Today in 1963,  Carroll James of WWDC radio in Washington broadcast a Beatles song:

James, whose station played the song once an hour, got the 45 from his girlfriend, a flight attendant. Capitol Records considered going to court, but chose to release the 45 early instead.

(This blog has reported for years that James was the first U.S. DJ to play a Beatles song. It turns out that’s not correct — WLS radio in Chicago played “Please Please Me” in February 1963.)

Today in 1969, 50 million people watched NBC-TV’s “Tonight” because of a wedding:

The number one British single today in 1973:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A8KT365wlA

Today in 1977, on NBC-TV’s “Saturday Night Live,” Elvis Costello stopped singing in mid-song …

… and played a song he was told not to sing:

Today in 1994, a remake of this song …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDxhugRKZ8g

… reached the Billboard Hot 100 to ultimately set a record for the longest total chart appearance in history:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzmhFvCOM6c

The number one British single today in 2000 (really):

Birthdays begin with Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltRwmgYEUr8

Jim Bonfanti of the Young Rascals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeUWlKc0-tE

Paul Rodgers of Free, Bad Company and the Firm:

Mike Mills played bass for REM:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXUkddrnsXQ

Sarah Dallen of Bananarama:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkcU2_Vs7Xw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IddaRTuYRW4

Three deaths of note today: Grover Washington Jr. in 1999 …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njwasr1OOuc

… Denis Payton of the Dave Clark Five in 2006 …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUIyJmq5N2U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln7_1TsVyvs

… and Captain Beefheart of multiple sclerosis in 2010: