Today in 1956, Elvis Presley signed a seven-year contract with Paramount Studios.

The movies won no Academy Awards, but sold a lot of tickets and a lot of records.

The number one album today in 1968 was the soundtrack to “The Graduate”:

The number one single today in 1974:

Today in 1974 was the first California Jam:

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

Today in 1976, the first quadraphonic movie soundtrack hit the ears of listeners:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiaIx7IuIYQ

Birthdays begin with Merle Haggard:

Tony Conner of Hot Chocolate:

Two deaths of note today in 1998: Wendy O.  Williams of the Plasmatics …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2eynNh5xHM

… and Tammy Wynette:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkMhfq1HV1Y

Another in 2004: Niki Sullivan of Buddy Holly’s Crickets: