June 22
In Paris France, 32 year old Adolphe Sax, a Belgian musician and musical instrument designer, patents the saxophone. Sax continued to make instruments throughout his life, however, rival instrument makers challenged the legitimacy of his patents and initiated a campaign of litigation against him and his company, driving him into bankruptcy twice, in 1856 and 1873.
1955 - ClassicBands.com
June 26
Decca Records announces that Bill Haley and His Comets have sold more than 3 million records in thirteen months. Both "Rock Around The Clock" and "Shake Rattle and Roll" sold a million copies, while "Dim, Dim the Lights" and "Mambo Rock" sold about 500,000.
1956 - ClassicBands.com
June 26
In an article in LOOK Magazine entitled, The Great Rock 'n' Roll Controversy, swing band leader Benny Goodman makes this comment about Rock 'n' Roll; "I guess it's okay, man. At least it has a beat."
1957 - ClassicBands.com
June 28 Jerry Lee Lewis makes his first appearance on The Steve Allen Show, performing "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". After the show airs, sales of the record soar.
1959 - ClassicBands.com
June 22 Fabian's biggest hit, "Tiger" entered the Billboard chart, where it would reach #3. In all, the Philadelphia singer born Fabiano Forte placed eight songs in the US Top 40.
1960 - ClassicBands.com
June 27
After twelve previous Top 40 records, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" becomes Connie Francis' first US number one hit. She recorded the song in just two takes. In the UK, it reached #5.
1961 - ClassicBands.com
June 26 Gary U.S. Bonds had his only US number 1 hit, "Quarter to Three". Bonds and Gene Barge (Daddy G.) added lyrics to an instrumental called, "A Night With Daddy G". Although he released several more singles in the US including "Dear Lady Twist", Bonds found more success in England than his homeland. After years of touring the oldies circuit, Bonds would have another Top 40 hit in the early 1980s with "This Little Girl is Mine".
1963 - ClassicBands.com
June 22 The Safaris' "Wipe Out" was released in the US. It will enter the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks later and reach #2. The same record would be re-issued in 1966 and climb to #16.
1964 - ClassicBands.com
June 24 Sam Cooke starts a two week stay at New York's Copacabana Club. A 70-foot billboard announcing the engagement was erected in Times Square.
June 27 Peter and Gordon's "World Without Love" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Paul McCartney wrote the song, but it was not credited to him on the disc, to see if a McCartney tune would be successful even if no one knew he had written it. At the time he composed "World Without Love", McCartney was courting Jane Asher, the sister of Peter Asher, one-half of Peter and Gordon.
June 27
The Drifters' last Top 10 hit, "Under the Boardwalk" enters the Hot 100, where it will peak at #4.
June 27 Jan & Dean's "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" was released. It will climb to #3 in the US by August.
1965 - ClassicBands.com
June 23
Motown Records releases "Tracks Of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. The song was written by the group, based on a riff that Miracles guitarist, Marv Tarplin had come up with. Their version would reach number 16 on the US Pop charts, while Johnny Rivers' rendition would reach number 10 two years later.
June 23 The Yardbirds played at The City Hall in Salisbury, England. Admission: 10 shillings ($1.40).
June 24
John Lennon's second book, A Spaniard in the Works was published. It consists of nonsensical stories and drawings similar to the style of his previous effort, 1964's In His Own Write.
June 26 The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100, but the only member of the group to actually play on the record was Jim McGuinn on vocals and 12 string guitar. Studio musicians Leon Russell, Glen Campbell, Larry Knechtel, and Hal Blaine recorded the other instruments while the Byrds' David Crosby and Gene Clark sang background vocals.
June 28
Dick Clark's Rock and Roll TV show, Where The Action Is, featuring Paul Revere and The Raiders, premieres on ABC.
1966 - ClassicBands.com
June 25
The final Beatles world tour kicked off in Munich, Germany as the Fab Four saw "Paperback Writer" leap from number 15 in the US to number 1. Although John Lennon was the Beatle who actually wrote books, the song was penned by Paul McCartney.
June 25
Jackie Wilson is arrested for inciting a riot and refusing to obey a police order at a nightclub in Port Arthur, Texas. Wilson had a crowd of between 200 and 400 whipped into a frenzy and refused to stop singing when requested to do so by police. He was later convicted of drunkenness and fined $30.
