September 1
The popular Lubbock, Texas duo of Buddy Holly and Bob Montgomery audition for radio station KDAV's Sunday Party. They will earn a time slot on Sunday afternoon that becomes known as The Bob and Buddy Show.
1954 - ClassicBands.com
September 4
To coincide with the release of his second Sun single, "Good Rockin' Tonight", Elvis Presley, along with Bill Black and Scotty Moore make their first appearance at The Grand Old Opry. Audience reaction is so poor, the Opry's manager, Jim Denny suggests that Elvis go back to driving a truck.
1955 - ClassicBands.com
August 31
A London judge fined Sidney Turner three pounds, ten shillings for, "creating an abominable noise" after Turner threatened his neighbors by saying, "I will drive you mad." Turner played Bill Haley & His Comets' "Shake Rattle & Roll" as loud as possible from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
September 1 Alan Freed's First Anniversary Rock 'n Roll Party kicks off at the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, New York. Among those appearing on the bill are Chuck Berry, Tony Bennett, The Nutmegs, The Rhythmettes, The Cardinals and The Four Voices.
September 3 Bill Haley And His Comets turn down a $2,000 offer for a 15 date tour of Australia because of their fear of flying.
September 3
Billboard magazine reports that independent record manufacturers are continuing to expand at an unprecedented rate. They took in $20 million last year.
September 3
Band leader Mitch Miller had the number one tune on the Billboard pop chart with "The Yellow Rose Of Texas", a song that was written in 1853. Although he was a powerful A&R man and a brilliant producer, Miller made no secret of the fact that he hated Rock 'n' Roll.
September 3
"Moments To Remember" by The Four Lads becomes the first of their twelve Billboard chart entries and will prove to be their biggest hit, reaching #2 and staying on the chart for an amazing 25 weeks. It was a rare accomplishment for a Canadian vocal group in the 1950s.
1956 - ClassicBands.com
September 1
19 year old Jerry Lee Lewis arrives at Sun Records hoping for an audition, only to find that owner Sam Phillips is on vacation in Florida. Jerry Lee records some demos that Phillips will hear when he gets back.
1957 - ClassicBands.com
August 31
Elvis Presley appeared in concert outside of the United States for the last time when he performed at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, Canada, in front of 26,000 fans. Ticket prices ranged between $1.50, $2.50 and $3.50.
September 4 The Buddy Deane Bandstand debuts on WJZ-TV in Baltimore. The two hour Rock 'n' Roll show gave viewers a chance to call in and talk to celebrity performers, which tied up lines so badly, the phone company was forced to ask Deane to desist.
August 31 Ricky Nelson kicks off his musical concert career by appearing at Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he sets an all time attendance record for the venue by performing in front of 44,221 people, spread out over two days. His fee for the gig was $10,000 and his supporting acts were comedian Henny Youngman and The Four Preps.
1959 - ClassicBands.com
August 29 The Quarrymen perform for about 300 teenagers at the opening of The Casbah Coffee Club, located in the basement of a family home owned by Pete Best's mother, Mona. The group consists of John, Paul, George and guitarist Ken Brown. Still without a drummer, the band shared one microphone connected to the house P.A. system and would return for six more Saturday night engagements for 15 shillings each per night.
August 30 Bobby Darin's "Mack the Knife" debuts on Billboard's Pop chart. The song, taken from the Three Penny Opera, will be Darin's biggest hit.
September 4
Following the stabbing deaths of two teenagers by a 17 year old and other similar incidents of violence in New York City, WCBS radio in the Big Apple bans all versions of "Mack the Knife".
September 4
Dick Clark's traveling show opens at the Michigan State Fair. The line-up includes Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Duane Eddy, The Coasters, LaVern Baker and Jan and Dean.
1961 - ClassicBands.com
August 30
24 year old Gene Chandler records "Duke Of Earl" for Vee Jay Records. It will become the label's first number one and first million seller next February.
September 4
Sitting at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 was The Highwaymen's "Michael" (row the boat ashore). The traditional song can be traced back to the 19th century, when it was sung by slaves who lived on islands off the coast of Georgia.
1962 - ClassicBands.com
September 1 Tommy Roe had his first number one hit when "Sheila" reached the top of the US Pop chart. The record was a re-recorded version of a song that was first released in 1960 when Roe was part of a group called The Satins. Roe's recording success would continue until 1971, during which time he had five more Top 10 hits.
