1963 - When The Beatles play The Royal Variety Performance in London in front of an audience that includes the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, John Lennon says, "Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands. All the rest of you, rattle your jewelry."
1970 - David Bowie released his third studio album, The Man Who Sold the World in the US - the first with the nucleus of what would become the "Spiders from Mars", backing band. Even though it contained no hits, The Man Who Sold the World, for most intents and purposes, was the beginning of David Bowie's classic period. It is almost all hard blues-rock or psychedelic folk-rock -- but there's an unsettling edge to the band's performance, which makes the record one of Bowie's best albums. (Photo credit BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images)
1972 - Johnny Nash started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I Can See Clearly Now.' Nash was from Texas, but had legitimate reggae credentials: Bob Marley was an assistant producer and session player on the album. A cover by Jimmy Cliff became a hit as well.
1977 - The Last Waltz, the movie of The Bands final concert premiered in New York. The Martin Scorsese movie also featured Joni Mitchell, Dr John, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton. Considered one of the all-time great concert movies.
1983 - Paul Simon releases Hearts and Bones, his sixth solo album. The title track is about his new bride, the actress Carrie Fisher. at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Kingston, converting to a Christian Rastafarian and taking on the new name Berhane Selassie.
The album was conceived as a Simon & Garfunkel. With the working title Think Too Much, it's a widely anticipated return for the duo that doesn't materialize when Simon decides to make it a solo effort.
Birthdays:
1940 - Delbert McClinton
1954 - Chris Difford, founding member of Squeeze.
1957 - James Honeyman-Scott, original member of the Pretenders.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from Allmusic, This Day In Music, Songfacts, and Wikipedia.