1967 - At Abbey Road Studios in London, The Beatles mixed the new John Lennon song, "I Am the Walrus." Lennon composed the song by combining three songs he had been working on. When he learned that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyze Beatles' lyrics, Lennon added a verse of nonsense words.
1980 - Kurtis Blow released his self-titled debut release on Mercury Records - the first rap album on a major label.
1989 - While on a motorcycle trip from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon, Bruce Springsteen stopped in at a small saloon in Prescott, Ariz., and wound up jamming with the house band. The Boss and The Mile High Band burned through "Don't Be Cruel," "I'm On Fire," "Route 66" and a couple of other songs. One of the bartenders, Brenda Techanec, was talking about her problems paying her hospital bills. Springsteen overheard her and a week later she received $100,000 from Springsteen.
2013T - Ten million tune in to the finale of the TV series Breaking Bad, which ends with "Baby Blue," a 1971 song by Badfinger. The song represents lead character Walter White's love of his creation: blue methamphetamine. The song's original inspiration was about a long distance relationship. The 'Dixie" in the song was guitarist Pete Ham's girlfriend. (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
2018 - Blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Otis Rush died. His distinctive guitar style featured a slow-burning sound and long bent notes. His first single, 'I Can't Quit You Baby' (written by Willie Dixon) was adapted by Led Zeppelin on their debut. His song Double Trouble became the name of Stevie Ray Vaughn's band.
Birthdays:
America's singing cowboy, Gene Autry, was born today in 1907. He passed away in 1998.
Songwriter Tommy Boyce, whose hits include "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight," "Last Train to Clarksville," "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" and "Scooby Doo, Where Are You," was born today in 1939. He passed away in 1994.
"Great Balls of Fire" singer Jerry Lee Lewis is 86. In 1976, while enjoying his own birthday celebrations singer Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shot his bass player Norman Owens in the chest. Lewis had been blasting holes in an office door. Owens survived but sued his boss.
Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad is 73.
Mick Harvey of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds is 64.
Primus bass player Les Claypool is 58.
Halsey is 27.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.