1969 - Johnny Cash released the single, 'A Boy Named Sue', a song written by Shel Silverstein. Cash was at the height of his popularity when he recorded the song live at California's San Quentin State Prison at a concert on February 24, 1969. The song tells the tale of a young man's quest for revenge on a father who abandoned him at 3 years of age and whose only contribution to his entire life was naming him Sue.
1977 - Elvis Costello was arrested as he performed outside a CBS Records sales conference at The London Hilton Hotel. He was hoping to interest record executives into giving him an American record deal. He’s fined 5 pounds, but CBS invites him to play a proper audition.
1977 - Led Zeppelin cut short their 11th North American tour after Robert Plant's five-year-old-son Karac died unexpectedly of a virus at their home in England. Led Zeppelin never again play in the United States.
1990 - Brent Mydland from The Grateful Dead was found dead on the floor of his home aged 38 from a drug overdose. His eleven-year tenure was longer than that of any other keyboardist in the band.
2013 - Oklahoma guitarist J.J. Cale, died at age 74. With his laid-back rootsy style, J.J. Cale was best-known for writing "After Midnight" and "Cocaine," songs that Eric Clapton later made into hits. But Cale's influence wasn't only through songwriting -- his distinctly loping sense of rhythm and shuffling boogie became the blueprint for the roots rock of Clapton and Mark Knopfler, among others. Cale's songs have been covered by everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd and Clapton to Neil Young and the Allman Brothers, to Beck, John Mayer, and Band of Horses, to name a few, and have been used extensively in film and television.
2015 - In a field just outside of Cesena, Italy, 1000 musicians and singers play Foo Fighters "Learn to Fly" simultaneously with the dream of attracting the band to play a show in their city for the first time in nearly 20 years. In a true storybook ending, on November 3, Foo Fighters take the stage at Nuova Teatro Calisport in Cesena.
2020 - Guitarist Peter Green died in his sleep age 73. As the founder of Fleetwood Mac, his songs, such as 'Albatross', 'Black Magic Woman', and 'Oh Well', became world wide hits. Green left the band in 1970 as he struggled with his mental health. Green had been experimenting with acid and his behavior became increasingly irrational, especially after he disappeared for three days of rampant drug use in Munich. He became very religious, appearing on-stage wearing crucifixes and flowing robes. When an accountant sent him an unwanted royalty check, Green confronted his tormentor with a gun, although it was unloaded. He went to jail briefly before being transferred to an asylum.
Birthdays
Darlene Love is 80.
Mick Jagger is 78. As the lead singer for the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger virtually invented the concept of the rock & roll frontman. Taking his cues from soul singers, bluesmen, and Elvis Presley, Jagger crafted a magnetic, carnal persona that retained its charisma even after it was mimicked and expanded by countless singers who followed in his footsteps. In 2003 he was knighted for his services to popular music. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)
Dobie Gray, 'Drift' Away' singer, was born on this day in 1942.
Roger Taylor, drummer from Queen, is 72.
Betty Davis an American funk and soul singer is 76
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Song Facts, Allmusic, and Wikipedia.