1967 - ClassicBands.com
June 22 The Young Rascals recorded "How Can I Be Sure", which will become their second US Top Ten hit when it reaches #4 next Fall.
June 23 Aretha Franklin records "Chain Of Fools", which will reach #2 in the US the following January.
June 23
Arthur Conley receives a gold record for "Sweet Soul Music", a song that reached number two in the US on both the Pop and R&B charts. It was one of nine records that Conley put on the Billboard charts between 1967 and 1970.
June 24
The beginning of the end came for The Lovin' Spoonful when guitarist Zal Yanovsky quit after a performance in New York at the Forest Hills Music Festival. One year later, John Sebastian would also leave the band to go solo. Although he made several unannounced guest appearances during John Sebastian concerts, Yanovsky gradually withdrew from music altogether and eventually became a restaurateur. He was 58 years old when he suffered a fatal heart attack on December 13th, 2002 at his farm near Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
June 24 Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" enters the Billboard chart, where it will peak at #5. The song was written by the band around a melody composed by the group's organist, Matthew Fisher, who was inspired by the chord progression of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Orchestral Suite in D".
June 25 The Beatles premiere the song "All You Need Is Love" on a worldwide TV broadcast to an estimated 400 million people.
1968 - ClassicBands.com
June 22
After placing 17 instrumental singles on Billboard's Hot 100, Herb Alpert's initial vocal attempt, "This Guy's In Love With You" became his first number one hit. The song reached #3 in the UK.
June 22 Mason Williams' "Classical Gas" is released. It will enter the Billboard charts three weeks later and reach #2 on the Pop chart and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The record has since received more US radio airplay than any other instrumental in Rock history.
June 27 Elvis Presley appeared on an NBC TV show that was billed as his "comeback special". The show featured the king performing on a small, square stage, surrounded by a mostly female audience. Presley was outfitted in black leather and belted out many of his early recordings, including "That's All Right Mama", "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" and "Blue Suede Shoes". The highlight of the show was his final number of the evening, which featured Elvis, alone on the stage, dressed in a white suit, singing "If I Can Dream".
June 28 The Rascals are awarded their third gold record for the Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati composition, "A Beautiful Morning". The record rose to number 3 in the US.
June 28 Aretha Franklin appears on the cover of Time magazine.
1969 - ClassicBands.com
June 25 Sly & the Family Stone record "Hot Fun In The Summertime", which will reach #2 in the US next Fall.
June 25 The Hollies record "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", accompanied by Elton John on piano.
June 28
Henry Mancini's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" led the Billboard Pop chart in the first of a two week stay.
1970 - ClassicBands.com
June 23 Chubby Checker and three friends are arrested in Niagara Falls after marijuana and unidentified drug capsules are found in Checker's car.
June 27
A band called Smile changes their name to Queen and performs for the first time using that name.
June 27 The Jackson Five become the first group of the Rock era to have their first three releases reach number one in the US when "The Love You Save" hits the top of both the Billboard Hot 100 and The Cash Box best sellers list. It made #7 in the UK.
1971 - ClassicBands.com
June 27
New York's Rock and Roll venue, The Fillmore East, closed on June 27. The final show featured the Allman Brothers, Edgar Winter, the Beach Boys, and Country Joe McDonald.
1972 - ClassicBands.com
June 23 Smokey Robinson appears in concert for the last time with the Miracles, in Washington, DC.
1973 - ClassicBands.com
June 23
B.W. Stevenson records "My Maria", which will reach #9 later in the year. Although his real first name was Louis, he used the initials B.W., which stood for Buck Wheat.
June 26
Mick Jagger is named in a paternity suit by a woman named Marsha Hunt. She claimed that Jagger is the father of her two year old daughter, however, after Jagger takes a blood test, she is proved wrong.
June 28 Helen Reddy's Summer replacement show debuts on NBC-TV.
June 28
One of the first British Invasion revival concerts was held at Madison Square Garden in New York. The show featured Wayne Fontana (of The Mindbenders), Gerry and The Pacemakers, The Searchers and Herman's Hermits. The last time any of them were on the US record charts was in early 1968 when "I Can Take or Leave Your Loving" was a #22 hit for Herman's Hermits.
1975 - ClassicBands.com
June 23 Alice Cooper broke six of his ribs after he fell off the stage during a concert in Vancouver. Several dates on his Welcome to My Nightmare tour had to be cancelled.
