Week in Music History

German composer Johann Christian Bach was born.

Austrian composer Anton Diabelli was born.

German opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer, born Jacob Liebmann Beer, was born near Berlin. He later became a major figure in European opera.

American composer Amy Marcy Cheney Beach was born.

American avant-garde composer, music theorist and philosopher John Cage was born in Los Angeles. He became famous for his experimental composition “4'33” from 1952, in which the musicians do not play their instruments and the surrounding sounds become part of the work.

American singer and songwriter Beverly Ross, co-writer of “Lollipop” and “The Girl of My Best Friend,” was born.

Blues guitarist Willie Woods, a member of Junior Walker and the All Stars, was born.

American singer and songwriter John Stewart was born in San Diego. He became known as a member of The Kingston Trio and as the writer of The Monkees' hit “Daydream Believer,” which reached number one on the chart.

American music producer and sound engineer Elliot Mazer was born in New York City. He worked with artists including Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Neil Young and Linda Ronstadt.

Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Al Stewart was born. He became best known for his hit “Year of the Cat.”

English drummer Mick Underwood, who played with The Outlaws, The Herd, Episode Six and Gillan, among others, was born.

Scottish singer and songwriter Dean Ford, born Thomas McAleese, was born in Coatbridge. He became known as the lead singer and frontman of the Marmalade.

Singer and songwriter Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara, was born in Stone Town, Zanzibar. He became internationally famous as the frontman of Queen.

American folk-rock singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Loudon Wainwright III was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His father was journalist and Life magazine editor Loudon Wainwright Jr.

American drummer Buddy Miles, known for his work with Electric Flag and Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys, was born.

British saxophonist, flutist and multi-instrumentalist Mel Collins was born on the Isle of Man. He became known as a member of progressive rock group King Crimson and also worked with The Rolling Stones and David Bowie.

English rock guitarist Dave Clempson was born in Tamworth. He became known for his work with Humble Pie and Colosseum.

American drummer and percussionist Jamie Oldaker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He played on Eric Clapton's album 461 Ocean Boulevard, among many other recordings.

English singer Sal Solo of Classix Nouveaux was born.

Elvis Presley performed at the St. Francis County Fair and Livestock Show Jamboree at Smith Stadium in Forrest City, Arkansas. He was the headline act on a five-day tour that also featured Johnny Cash, Bud Deckelman, Floyd Cramer and Eddie Bond.

Elvis Presley gave his mother Gladys a pink Cadillac Fleetwood, which he had originally bought in July 1955 in blue with a black roof and had repainted in a shade known as “Elvis Rose.” Gladys did not have a driver's license, so Elvis drove her in the car.

Elvis Presley worked on vocal overdubs for the film Love Me Tender at the 20th Century Fox soundstage in Hollywood, including the song “Let Me” and additional parts of “Poor Boy.”

Swedish guitarist, singer and songwriter Roine Stolt was born.

Elvis Presley began work on his Christmas album at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, recording “Treat Me Nice,” “My Wish Came True” and “Blue Christmas.” “Treat Me Nice” was later released as the B-side of “Jailhouse Rock” and reached number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Blue Christmas” became a Christmas classic.

The Betty Freezor Show on WBTV-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina, became the first television program to be broadcast in color from videotape.

“The Bad Boys” by The Miracles became the first single released on Barry Gordy's newly established Motown Records label.

Annette Funicello's “Pineapple Princess” entered the US Billboard Hot 100 and later peaked at number 11. According to the source, it was her fifth and final Top 40 hit on the chart.

Bob Dylan performed at the Gaslight Cafe in New York City.

The Rolling Stones began their fourth UK tour with a concert at the Astoria in London. The tour consisted of 32 shows.

American DJ and electronic music producer Kevin Saunderson was born in New York City. He became known as a member of Detroit techno pioneers the Belleville Three and as a member of Inner City.

Ringo Starr received a gold-plated snare drum from William Ludwig, president of Ludwig Drum Company, at a press conference in Chicago. Starr's popularity greatly boosted sales of Ludwig drums; he later gave the drum to road manager Mal Evans and never used it on tour himself. The drum was later displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Grammy Museum.

The Animals reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with “House of the Rising Sun,” beginning a three-week run at the top. It became their only US number-one single and later topped the charts in Canada, Finland, Spain and the UK. The record label had originally listed a shorter running time to make the song more suitable for radio airplay.

The Beatles reached number 12 on the US singles chart with “And I Love Her,” while “If I Fell” was listed at number 92 according to the source. A second record gives number 53 for “If I Fell.” The Beatles performed “And I Love Her” outside the EMI studios only once.

Sonny & Cher made their first live appearance in the UK at London's 100 Club.

The Rolling Stones flew to Los Angeles, where they recorded their eighth single, “Get Off of My Cloud,” at RCA Studios in Hollywood. The song later reached number one in both the US and UK.

The single “Help!” reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for three weeks. The title song of the film and album of the same name was written by John Lennon with help from Paul McCartney and also topped the US chart. Lennon later said that the lyrics expressed his personal feelings of stress and pressure brought on by the Beatles’ rapid rise to fame.

John Lennon flew from London to Hanover, Germany, to begin work on his role as Private Gripweed in Richard Lester's film How I Won the War, which was filmed in Spain. The glasses worn by his character later became a defining part of Lennon's look.

Singer and founding member of the vocal group En Vogue, Terry Ellis was born in Houston. She later became a member of En Vogue.

The Monkees released the single “Last Train to Clarksville,” which later reached number one in the US.

The Beatles began recording “I Am the Walrus” at Abbey Road Studios in London, recording 16 takes of the basic backing track on the first day. Sound effects and additional overdubs, including an excerpt from a BBC radio broadcast, were added later.

Brad Wilk, drummer and founding member of Rage Against the Machine, was born in Portland. He also played with Audioslave and Prophets of Rage.

Eric Clapton recorded the guitar solo for The Beatles' “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at Abbey Road Studios in London.

During their first visit to the UK, The Doors appeared on the television show Top of the Pops, where they performed “Hello, I Love You” live.

The New Yardbirds, the forerunners of Led Zeppelin, played their first live concert at a club in Gladsaxe, Denmark.

Tiny Tim obtained a temporary restraining order from the New York Supreme Court and filed a $1 million lawsuit against Bouquet Records over the unauthorized release of his earlier recordings. The case also involved the album With Love and Kisses from Tiny Tim: Concert in Fairyland, which was compiled from his old demo recordings.

Dweezil Zappa was born in Los Angeles as Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa. He is the son of musician Frank Zappa and his wife Gail.

James Brown announced his retirement after a live performance at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis.

American singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor Josh White, born Joshua Daniel White, died during heart valve replacement surgery in Manhasset at the age of 55. He was known for his 1944 hit “One Meat Ball.”