Today in Music History

Composer Paul Dukas was born.

John Philip Sousa was appointed leader of the United States Marine Corps Band. He also composed the march “Semper Fidelis”.

Pianist Vladmir Horowitz was born in Berdychiv, Russia.

American pianist Roger Williams was born. He had 22 hit singles and 38 successful albums.

American pianist, composer, and actor Max Morath, nicknamed “Mr. Ragtime”, was born in Colorado Springs.

Ben Pollack and his band recorded the song “Forever”. The lineup also included Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden.

Duke Ellington recorded the song “The Mooche”.

Bonnie Owens was born. She later became a singer associated with the group The Strangers.

Irish actor and singer Richard Harris was born. He was known, among other things, for the hit song “MacArthur Park”.

American blues guitarist and singer Albert Collins was born. He was known for playing a Fender Telecaster and for the nicknames “The Master of the Telecaster” and “Ice Man”. One source gives Leona, Texas, as his birthplace.

English songwriter and record producer Geoffrey Stephens was born in London. He later wrote numerous hits and founded The New Vaudeville Band.

English actress, singer, and author Julie Andrews, born Julia Elizabeth Wells, was born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. She later won an Academy Award for her leading role in “Mary Poppins” and also became famous as the star of “The Sound of Music”.

American singer Herb Fame was born in Anacostia, Washington. He became famous as one half of the vocal duo Peaches & Herb.

American saxophonist Gerald “Jerry” Martini was born in Denver. He became known as a member of Sly and the Family Stone.

Barbara Parritt, singer and founding member of the girl group The Toys, was born on October 1, 1944, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The group had a hit with “A Lover's Concerto” in 1965.

American soul singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Donny Hathaway was born in Chicago. He became known for songs including “The Ghetto”, “Where Is the Love”, and “This Christmas”.

Bing Crosby broadcast his “Philco Radio Time” program on ABC as the first radio program to be prerecorded on magnetic tape. A Magnetophon tape recorder was used for the recording, a technology originally developed in Germany; Crosby later became an investor in the technology, which contributed to the further development of multitrack recording.

Dutch singer Mariska Veres was born in The Hague. She became famous as the singer of the rock band Shocking Blue.

Martin Turner, singer, bassist, and founding member of the British rock band Wishbone Ash, was born in Torquay, England.

Canadian musician Brian Greenway, a longtime member of the rock band April Wine, was born.

American guitarist Earl Slick was born. He became known for his work with David Bowie, John Lennon, and Robert Smith.

Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black performed at the Eagle's Nest club in Memphis.

British music magazine New Musical Express expanded its weekly singles chart from the Top 12 to the Top 20. The rankings were compiled by telephone surveys of approximately twenty record shops about their best-selling records. The growing popularity of the chart led other magazines, including Record Mirror and Melody Maker, to publish their own charts.

Elvis Presley performed as part of the Louisiana Hayride at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport.

American singer and songwriter Howard Hewett was born in Akron, Ohio. He became famous as the lead singer of Shalamar.

The Platters’ debut single, “Only You (And You Alone)”, was performed publicly for the first time.

Andy Walton of the group Kenny, which had several UK hits in the mid-1970s, was born.

The USS Randall arrived in Bremerhaven, West Germany, where more than 1,500 fans were waiting for Elvis Presley and where he gave his first European autograph. He then traveled with his unit by military train to Friedberg, where he joined the US Army’s 3rd Armored Division; his time in Germany lasted until early 1960.

Little Anthony and the Imperials recorded Neil Sedaka’s song “The Diary”. The songwriter was dissatisfied with their version and decided to record it himself, giving him his first chart hit.

Painter and multi-instrumentalist Martin Cooper was born in Liverpool. He is best known as a keyboardist and member of the British electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Tommy Edwards reached No. 1 on the US Billboard chart with “It’s All in the Game”.

Jimmy Driftwood, writer of “The Battle of New Orleans”, appeared as a guest on the CBS television program To Tell the Truth.

Senegalese singer, songwriter, musician, percussionist, and film composer Youssou N'Dour was born.

The song “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight?)” reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Lonnie Donegan’s biggest American hit. In the UK, it had already reached No. 3 two years earlier.

Barbra Streisand signed a recording contract with Columbia Records. Although financially modest, the contract gave her creative control over her music.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson premiered on NBC. Its famous instrumental opening theme, “Johnny's Theme”, was written by Paul Anka. According to the source variants, Johnny Carson contributed either an unused section of lyrics or the opening drum part, and an agreement gave him half of the royalties. According to one source variant, the theme earned each of them approximately $200,000 a year over the years. The program subsequently became one of the most important television formats of its era.

The Beach Boys released their debut album, “Surfin’ Safari”, on Capitol Records. The album also included their first single, “Surfin’”, and reached No. 32 on the US chart.

Brian Epstein signed The Beatles’ first formal management contract with the group. John Lennon and Ringo Starr signed it themselves, while the parents of the underage George Harrison and Paul McCartney signed on their behalf. The contract entitled Epstein to 25% of the group’s income above a specified earnings threshold.

Vee-Jay Records released the double album “The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons” shortly before its rights to distribute Beatles recordings expired. The album contained no new material and combined the previously released recordings “Introducing… The Beatles” and “Golden Hits of the Four Seasons”. It remained on the US Billboard chart for three weeks and reached No. 142.

Bob Dylan and his new backing group performed their first concert together at Carnegie Hall in New York. The band consisted of Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Levon Helm, who had previously worked as Ronnie Hawkins’ backing group and were known as The Hawks, or Levon and the Hawks; this lineup later became The Band. The program included songs such as “It Ain’t Me Babe” and “Like a Rolling Stone”.

The Byrds released the single “Turn! Turn! Turn!” in the United States. Pete Seeger adapted it from the biblical Book of Ecclesiastes, except for the final verse. According to the source, the recording required 78 takes over five days. The song became the group’s second US No. 1 hit and their last single to reach the Top 10.

The McCoys reached No. 1 on the US Billboard chart with “Hang On Sloopy”.

The Rolling Stones performed at the ABC Regal club in Chester, Cheshire, England.

WGN-TV in Chicago broadcast the half-hour special “An Evening with Gary Lewis and the Playboys”. The group performed its most successful songs, including material from seven consecutive Top 10 hits, as well as a cover of The Beatles’ “Run for Your Life”. During “Time Stands Still”, Gary Lewis imitated his father, comedian Jerry Lewis.

Jimi Hendrix performed live in the United Kingdom for the first time when he joined Cream during their concert at London Polytechnic. His official UK debut with The Jimi Hendrix Experience followed a month later.