June 23 Jefferson Starship's LP "Red Octopus" was released. The album, marking the return of singer Marty Balin, went to number one in the US and became the band's biggest seller.
June 24
The US Attorney in Newark, New Jersey hands down indictments to 19 music industry executives after a two year investigation. Counts of income tax evasion and payola are leveled against Clive Davis, former president of Columbia Records and Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, architects of the Philadelphia sound of the 70's.
June 25
Former Supreme, Florence Ballard put on a dynamic performance at Detroit's Ford Auditorium that drew wide acclaim and renewed interest in her career. Unfortunately, her comeback faltered and she would pass away a year later.
June 25
Tim Buckley, a popular performer and song writer during the 1960s and early 70s, died from a drug overdose on June 25th, at the age of 28.
June 26
Veteran R&B arranger / producer Van McCoy earns his first gold record for the disco smash, "The Hustle". It turns out to be the biggest dance craze of the decade.
June 27 Sonny and Cher were divorced after 11 years of marriage. Four days later, Cher married Gregg Allman in a union that would last just three years.
June 27 ZZ Top earn their second gold record for their fourth album, "Fandango" which includes the Top 20 hit, "Tush".
June 28 David Bowie's "Fame" is released. It will become his first and only number one hit in the US.
June 28 The Eagles started a five-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 200 album chart with "One Of These Nights".
1976 - ClassicBands.com
June 23
Paul McCartney and Wings complete their Wings Over America tour at the Forum in Los Angeles. At a Forum show two days earlier, Ringo Starr appeared on stage during the band's final number and presented his old friend with flowers.
June 26 Peter Frampton's "Baby I Love Your Way" is released in the US, where it will reach #12.
1977 - ClassicBands.com
June 25 Marvin Gaye's last single for Motown Records, "Got To Give It Up" (pt 1) was number one on Billboard Magazine's Pop chart. Marvin would later sign with Columbia and enjoy another string of hits.
June 26 Elvis Presley played the final concert of his career on June 26th, at Market Square Arena, Indianapolis. Before the show, he was presented with a plaque commemorating the 2 billionth record to come out of RCA's pressing plant. The last song the King ever performed publicly was "Can't Help Falling In Love".
1978 - ClassicBands.com
June 28
Members of the group Kansas were named Deputy Ambassadors of Goodwill by Unicef.
1979 - ClassicBands.com
June 23 Supertramp's album, "Breakfast in America" rose to the top of the US album chart.
June 26
Elvis' father, Vernon Presley died of a heart attack in Tupelo, Mississippi at the age of 63 on June 26th. Nearly two years earlier, he cried at Elvis' coffin, "Son, Daddy will be with you soon. Daddy will be with you soon." Vernon is buried next to his son at Graceland.
1980 - ClassicBands.com
June 28
Paul McCartney's "Coming Up" becomes one of the few 'live' recording to reach the top of Billboard's Hot 100.
1981 - ClassicBands.com
June 22 Mark David Chapman pleads guilty to murdering John Lennon in December of 1980 and was sentenced to 20-years-to-life in prison. The most hated man in Rock and Roll history was denied parole at his first hearing in October of 2000 and again in October 2002, October 2004 and October 2006. He is still in New York's Attica state prison.
1986 - ClassicBands.com
June 28 Wham! drew a sell-out crowd of 75,000 to their farewell concert at Wembley Stadium in London. During their career, the duo of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley had sold more than 38 million records.
1987 - ClassicBands.com
June 25
Boudleaux Bryant, one of Nashville's most prolific songwriters, died of cancer on June 25th at the age of 67. Bryant and his wife Felice wrote many of the Everly Brothers' hits, including "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie" and "All I Have to Do Is Dream." The team also composed "Rocky Top," which became an anthem for the state of Tennessee.
1988 - ClassicBands.com
June 25
Jimmy Soul, who hit #1 in the US in 1963 with the novelty tune "If You Wanna Be Happy", died of a heart attack on June 25th. He was 45.
June 27
MCA Records buys the legendary Motown Records for $61 million.
1989 - ClassicBands.com
June 27 Tom Jones is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
June 27 The Who performs the Rock opera, "Tommy" in its entirety for the first time in 17 years at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The show raised money for a children's charity as well as the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
1990 - ClassicBands.com
June 22 Billy Joel becomes the first Rock artist to perform at Yankee Stadium.
June 22
Kripp Johnson, a founding member of the Dell-Vikings, died of cancer on June 22nd at the age of 57. One of the first racially-integrated Rock 'n' Roll groups, the Dell-Vikings had two top 10 hits in 1957, "Come Go With Me" and "Whispering Bells".
June 23
Actor Gary Busey, who played Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story, pays $237,419 for one of Holly's acoustic guitars at an auction at Sotheby's in New York. The guitar came in a tooled leather case made by Holly himself.
1991 - ClassicBands.com
June 27
Paul McCartney's first Classical work, the semi-autobiographical "Liverpool Oratorio" is performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in Liverpool Cathedral.
1992 - ClassicBands.com
June 25 Billy Joel gets his diploma, twenty-five years after leaving high school. The piano man had overslept and missed his English and Gym finals in 1967.
June 26 Elton John and Eric Clapton play the first of three sell-out dates at London's Wembley Stadium. It is the first public outing for John since undergoing painful hair transplants.
June 27 Michael Jackson kicked off his Dangerous world tour with a show before 70,000 fans in Munich, Germany. At the end of the show, Jackson wore a helmet and a fake rocket pack on his back and appeared to fly off stage.
1993 - ClassicBands.com
June 25
Bruce Springsteen was a surprise guest on David Letterman's final show as host of NBC's Late Night. After more than 11 years at NBC, Letterman began a similar show on CBS two months later.
1994 - ClassicBands.com
June 23
The stage musical "Copacabana", based on the Barry Manilow song, opens in London England.
1995 - ClassicBands.com
June 23
Riding high on the success of "Leave Virginia Alone", Rod Stewart headlined the Rock Over Germany festival, along with Joe Cocker and Elton John.
1999 - ClassicBands.com
June 24 Eric Clapton put 100 of his guitars up for auction at Christie's in New York to raise money for his drug rehab clinic, the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. His 1956 Fender Stratocaster named Brownie, which was used to record the electric version of "Layla", was sold for a record $497,500. The auction helped raise nearly $5 million for the clinic.
June 25 Santana, with Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas on lead vocals, perform "Smooth" on The Late Show With David Letterman.
2000 - ClassicBands.com
June 24 KISS auctioned off memorabilia from their touring days. The items brought in $876,000 on the first day of the two day event.
June 27
A San Francisco appeals court ruled that The Rolling Stones violated Robert Johnson's copyright of "Love in Vain" and "Stop Breakin' Down". The Stones' former record label had wrongly assumed that the songs were public domain.
2002 - ClassicBands.com
June 27
John Entwistle, bassist for the UK Rock act, The Who, was found dead of an apparent heart attack on June 27th in a Las Vegas hotel room. He was 57.
2003 - ClassicBands.com
June 23 Diana Ross was in court and testified that she was coerced and felt intimidated to take the breath test that showed her blood alcohol level was 0.2 (well over the 0.08 limit). "He said if I don't take the breath tests, I was either going to go to the hospital or to jail," Diana said. Diana's lawyer has asked for all evidence to be suppressed. After the hearing, Diana asked the judge if it would be possible to have court paperwork processed using her married name of Diana Naess. The City Magistrate said he thought it was "a little late" for that now.
June 24
Gert van der Graaf, a man who had been deported from Sweden for stalking ABBA's Agnetha Faeltskog, was arrested near the singer's island retreat. He had been her boyfriend from 1997 to 1999, but had been issued a restraining order barring him from seeing or talking to her in 2000.
June 25
The Recording Industry Association of America disclosed its plans to fight Internet piracy by suing hundreds of individual computer users who illegally share music files online.
2004 - ClassicBands.com
June 25 Eric Clapton raised about $7.5 million for a drug addiction center he set up in the Caribbean by auctioning off some more of his favorite guitars. The items that were sold were the "Blackie" Stratocaster that Clapton played from 1970-1985 for $1 million, a 1964 cherry-red Gibson for $847,000 and a 1939 Martin acoustic that Clapton played on his "Unplugged" album went for $800,000.
2006 - ClassicBands.com
June 27 Michael Jackson announced that he was moving to Europe to reignite a musical career stalled by his sex abuse trial.
2007 - ClassicBands.com
June 27
At the Phil Spector murder trial, Dr. Vincent DiMaio, a noted forensic expert on gunshot wounds, testified for the defense that actress Lana Clarkson committed suicide by shooting herself in the mouth at the record producer's mansion.