September 4
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr begin recording together for the first time at EMI's St. John Studio. They lay down 6 songs including "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You", which will ultimately become their first single. Producer George Martin had originally wanted to release the Mitch Murray composition, "How Do You Do It", but the band's lack of enthusiasm was clear in the recording and the song remained unreleased until it appeared on "Anthology 1" in 1995.
1963 - ClassicBands.com
August 31 The Angels become the first white girl group to have a US number one hit when "My Boyfriend's Back" topped the Billboard Hot 100.
1964 - ClassicBands.com
August 29 Billboard Magazine reports that guitar sales in both the US and the UK, have skyrocketed in the wake of the British Invasion.
August 29 Rob Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" is released. It will reach Billboard's top spot just four weeks later and enjoy a three week stay.
1965 - ClassicBands.com
September 1 James Brown and Booker T. & the MG's appear on TV's Shindig! The Godfather of Soul performed "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag".
September 2 The Beatles receive a Gold record for John Lennon's biographical composition, "Help!", which was still rising up the charts.
September 2
The Beatles release "Yesterday", on which only Paul is actually playing. More than 2,500 cover versions of the song exist, making it one of the most recorded songs in history.
September 4 The Who have their equipment van stolen outside the Battersea Dog's Home in England while they are inside purchasing a guard dog. The empty van was eventually recovered.
1966 - ClassicBands.com
August 29
Seven years to the day since John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison first performed together at Liverpool's Casbah Coffee Club, The Beatles play their last paid, public concert in front of 25,000 fans at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. The band did 11 songs in just over a half an hour, opening with "Rock & Roll Music" and closing with "Long Tall Sally". Although their latest album, "Revolver" had just been released a few weeks earlier, the band chose not to play even a single cut from it.
September 3 Donovan enjoyed his only US number one hit, "Sunshine Superman", which featured then Yardbird and future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. The single wouldn't be released in the UK for another five months, but when it was, it rose to number 3.
September 3
A New Jersey quartet called The Happenings saw their first Billboard chart entry, "See You In September", peak at #3.
September 3 Question Mark and the Mysterians' "96 Tears" makes its debut on Billboard's Hot 100, where it will eventually reach number one.
September 3
The last Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet TV show , with son Rick Nelson, airs on ABC.
1967 - ClassicBands.com
August 29
Brian Epstein's funeral is held in Liverpool. The event is not attended by The Beatles, who wished to give his family privacy by not attracting the media and fans.
September 1 The Beatles all meet at Paul's house in St. John's Wood to discuss their future. They announce they will handle their own affairs following the death of manager Brian Epstein.
September 1 Boz Scaggs joins the Steve Miller Band. He would stay with the group for two albums, "Children of the Future" and "Sailor" before leaving for a successful solo career in 1969.
1968 - ClassicBands.com
August 30
John and Yoko Lennon hosted the One on One concert in New York's Madison Square Garden, where they raised over $250,000 to aid mentally retarded children. Among the music greats appearing were Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack.
August 31 Cream's "Fresh Cream" enters the Billboard LP chart where it would climb to #39. Containing the hit single, "Sunshine Of Your Love", the album would reach #6 in the UK.
August 31
Decca Records releases what has been called The Rolling Stones most political song, "Street Fighting Man". The number was written after Mick Jagger attended a March 1968 anti-war rally at London's US embassy, during which mounted police attempted to control a crowd of 25,000. The single proved to be very popular, but was kept out of the US Top 40 (reaching #48) because many radio stations refused to play it based on what were perceived as subversive lyrics.
September 2 The Doors are forced to perform as a trio at a concert in Amsterdam after lead singer Jim Morrison collapses while dancing during the Jefferson Airplane's performance.
September 3
After a two week absence, Ringo Starr rejoins The Beatles. He had quit the band when he found out that Paul McCartney had been erasing drum tracks and replacing them with his own. Upon Ringo's return to the studio, he found his drum kit covered with flowers to welcome him back.
September 4 The Rascals are presented with two Gold albums. The first was for their two year old debut disc, "The Young Rascals" and the second for their greatest hits collection, "Time Peace".
August 31 Bob Seger files for divorce from his wife, Sandy, after just ten months of marriage.
August 31 Bob Dylan makes his first paid appearance at England's Isle of Wight Pop Festival since his motorcycle accident three years earlier. He's backed by The Band and pockets £38,000 for the one hour show.
September 4 The Youngbloods do not appear on The Tonight Show as scheduled. Johnny Carson says in his monologue, "They complained about the set, the lighting, the sound, the show...everything. So we wiped their noses, told them they'd been in show business a day and a half and sent them home." Youngblood's guitarist / pianist Lowell Levinger retorted, "We weren't treated like guests..."
