Music History

American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jimmy Reed died in San Francisco at the age of 50 following an epileptic seizure, shortly before his 51st birthday. He became known for the songs "Honest I Do", "Baby What You Want Me to Do", "Bright Lights, Big City", and "Big Boss Man". Between 1955 and 1965, he had a total of 19 Top 40 R&B hits and strongly influenced artists including The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Hank Williams Jr., Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jerry Garcia.

Led Zeppelin released the album "Presence" as part of its international release week.

At a concert in Santa Monica, California, Neil Young joined Firefall and Spirit on stage.

The Sex Pistols, supported by The Clash and The Buzzcocks, performed at a showcase at The Screen On The Green in London's Islington.

Aerosmith performed at the International Center Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.

During the carnival in the London district of Notting Hill, clashes broke out between Black youths and the police. Members of The Clash were present, and the event inspired them to write “White Riot” as a call for white people to protest with the same intensity.

Elton John released the album "Blue Moves" as an advance release in the United Kingdom.

Judge Richard Owen ruled at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that George Harrison was guilty of "subconscious plagiarism". The court found that the melody of Harrison's 1970 solo song "My Sweet Lord" was legally identical to "He's So Fine", written by Ronnie Mack and recorded by The Chiffons in 1963. The royalties from the song were awarded to Mack's estate, and Harrison eventually paid $587,000 in damages to copyright holder Bright Tunes. The Chiffons subsequently recorded their own version of "My Sweet Lord".

He was born in Houston, Texas. He became known as a co-founder of the pop-rock group Scissor Sisters.

Peter Brown, drummer of the American rock band Wheatus, was born.

The album “Wish You Were Here” was approaching one year on the British chart. Pink Floyd's ninth studio album was first unveiled at the Knebworth Festival in July 1975 and released in September of that year. It was an immediate success, and EMI was unable to press enough copies to meet demand. The album cover was created by the Hipgnosis team and featured a series of images based on the themes of “absence” and “unfulfilled presence,” including a handshake between two men in business suits, one of whom is on fire, a veil covering a naked woman in the Norfolk countryside and a diver in California's Mono Lake who leaves no splash.

Elvis Presley performed on tour at Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa, Florida. The concert began at 8:30 p.m. and was attended by approximately 7,500 people.

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five became the first rap act to perform in a theater when they played their first major concert at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. They presented various DJ techniques along with rap interplay and choreography.

The first issue of Musician magazine was published.

Elvis Presley performed on tour at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. The concert began at 8:30 p.m., and Presley wore a blue Bicentennial jumpsuit; according to the source, approximately 7,500 to 8,000 spectators attended.

Marshall Tucker Band performed at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia.

ABBA began a six-week run at number one on the UK singles chart with “Dancing Queen.” The song became a worldwide hit and also reached number one in thirteen other countries, including the US and USSR.

The Bee Gees reached number one on the US singles chart with “You Should Be Dancing,” which reached number five in the UK. The song marked the beginning of their disco era and was used the following year in a scene from Saturday Night Fever in which John Travolta takes over the dance floor. It was also the Bee Gees' first US number-one hit featuring Barry Gibb's distinctive falsetto. One source calls it the group's second US number-one single, while another calls it their third.

Blue Öyster Cult's biggest hit, “(Don't Fear) The Reaper,” entered the Billboard Top 40 and later reached number 12. The song deals with eternal love and the inevitability of death.

Elvis Presley performed at the Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida, at 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Nearly 14 months after its release, Fleetwood Mac's self-titled tenth studio album reached number one on the US Billboard 200 for one week, knocking Peter Frampton's Frampton Comes Alive! from the top spot. It was the band's first album with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. It produced the hits “Over My Head,” “Rhiannon” and “Say You Love Me,” later sold more than five million copies in the US and was certified nine-times platinum. It was the first of three Fleetwood Mac albums to reach number one in the US.

KISS released the soft-rock ballad “Beth,” which reached number seven and became their only US Top 10 hit.

Sex Pistols made their television debut on the Manchester program Granada TV's So It Goes.

Wild Cherry's “Play That Funky Music” was at number one on the R&B chart.

Elvis Presley performed at the State Fair Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi. The concert began at 8:30 p.m. and attracted approximately 12,000 people; Elvis wore the Bicentennial Suit.

During Jerry Lewis's annual telethon supporting muscular dystrophy research, Frank Sinatra surprised the audience by bringing Dean Martin into the studio. Martin had been Jerry Lewis's former comedy partner, and the two had not spoken for two decades following the breakup of their duo in 1956.

Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington suffered serious injuries in a car accident in Florida after crashing his vehicle into an oak tree.

Gary Rossington was seriously injured in a car accident in Florida after falling asleep at the wheel of his new Ford Torino and crashing into a tree and a house. The incident later inspired the song “That Smell.”

Stevie Wonder released the album Songs in the Key of Life, widely regarded as one of his most significant albums.

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis appeared together for the first time in 20 years on Lewis's television program, the Labor Day Telethon, supporting the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Frank Sinatra surprised Jerry Lewis by bringing Martin into the studio.

Elvis Presley performed at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama, at 2:30 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. It was the last day of his career on which he performed two concerts in a single day.

ABBA reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “Dancing Queen”, their fourth UK No. 1 and their only US single to reach the top. The song reached No. 1 in more than a dozen countries and remained at the top of the Swedish chart for 14 weeks.

The first Buddy Holly Week was held in the UK, organized by his fans in London. Holly had visited the UK only once, during a tour in March 1958.

The Memphis Press Scimitar published an article headlined “Fat and Forty” about Elvis Presley, which enraged him.

Elvis Presley performed at the Convention Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, before approximately 7,500 people. The concert began at 8:30 p.m., and Elvis wore the blue Bicentennial suit.

Paul McCartney launched “Buddy Holly Week” in the UK to mark the 40th anniversary of Buddy Holly's birth.

Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols was fined £125 at a London court after being caught with a knife at the 100 Club punk festival the previous year.

The Who purchased Shepperton Studios in London for half a million dollars.

AC/DC performed at the Dubs club in Gainesville, Florida.

The Police, The Clash and The Damned performed at the second Mont de Marsan Punk Festival in France, held in a bullfighting arena. Other performers included The Boys, The Rich Kids, Electric Kellar and Asphalt Jungle.

The Police performed at The Red Cow on Hammersmith Road in London.

On the UK singles chart that week, “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer was at No. 1, “Ma Baker” by Boney M at No. 2, “Angelo” by Brotherhood Of Man at No. 3, “Pretty Vacant” by The Sex Pistols at No. 4 and “Fanfare For The Common Man” by ELP at No. 5.

AC/DC vystoupili v Hollywood Sportatorium v Pembroke Pines na Floridě.

Alice Cooper performed at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

In the early morning hours, Elvis Presley rented Libertyland amusement park as a special gift for his daughter Lisa Marie and a group of friends.

Aaron Kamin, lead guitarist of The Calling, was born in Studio City, California.

Elvis Presley screened several films at General Cinemas in Whitehaven, including “The Spy Who Loved Me.”