Birthdays
- 1904 - Glenn Miller (d. 1944)
- 1917 - Cliffie Stone (d. 1998)
- 1927 - Harry Belafonte
- 1939 - Warren Davis (Monotones)
- 1940 - Ralph Towner
- 1943 - Jerry Fisher (Blood, Sweat & Tears)
- 1944 - Roger Daltrey (Who)
- 1944 - Mike d'Abo (Manfred Mann)
- 1945 - Burning Spear (born Winston Rodney)
- 1946 - Tony Ashton (Ashton, Gardner & Dyke) (d. 2001)
- 1947 - Norman Connors
- 1950 - Dave Marsh
- 1955 - Jimmy Fortune (Statler Brothers)
- 1957 - Jon Carroll (Starland Vocal Band)
- 1957 - Kristine Oliver (Sweethearts of the Rodeo)
- 1958 - Nik Kershaw
- 1962 - Bill Leen (Gin Blossoms)
- 1962 - Peter Stephenson (Shamen)
- 1963 - Rob Affuso (Skid Row)
- 1964 - Jennifer McCarter (McCarters)
- 1969 - Dayfdd Ieuan (Super Furry Animals)
- 1973 - Ryan Peake (Nickelback)
- 1987 - Kesha (born Kesha Sebert)
- 1987 - Sammie (born Sammie Bush)
- 1989 - Sonya Kitchell
- 1994 - Justin Bieber
Deaths
- 1970 - Lucille Hegamin (75)
- 1988 - Pearl Butler (Carl Butler & Pearl) (60)
- 1991 - Frank Smith (Air Supply) - Pneumonia
- 2002 - Doreen Waddell (Soul II Soul, KLF) - Hit by a car while fleeing a robbery (36)
- 2006 - Johnny Jackson (drummer for the Jackson 5) - Murdered (54)
On This Day
- 1952 - Faron Young has his first recording session for Capitol.
- 1952 - Uncle Dave Macon made his last appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. He died 21 days later.
- 1955 - Arthur Godfrey turned down the chance to sign Elvis Presley.
- 1957 - The Everly Brothers signed with Cadence Records.
- 1957 - Buck Owens signed with Capitol Records.
- 1958 - Buddy Holly played the first date of his only U.K. tour.
- 1961 - Elvis Presley signed with Hal Wallis for five-years worth of motion pictures.
- 1966 - Gene Clark announced he was leaving the Byrds, blaming his fear of flying.
- 1969 - Jim Morrison of the Doors was officially charged with lewd and lascivious behavior after allegedly exposing himself during a Miami concert. He was pardoned in 2010.
- 1969 - Barbara Mandrell signed with Columbia Records.
- 1969 - Anni-Fred Lyngstad and Benny Andersson met for the first time at the Melodifestival.
- 1972 - John Lennon was granted an extension on the U.S. work visa.
- 1972 - Merle Haggard was granted a full pardon by California Governor Ronald Reagan.
- 1973 - The Joffrey Ballet premiered the Deuce Coupe Ballet based around the music of the Beach Boys.
- 1974 - Queen started their first U.K. headlining tour.
- 1976 - Claudine Longet shot her boyfriend, skier Spider Sabich.
- 1985 - The Beatles allow one of their songs to be used in a commercial for the first time (Help! for Lincoln-Mercury).
- 1986 - Gary Glitter went into the hospital for an accidental overdose of sleeping pills.
- 1989 - Madonna signed a $5 million deal to promote Coke.
- 1989 - R.E.M. opened their Green World tour in Louisville, KY.
- 1990 - Janet Jackson opened her 120-date Rhythm Nation tour.
- 1991 - The movie The Doors premiered.
- 1994 - Nirvana played what would be their final concert in Munich, Germany.
- 1995 - Bill Berry collapsed from a brain aneurysm while on tour with R.E.M.
- 1997 - A lawsuit against Motley Crue was dismissed after the judge did not find evidence that the defendant's hearing had been damaged at their concert.
- 1999 - Madness returns to the studio to record their first album in 15 years.
- 2004 - Scott Walker of the Walker Brothers signs a contract with 4AD to record his first album in nine years.
- 2004 - Time Warner sold Warner Music Group to Edgar Bronfman Jr.
- 2011 - It was announced that Reba McEntire had been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- 2016 - Ginger Baker announced that, because of heart problems, he was cancelling all future shows and was retiring.
Marriages
- 1968 - Johnny Cash and June Carter
- 1980 - Patti Smith and Fred "Sonic" Smith (MC5)
Divorces
- 1977 - Bob Dylan and Sara Lowndes Dylan (Sara filed)
- 1989 - Bruce Springsteen and Julianne Philips
Recorded
- 1949 - Mind Your Own Business, Honky Tonk Blues, You're Gonna Change, Lost Highway - Hank Williams
- 1957 - Bye Bye Love - Everly Brothers
- 1967 - Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds - Beatles (began recording)
- 1972 - Sometime in New York City - John Lennon (began recording)
Released
- 1956 - Rock and Rollin' with Fats Domino - Fats Domino
- 1957 - School Days - Chuck Berry
- 1963 - How Do You Do It? - Gerry & the Pacemakers
- 1968 - I've Been Loving You Too Long - Elton John (first single)
- 1974 - Get Your Wings - Aerosmith
- 1974 - Rush - Rush (debut album)
- 1982 - Death Wish II - Jimmy Page (first solo album)
- 1998 - Crystal Ball - Prince (exclusively via his website)
Awards
- 1975 - Grammy Awards
- Record of the Year, Female Pop Vocal - I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
- Album of the Year, Male Pop Vocal - Fullfillingness First Finale - Stevie Wonder
- Song of the Year - The Way We Were - Alan & Marilyn Bergman and Marvin Hamlisch
- New Artist - Marvin Hamlisch
- Pop Performance Duo or Group - Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings
- Female R&B Vocal - Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing - Aretha Franklin
- Male R&B Vocal - Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
- R&B Performance Duo or Group - Tell Me Something Good - Rufus
- Female Country Vocal - Love Song - Anne Murray
- Male Country Vocal - Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends - Ronnie Milsap
- Duo or Group Country Performance - Fairytale - Pointer Sisters
- 1994 - Grammy Awards
- Record of the Year - I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
- Album of the Year - The Bodyguard - Soundtrack
- Song of the Year - A Whole New World - Alan Menken & Tim Rice
- Best New Artist - Toni Braxton
- Pop Female - I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
- Pop Male - If Ever I Lose My Faith in You - Sting
- Pop Duo or Group - A Whole New World - Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle
- Pop Traditional - Steppin' Out - Tony Bennett
- Rock Solo - I'd Do Anything For You (But I Won't Do That) - Meat Loaf
- Rock Duo or Group - Livin' on the Edge - Aerosmith
- Hard Rock - Plush - Stone Temple Pilots
- Metal - I Don't Want to Change the World - Ozzy Osborune
- Rock Song - Runaway Train - David Pirner
- Alternative - Zootopia - U2
- R&B Female - Another Sad Love Song - Toni Braxton
- R&B Male - A Song For You - Ray Charles
- R&B Duo or Group - No Ordinary Love - Sade
- R&B Song - That's the Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
- Rap Solo - Let Me Ride - Dr. Dre
- Rap Duo or Group - Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) - Digable Planets
- Country Female - Passionate Kisses - Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Country Male - Ain't That Lonely Yet - Dwight Yoakam
- Country Duo or Group - Hard Workin' Man - Brooks & Dunn
- Country Collaboration - Does He Love You - Reba McEntire & Linda Davis
- Country Song - Passionate Kisses - Lucinda Williams
- Bluegrass Album - Waitin' For the Hard Times to Go - Nashville Bluegrass Band
- Blues Traditional - Blues Summit - B.B. King
- Blues Contemporary - Feels Like Rain - Buddy Guy
- Folk Traditional - The Celtic Harp: A Tribute to Edward Bunting
- Folk Contemporary - Other Voices/Other Rooms - Nanci Griffith
- Reggae Album - Bad Boys - Inner Circle
- Historical - The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959 - Billie Holiday
- Short Form Video - Steam - Peter Gabriel
- Long Form Video - Ten Summoner's Tales - Sting
- 1995 - Grammy Awards
- Record of the Year, Female Pop Vocal - All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow
- Album of the Year - MTV Unplugged - Tony Bennett
- Song of the Year - Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
- New Artist - Sheryl Crow
- Male Pop Vocal - Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Elton John
- Pop Performance Duo or Group - I Swear - All-4-One
- Female Rock Vocal - Come to My Window - Melissa Etheridge
- Male Rock Vocal - Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
- Rock Performance Duo or Group - Crazy - Aerosmith
- Hard Rock Performance - Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
- Rock Album - Voodoo Lounge - Rolling Stones
- Metal Performance - Spoonman - Soundgarden
- Female R&B Vocal - Breathe Again - Toni Braxton
- Male R&B Vocal - When Can I See You - Babyface
- R&B Performance Duo or Group - I'll Make Love to You - Boyz II Men
- R&B Album - II - Boyz II Men
- Rap Solo - U.N.I.T.Y. - Queen Latifah
- Rap Duo or Group - None of Your Business - Salt-N-Pepa
- Female Country Vocal - Shut Up and Kiss Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Male Country Vocal - When Love Finds You - Vince Gill
- Duo or Group Country Performance - Blues for Dixie - Asleep at the Wheel & Lyle Lovett
- Country Album - Stones in the Road - Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Blues Traditional Album - From the Cradle - Eric Clapton
- Blues Contemporary Album - Father Father - Pops Staples
Broadcasts
- 1970 - Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) - Beatles (taped clips, last appearance)
- 1981 - Elvis & the Beauty Queen (NBC) (biopic)
- 2010 - How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Carrie Underwood
Number Ones - U.S. Singles
- 1947 - Managua, Nicaragua - Freddy Martin & His Orchestra (2 weeks)
- 1975 - Best of My Love - Eagles (1 week)
- 1986 - Kyrie - Mr. Mister (2 weeks)
- 1992 - To Be With You - Mr. Big (3 weeks)
Number Ones - U.S. Albums
- 1975 - Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan (2 weeks)
- 1986 - Welcome to the Real World - Mr. Mister (1 week)
- 1997 - Unchained Melody: The Early Years - LeAnn Rimes (1 week)
- 2014 - The Outsiders - Eric Church (1 week)
Number Ones - U.S. R&B Singles
- 1975 - Shame, Shame, Shame - Shirley & Company (1 week)
- 1980 - And the Beat Goes On - The Whispers (5 weeks)
Number Ones - U.S. Country Singles
- 1969 - To Make Love Sweeter For You - Jerry Lee Lewis (1 week)
- 1975 - It's Time to Pay the Fiddler - Cal Smith (1 week)
- 1980 - I Ain't Living Long Like This - Waylon Jennings (1 week)
- 1986 - You Can Dream of Me - Steve Wariner (1 week)
- 1997 - Running Out of Reasons to Run - Rick Trevino (1 week)
- 2008 - Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy) - Rodney Atkins (2 weeks)
- 2014 - Chillin' It - Cole Swindell (2 weeks)
Number Ones - U.S. Adult Contemporary Singles
- 1975 - Poetry Man - Phoebe Snow (1 week)
- 1980 - Daydream Believer - Anne Murray (1 week)
Number Ones - U.K. Singles
- 1980 - Atomic - Blondie (2 weeks)
- 2014 - Money On My Mind - Sam Smith (1 week)
Number Ones - U.K. Albums
- 1975 - On the Level - Status Quo (2 weeks)
- 1980 - String of Hits - Shadows (3 weeks)
- 1997 - Attack of the Grey Lantern - Mansun (1 week)
- 2003 - Justified - Justin Timberlake (1 week)
- 2008 - Join With Us - Feeling (1 week)
- 2014 - Bad Blood - Bastille (2 weeks)