1970 - ClassicBands.com
August 29
Edwin Starr's "War" was the top tune on the Billboard singles chart. It would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
September 3
England's Dave Clark Five, who scored a dozen hits during the British Invasion of the mid 1960s, announce that they are disbanding.
September 3
While his band mates wait for him at Los Angeles Airport, Canned Heat's guitarist, 27 year old Al Wilson is found dead in his sleeping bag in Topanga Canyon, California, with a bottle of barbiturates next to him.
September 3
At the Palermo Pop '70 Festival in Italy, Arthur Brown is arrested and put in solitary confinement for four days after he set fire to his helmet and stripped naked during his stage performance. The audience threw all sorts of things at him. While in solitary, he was given a note signed by over 200 locals telling him to get out of Italy and stay out.
1971 - ClassicBands.com
September 2 The Grateful Dead's second live LP is given the unimaginative title of "Grateful Dead", but Rolling Stone Magazine reports that leader Jerry Garcia originally wanted to call it "Starfuck". It would become the band's first Top 25 album.
September 2 The Grateful Dead track down Lenny Hart, the group's ex-manager and have him arrested for embezzling $70,000 from the group.
Sept 4 - ClassicBands.com The New York Times says that Sly Stone's West Hollywood landlord is suing the Rock star for $3 million, complaining that his building is inundated with "loud, noisy, boisterous persons," and wants Sly out.
September 4
The Undisputed Truth had their only hit on Billboard's Pop chart, when "Smiling Faces Sometimes" peaks at number 3.
September 4
Paul McCartney scores his second solo, number one hit in the US with "Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey". Paul would later explain that "Uncle Albert" was based on his real-life uncle. "He's someone I recall fondly and when the song was coming, it was like a nostalgia thing... As for Admiral Halsey, he's one of yours, an American admiral", referring to Admiral William "Bull" Halsey.
1972 - ClassicBands.com
August 30
John Lennon and Yoko Ono were joined by Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack and Sha Na Na at a fund raising concert for the One To One charity at New York's Madison Square Gardens. Several of the performances were later included on Lennon's, "Live in New York City" album.
September 1 The O'Jays receive a Gold record for their first single, "Backstabbers", which made it to #3 on Billboard's Pop chart.
September 4
John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear on Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.
1973 - ClassicBands.com
August 30 The Doors officially disband, two years after Jim Morrison's death. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Kreiger attempted a reunion in 2002 that saw limited results.
August 31
Paul McCartney receives a Gold record for "Live and Let Die".
September 1
Paul and Linda McCartney along with Denny Laine begin recording tracks for Wings' upcoming album "Band On The Run" at EMI studios in Lagos, Scotland.
1974 - ClassicBands.com
August 31
In a US federal court, John Lennon testifies that he believes the Nixon administration tried to have him deported because of his involvement with the anti-war demonstrations at the 1972 Republican convention in Miami. He also suspected his phones were tapped and that he was under surveillance by government agents.
1975 - ClassicBands.com
August 30
After charting twice in the UK, KC and the Sunshine Band finally scored a hit record in the US when "Get Down Tonight" topped the Billboard singles chart. It made #21 in Great Britain.
August 30 Orleans enters the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time with "Dance With Me", which would climb to #6. They would return a year later with "Still The One" (#5) and again in 1979 with "Love Takes Time" (#11).
1976 - ClassicBands.com
August 29
Jimmy Reed, who reached the Billboard Pop chart with "Honest I Do" in 1957 and "Baby What You Want Me To Do" in 1960, died following an epileptic seizure, just days shy of his 51st birthday.
August 31
George Harrison is found guilty of subconscious plagiarism of the song "He's So Fine" in writing his hit, "My Sweet Lord". He would eventually pay the copyright holder, Bright Tunes, $587,000 in damages.
September 1
Ode Records president Lou Adler and employee Neil Silver are kidnapped at Adler's house in Malibu. The two are released after paying a $25,000 ransom. A week later, a California couple is charged with the crime, but a third accomplice got away.
September 4
"You Should Be Dancing" becomes the Bee Gees third US number one single.
September 4 Kiss releases the Soft-Rock ballad, "Beth". It will rise to #7 and become their only US Top 10 hit.
1977 - ClassicBands.com
August 29
Three people are arrested in Memphis after trying to steal Elvis' body. As a result, his remains would be moved to Graceland.
September 1
The Rock group Blondie, featuring former Playboy Bunny Debra Harry, sign their first major record company contract with Chrysalis Records.
September 3
Just weeks after his death, record buyers in Great Britain were scooping up Elvis Presley discs. The king had the number one album, "Moody Blue" and the number one single, "Way Down", as well as 26 other albums and 8 more singles in the Top 100.
1978 - ClassicBands.com
September 2
George Harrison marries Olivia Trinidad Arias, a secretary at his Dark Horse record company.
September 2
Teddy Pendergrass, the former lead singer of Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, promotes his latest album "Life Is A Song Worth Singing" by performing a concert for women only. The gimmick is so successful, further shows of similar nature play to sold out audiences.
1980 - ClassicBands.com
August 30
"Sailing" by Christopher Cross was Billboard's top single. The record would sweep the Grammy Awards the next Spring when it won for Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year.
September 1 Fleetwood Mac ends a nine-month tour with a performance at the Hollywood Bowl. Lindsay Buckingham announces on stage, "This is our last show for a long time."
September 2 Karen Carpenter marries California real estate developer, Thomas Burris. They would separate a year later.
September 4
A new version of Yes, with Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn sell out a three night stand at New York's 19,000 seat Madison Square Garden.
1981 - ClassicBands.com
September 3
The Techno-Pop duo of Marc Almond and David Ball, who call themselves Soft Cell, perform their current UK #1 hit "Tainted Love" on Top Of The Pops. In the US, the tune will reach #8 and spend a total of 43 weeks on the charts.
1982 - ClassicBands.com
September 3
Steve Wozniak, the founder of the Apple Computer Company, sponsors a three day music Festival in San Bernardino, California, featuring The Grateful Dead, Eddie Money, Talking Heads, Fleetwood Mac, Dave Edmunds, Santana, the B-52's, The Kinks, Jackson Browne, The Police, The Cars, Tom Petty and others. Even though the event was attended by over 400,000 people and took in $10 million, the concert still ended up losing money.
1984 - ClassicBands.com
September 1
It had been twenty-four years since Tina Turner had been on Billboard's Hot 100 with a song she recorded with her husband Ike called "A Fool In Love". Now she was back with the number one song in the US, "What's Love Got To Do With It". The record would go on to win Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year, Pop Vocal Performance - Female and Rock Vocal Performance - Female.
1986 - ClassicBands.com
August 30
Former lead vocalist for The Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood had the number one record in the US with "Higher Love". It made #13 in the UK.
September 4
After just getting his license back after a five-year suspension, Gregg Allman is arrested in Florida for drunk driving.
1987 - ClassicBands.com
August 29
The East LA band, Los Lobos had the number one single on Billboard's Hot 100 this week with a remake of Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba", from the movie of the same name. Singer Cesar Rosas said that the song itself is a traditional Mexican tune that means "wedding song".
August 31
The largest pre-order of albums in the history of CBS Records occurred as 2.25 million copies of Michael Jackson's "Bad" album were shipped to record stores. The LP followed the Jackson album, "Thriller", the biggest Jackson-seller of all time. The "Bad" album went on to sell 13 million copies.
1989 - ClassicBands.com
August 30 Billy Joel fired his manager and former brother-in-law Frank Weber after an audit revealed discrepancies. Joel later took him to court and sued for $90 million.
September 2
Paula Abdul had the number one song in the US with "Cold Hearted". In the UK however, the record stalled at #46.
September 2 Ozzy Osbourne was charged with threatening to kill his wife, Sharon. He was released on the condition that he immediately enter into detox and the case was latter dropped when the couple decide to reconcile.
1990 - ClassicBands.com
August 29 Elton John checks into a rehab center in Chicago to get treatment for bulimia, alcoholism and drugs.
August 30 Paul Anka, who was born in Ottawa, Canada, is naturalized as an American citizen in Las Vegas. During the ceremony, his illegally parked car was towed away.
August 31
At a memorial service for guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Wonder sing "Amazing Grace".
1991 - ClassicBands.com
September 3 Ike Turner was released from prison, having served 18 months of a four year prison term. Ike had been arrested 10 other times and in an interview with Variety magazine, he claimed to have spent over $11 million on cocaine.
1992 - ClassicBands.com
August 29 Billy Joel's remake of Elvis' "All Shook Up" peaks at #92 on the US singles chart. The song was from the soundtrack of the film Honeymoon In Vegas.
1993 - ClassicBands.com
August 30 The Late Show with David Letterman premieres on CBS, with Billy Joel as the first musical guest.
1994 - ClassicBands.com
September 3
Major Lance, who had many hits on the US R&B charts as well as placing "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" and "Monkey Time" on the Pop charts, died of heart failure at the age of 55.
