1969 - The Band released their self-titled album that included "Rag Mama Rag," "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." In 2009, the album was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry because it was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and reflects life in the United States."
1979 - Joe Walsh announces his bid for the US presidency (he obviously doesn't win). Walsh ran as a write-in candidate with his "Free Gas For Everyone" campaign. He also promised that if he won, he would make his hit song "Life's Been Good" the new national anthem. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for Coachella)
1985 - The first Farm Aid benefit concert was held before a crowd of 80,000 people at the Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. Organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, the event had been spurred on by Bob Dylan's comments at Live Aid earlier in that year that he hoped some of the money would help American farmers. I was there broadcasting from the press box for Mix 94.5 - Champaign/Urbana, IL
1990 - Nirvana played their biggest gig to date when they appeared at the Motor Sports International Garage in Seattle. Drummer Dave Grohl who would audition for the band in a few days time was in the audience of 15,000 people.
1994 - Friends debuts on NBC, accompanied by a catchy theme song (I'll Be There For You") by The Rembrandts that becomes an unexpected hit.
2015 - A U.S. District Judge ruled that the original copyright to "Happy Birthday" was invalid and the song would now be entirely in the public domain. The copyright was obtained by the Clayton F. Summy Co. from the song's writers, sisters Mildred and Patty Hill, and bought for $15 million in 1988 by Warner / Chappell Music Inc.
Birthdays:
Deep Purple and Whitesnake vocalist David Coverdale is 70.
Debby Boone is 65.
Nick Cave is 64.
Andrea Bocelli is 63.
Joan Jett is 63.
Will Farquarson guitarist for Bastille is 38.
Christian Wargo guitarist for Fleet Foxes is 45.
On this Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Song Facts, Live Science, and Wikipedia.