1963 - In less than 10 hours, The Beatles recorded 10 new songs for their first album, plus four other tracks which would be the next two singles. John Lennon's vocal on the cover of The Isley Brothers' "Twist & Shout" was recorded in one take to complete the album.
1964 - The Beatles made their live concert debut in the US at the Washington Coliseum. Over 350 police surrounded the stage to keep the 8,000 plus screaming fans in control. One police officer who found the noise so loud stuck a bullet in each ear as ear plugs.
1977 - David Bowie released "Sound and Vision" as a single, which was taken from his latest album Low. The song is notable for juxtaposing an upbeat guitar and synthesizer instrumental track with Bowie's minimalistic, withdrawn lyrics. The music on Low, part of the "Berlin Trilogy" is grounded in art rock and experimental rock, and features Bowie's first explorations in electronic and ambient styles. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
2012 - Whitney Houston was found dead at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, submerged in the bathtub. The coroner ruled the cause of death an accidental drowning.
Birthdays:
Gerry Goffin was born on this day in 1939. He, with his then-wife Carole King, wrote many big hits of the 1960s, including The Shirelles' "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", The Drifters' "Up On The Roof", The Chiffons' "One Fine Day" and Herman's Hermits' "I'm Into Something Good". Goffin died in 2014 at the age of 76.
Bobby 'Boris' Pickett, who had the 1962 No. 1 single "Monster Mash" was born on this day in 1940.
Otis Clay, R&B and soul singer who recorded the original version of 'The Only Way Is Up', was born on this day in 1942.
Alan Rubin (aka Mr. Fabulous), a member of the Saturday Night Live Band, and the Blues Brothers band, was born on this day in 1953.
Sheryl Crow is 59. She works as an elementary school music teacher before landing a gig a backing vocalist on Michael Jackson's Bad World Tour in 1987.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.