1962 - Less than three months before her death, Marilyn Monroe makes one of her last public appearances at President John F. Kennedy's 45th birthday celebration, where she famously sings "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" in his honor.
1972 - Elton John releases Honky Chateau, which includes "Rocket Man." It becomes his first #1 album in America, igniting a run of six consecutive chart toppers.
1973 - Paul Simon released the single 'Kodachrome' named after the Kodak 35mm film Kodachrome which became a No.2 hit in the US. It was not released as a single in Britain, because the BBC would not play the trademarked name.
1976 - Rolling Stone Keith Richards crashed his car near Newport Pagnell, Bucks, after falling asleep at the wheel; marijuana and cocaine were found by the police resulting in another fine for the guitarist. Keith...
1978 - Dire Straits released their first major label single 'Sultans Of Swing', recorded on a $170.00 budget. The song was first recorded as a demo at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977, and quickly acquired a following after it was put on rotation at Radio London. As the story goes, Mark Knopfler was in Ipswich on a rainy night. He ducked into a bar where a mediocre band was closing out the night to an audience that was maybe four or five drunks unaware of their surroundings. The hapless band ended their set with the lead singer announcing, with no apparent irony, "Goodnight and thank you. We are the sultans of swing."
1986 - Former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel transitions from cult performer to pop star with the release of his fifth solo album, So, which includes the hit single "Sledgehammer."
1996 - Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, Peter Frampton and Cypress Hill appear on the "Homerpalooza" episode of The Simpsons.
Birthdays:
1945 - Pete Townshend, The Who. Townshend became known for his eccentric stage style swinging his right arm against the guitar strings in a windmill style, often smashing guitars on stage. Although known primarily as a guitarist, he also plays keyboards, banjo, accordion, harmonica, ukulele, mandolin, violin, synthesiser, bass guitar, and drums. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
1948 - Jamaican singer, songwriter, supermodel Grace Jones, who scored the hits, 'Slave To The Rhythm' and the hit 'Pull Up to the Bumper'.
1949 - Dusty Hill, bass, keyboardist, and co-vocalist with ZZ Top. Along with his brother Rocky Hill and future fellow ZZ Top member Frank Beard, Hill played in local Dallas bands the Warlocks, the Cellar Dwellers, and American Blues.
1952 - Jeffrey Hyman, (Joey Ramone), from American punk rock band Ramones. They are often cited as the first band to define the punk rock sound. At first, he's the drummer, but he becomes the lead singer when Dee Dee struggles to sing and play bass at the same time. He died on 15th April 2001 after losing a long battle with lymphatic cancer aged 49. On November 30, 2003, a block of East 2nd Street in New York City was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day In Music History and Songfacts.