1995 - ClassicBands.com
August 30
Carly Simon and James Taylor performed live together in front of 10,000 fans on Martha's Vineyard, in Massachusetts, for the first time since 1979. Their marriage had come to an end in 1983.
August 30
Sterling Morrison, a founding member of the Velvet Underground died of cancer at his home in New York, one day after his 53rd birthday.
September 4 Cat Stevens emerges from seclusion in London, England to sign copies of his first album in 18 years. The LP, titled "The Life of the Last Prophet" was mostly spoken-word and was released under his Muslim name, Yusuf Islam. Cat Stevens real name is Steven Demetre Georgiou and people close to him during his career always referred to him as Steve.
2000 - ClassicBands.com
September 2
Madonna's newest CD, "Music", rises to number one in England, making her the first female to top the UK album chart ten times.
2002 - ClassicBands.com
September 3
The original version of the peer to peer file swapping program Napster officially died on September 3rd when an attempted buyout by Bertelsmann Entertainment Group (BEG), which owns several record labels, including Arista Records, failed to go through bankruptcy court. Napster subsequently laid off all its employees and the Web site's home page sported the Napster logo with "Napster Was Here" written below. Napster has now re-appeared in a pay-per-song for format.
September 3
The longstanding battle between the sixties girl group The Ronettes and Rock 'n' Roll impresario Phil Spector was on the docket of New York State Court of Appeals in Albany. The Ronettes, led by Phil Spector's then-wife Ronnie Spector, recorded 28 songs for Spector from 1963 to 1967. Under a 1963 contract, they received a one-time payment of $14,482. Group members contend that the contract didn't cover the royalties for Ronettes songs used in movies, TV shows and advertising. The Ronettes' big hit, "Be My Baby" was featured in the movie "Dirty Dancing". In November 2001, a lower state court said the Ronettes were entitled to nearly $3 million. Spector's lawyers counter that the 1963 contract gives him ownership of all the group's recordings. The court battle between Spector and the Ronettes started in 1988.
2003 - ClassicBands.com
September 4
Nearly 26 years after the death of Elvis Presley, BMG/RCA, unearthed a never-before-heard song called "I'm A Roustabout". The song was originally commissioned and written for the film Roustabout (1964) by long-time Presley collaborators Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell, but was never used. Instead, a completely different song written by the team Giant/Baum/Kaye was recorded for the film and eventually became the title song for both the movie and the album. Winfield Scott found the original acetate in the basement of his New Jersey home and BMG/RCA said they will add the track to the album "Elvis, 2nd to None".
2004 - ClassicBands.com
August 31
Carl Wayne, the lead singer of the influential 1960s Pop group, The Move, died of esophageal cancer at the age of 61
September 2
66 year old Tyrone Davis, who scored a number one R&B hit in 1970 with "Turn Back the Hands of Time", suffered a stroke and was admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, after feeling ill at a Labor Day weekend concert in New Orleans. He would never recover and died on the 9th of February, 2005.
2005 - ClassicBands.com
September 1
77 year old Fats Domino was rescued from the flooding in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina. He had earlier told his agent that he planned to remain in his home despite the order to evacuate.
September 1
Barry Cowsill, bass guitarist for The Cowsills, died on or about September 1st from injuries believed to be caused by Hurricane Katrina. His body was not recovered until December 28th, 2005, from the Chartres Street Wharf, New Orleans. He was 51.
2006 - ClassicBands.com
September 1 The Isley Brothers leader, Ronald Isley, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for evading federal income taxes. The 65 year old singer was found guilty of five counts of tax evasion and one count of willful failure to file an tax return on millions of dollars in income.
2008 - ClassicBands.com
September 1
Jerry Reed, whose hits included "Amos Moses" (#8 in 1971) and "When You're Hot, You're Hot" (#9 in 1971), died of complications from emphysema at the age of 71. He is also remembered for his 1977 co-starring role in Smokey And The Bandit with Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason and Sally Field.
2009 - ClassicBands.com
August 29
A 1970 interview with John Lennon, in which he revealed some of the reasons that The Beatles split, appeared in Rolling Stone magazine. John said that his band mates disrespected and "insulted" his wife Yoko Ono, adding, "They despised her... It seemed I had to be happily married to them or Yoko, and I chose Yoko." He also took a shot at his former songwriting partner, saying "We got fed up with being sidemen for Paul."
September 1
Elton John's keyboard player, Guy Babylon died of a heart attack while swimming in his pool at his home in Los Angeles, California.
