1965 - Bob Dylan's single "Subterranean Homesick Blues" was released in the U.S. The lyrics resemble a stream of consciousness, a writing technique championed by beat poets such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, both of whom were a major influence on Dylan. Musically, Dylan told the LA Times the song was inspired by Chuck Berry: "It's from Chuck Berry, a bit of 'Too Much Monkey Business' and some of the scat songs of the forties."
Subterranean Homesick Blues is also noted for its innovative film clip, in what became one of the first 'modern' promotional film clips. The clip was shot in an alley behind the Savoy Hotel in London, the cue cards which Dylan holds were written by Donovan, Allen Ginsberg, and Dylan himself.
1969 - Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary" hits #2 on the Hot 100, where it stays for three weeks. It's the first of five CCR singles to reach the runner-up spot on the chart without ever hitting #1.
1969 - The Small Faces split up after singer Steve Marriott announced he was leaving the band. Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones linked up with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart and formed The Faces.
1973 - Paul McCartney was fined $170 for growing cannabis at his farm in Campbeltown, Scotland. McCartney claimed some fans gave the seeds to him and that he didn't know what they would grow. Good story, stick to it...
1973 - Ron "Pigpen" McKernan died aged 27 from liver failure brought on by alcohol poisoning. He was a founding member and keyboard player with the Grateful Dead and played in the group from 1965 to 1972. Unlike the other members of the Grateful Dead, McKernan avoided psychedelic drugs, preferring to drink alcohol (namely whiskey and flavored fortified wine). By 1971, his health had been affected by alcoholism and liver damage and doctors advised him to stop touring.
1994 - Two seminal albums from the '90s are released: Soundgarden's Superunknown, which featured "Black Hole Sun" and Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral, which featured Hurt, later covered by Johnny Cash.. They enter the albums chart at #1 and #2, respectively. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
2016 - Record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer and musician, Sir George Martin died aged 90. He worked as EMI records in-house record producer and became known as the so-called fifth Beatle. Martin produced all but one of The Beatles albums.
Birthdays:
George Michael "Micky" Dolenz, singer and drummer for The Monkees, is 77.
Randy Meisner, Poco and The Eagles, is 76.
Singer/songwriter Carole Bayer Sager is 75.
Gary Numan, is 63.
Shawn Mullins is 54.
Gareth "Gaz" Coombes, lead singer for Supergrass, is 46.
Tom Chaplin of Keane is 43.
On this Day In Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.