Today in 1964 — one year to the day after recording their first album — the Beatles made their first U.S. concert appearance at the Washington Coliseum in D.C.:
The number one album today in 1969, “More of the Monkees,” jumped 121 positions in one week:
Today in 1972, Pink Floyd appeared at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England, during their Dark Side of the Moon tour.
The concert lasted 25 minutes until the power went out, leaving the hall as bright as the dark side of the moon.
The first gold record — which was only a record spray-painted gold because the criteria for a gold record hadn’t been devised yet — was “awarded” today in 1942:
The number one British album today in 1968 was the Four Tops’ “Greatest Hits”:
The number one British album today in 1973 was Elton John’s “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player”:
Today in 1976, the Memphis Police Department named its newest reserve officer:
Today’s number one single from the number one album, “Blondes Have More Fun,” in 1979 asked this question:
The number one British single today in 1984:
The number one single today in 1990:
Today in 2005, Amy Winehouse won a Grammy, though due to visa problems she couldn’t get to Los Angeles to get her award:
Birthdays begin with TV and movie soundtrack composer Jerry Goldsmith:
Don Wilson, who played guitar for the Ventures …
… was born the same day as Roberta Flack:
Jimmy Merchant sang with Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers:
Nigel Olsson played drums for Elton John:
Producer Norman Harris worked with the Delfonics, the Trampps and MFSB:
One death of note today in 1997: Brian Connolly of Sweet:
Today in 1964, three years to the day from their first appearance as the Beatles, the Beatles made their first appearance on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Shew: