1954 - A single that proved to be a turning point in popular music, "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & The Comets, was released. There is some dispute over what was the first rock song ever recorded (The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame says it's Rocket 88, which Haley covered in 1951), but this is indisputably the first rock song to top the charts, and generally considered the beginning of the "Rock Era," at least for chart purposes.
1967 - Because of the line, "I'd love to turn you on," the BBC bans The Beatles song "A Day In The Life," claiming it may promote drug use.
1997 - Foo Fighters released their second album The Colour And The Shape. Primarily inspired by Grohl's divorce from photographer Jennifer Youngblood in 1996. The album's track listing was designed to resemble a therapy session. 'Colour' in the album title is spelled with the British spelling. This was a nod to producer Gil Norton, who is British. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for DIRECTV)
1998 - Frank Sinatra's funeral was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, Calif. Among those paying their respects were Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
2012 - Robin Gibb, one-third of the Bee Gees and a singer-songwriter who helped to turn disco into a global phenomenon by providing the core of the soundtrack to 'Saturday Night Fever', died from cancer at age 62.
2013 - Ray Manzarek, keyboard player and founder member of the The Doors, died at age 74.
2015 - The Rolling Stones played a surprise gig at the 1,300-capacity Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles during which they performed the entire Sticky Fingers album. The audience included Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Harry Styles, Leonard Cohen and Patricia Arquette.
2016 - The National release an anthology album of 59 Grateful Dead covers called Day of the Dead, with appearances by Lucinda Williams, Bruce Hornsby, Courtney Barnett and Wayne Coyne. Proceeds go to the Red Hot Organization, which helps fight AIDS.
Birthdays:
Cher is 75.
Joe Cocker was born today in 1944. Cocker lived in Crawford, Colorado.
Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's is 63.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.