered difficulties, and they separated three years later, eventually divorcing in 1977.
In 1983, Vanessa Williams, who would later achieve fame as an actress and top the charts with her #1 hit “Save The Best For Last,” made history as the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America. However, she relinquished her title the following year when explicit photos of her were published in Penthouse magazine.
In 1983, the television program Star Search premiered on CBS, featuring Ed McMahon as the host. This talent competition show introduced a multitude of future celebrities, with a significant number hailing from the music industry. Among the notable artists who made their start on Star Search are Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Alanis Morissette, Jessica Simpson, Christina Aguilera, Tiffany, LeAnn Rimes, Usher, Aaliyah, and Destiny’s Child.
In 1984, John Waite’s “Missing You” reached the number one spot on the American charts. He explained to Songfacts that the inspiration for the song came from reflecting on his relationships with several women in his life at that time, with all those feelings and experiences coming together to inspire the song.
In 1991, Rob Tyner, the dynamic frontman of the Detroit-based MC5, known for their iconic track “Kick out the Jams,” passed away at the age of 46 due to a heart attack.
In 2007, Barry Manilow withdrew from a scheduled appearance on The View because he declined to participate in an interview conducted by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, one of the conservative co-hosts.
Born Today:
1923 – Hank Williams (d. 1953)
1926 – Bill Black, American rock bassist (Elvis Presley, 1954-57), and bandleader (Bill Black Combo), born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1965)
1931 – Anne Bancroft, American stage and screen Emmy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning actress (The Graduate; The Miracle Worker), director, and screenwriter, born in The Bronx, New York
1935 – Ken Kesey, American author (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), born in La Junta Colorado (d. 2001)
1948 – John Ritter, American actor and comedian (Three’s Company, It, 8 Simple Rules), born in Burbank, California (d. 2003)
1949 – The Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, Warner Bros. cartoon character created by Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series), first debuts in “Fast and Furry-ous”
1950 – [John] Fee Waybill, American rock snger and songwriter (The Tubes – “White Punks on Dope”), born in Omaha, Nebraska
1953 – Rita Rudner, American comedienne (Funny People), born in Miami, Florida
Records Released Today:
1962 – The Drifters – “Up On The Roof”
1964 – The Supremes – “Baby Love”
1973 – Led Zeppelin – “D’Yer Mak’er”
1973 – The Carpenters – “Top Of The World”
1968 – Detroit’s Denny McLain, still glowing from his 30 game pitching win feat, embarked on a unique musical journey with the support of the Hammond Organ Company and Capitol Records. Denny McLain at the Organ was released September 17, 1968. This album marked one of two that he recorded during that period, and a single from this collection hit the airwaves on this very day, receiving substantial airplay on the easy-listening stations in our area. Taking his piano talents to Las Vegas, he graced popular shows such as the Ed Sullivan Show, Steve Allen Show, Joey Bishop Show, among others. During these performances, Denny showcased his interpretation of Bert Kaempfert’s original composition, “Lonely Is the Name.”
