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.

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

The number one British single today in 1973:

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 …

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

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

Birthdays begin with Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations:

Jim Bonfanti of the Young Rascals:

Paul Rodgers of Free, Bad Company and the Firm:

Mike Mills played bass for REM:

Sarah Dallen of Bananarama:

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

… Denis Payton of the Dave Clark Five in 2006 …

… and Captain Beefheart of multiple sclerosis in 2010: