1955 - The film Blackboard Jungle opened, with "Rock Around the Clock" under the opening credits. The song's inclusion in the film marked a turning point for rock 'n' roll, transforming the genre from a musical niche to a wide-ranging cultural phenomenon.
1962 - Bob Dylan's self-titled debut album was released in the United States. Initially, poor sales led the record to be known around Columbia Records as "Hammond's Folly" (John Hammond was producer of Dylan's early recordings and the man responsible for signing Dylan to the label). The album was praised by Village Voice as an "explosive country blues debut," but it featured only two Dylan original compositions, "Talkin' New York" and "Song To Woody," the rest being old folk standards.
1970 - David Bowie marries his first wife, Angela, who contrary to rumor, was not the subject of The Rolling Stones' song "Angie."
1974 - Jefferson Airplane renamed the group Jefferson Starship. The new line-up included Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, drummer Johnny Barbata, David Freiberg, Peter Kaukonen, Cragi Chaquico and Papa John Creach. They would later morph into Starship, singing 'We Built This City,' for which they will never be forgiven.
1975 - Oscar-winning director Ken Russell's movie adaptation of The Who's rock opera concept album Tommy is released. The movie is a great commercial and critical success: Star Ann-Margret and Who guitarist Pete Townshend are both nominated for Academy Awards. The lead role is played by Who singer Roger Daltrey, with the other members of the band also appearing in cameos, most notably Keith Moon as Tommy's abusive Uncle Ernie. Other stars appearing in the adaptation include Oliver Reed, Jack Nicholson, and musicians Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and Elton John - who only agreed to appear if he could keep his character's giant platform boots. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
1996 - Volume Two of The Beatles' Anthology series was released. It features rarities, outtakes and live performances from the 1965 sessions for Help! to the sessions just prior to their trip to India in February 1968, along with the song "Real Love," an old John Lennon demo track that the surviving members of the Fab Four had embellished. The song was first recorded by Lennon in 1977 with a handheld tape recorder on his piano at home. It originated as part of an unfinished stage play that Lennon was working on at the time entitled 'The Ballad of John and Yoko.'
1990 - Andrew Wood, lead singer of the bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone, died of a heroin overdose at the age of 24. Though Malfunkshun, formed in 1980, only had two songs released ("With Yo' Heart (Not Yo' Hands)" and "Stars-n-You"), they are often cited as being among the founding fathers of the Seattle grunge movement. Mother Love Bone formed in 1988, members of which would go on to form Pearl Jam.
In the wake of Wood's death, friends and former bandmates come together to remember him. Soundgarden's Chris Cornell pens the song "Say Hello 2 Heaven" in memory of Wood, and joins forces with Mother Love Bone members Ament and Gossard to form Temple of the Dog, along with Eddie Vedder, Matt Cameron, and Mike McCready. Their self-titled album is released in April 1991, and features "Say Hello 2 Heaven" as its second single, following "Hunger Strike."
Birthdays:
Paul Atkinson, guitarist with The Zombies, was born today in 1946.
Ricky Wilson, guitarist with The B-52's, was born today in 1953.
Terry Hall, lead singer of The Specials, is 62.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.