On This Day …

1813 – Composer Stephen Heller was born.
1567 – Composer Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi was born.
1938 – Guy Lombardo and his orchestra recorded “Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride.”
1970 – “Close to You,” the Carpenter’s second album, was released.
1971 – Two short films by John Lennon were shown at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
1974 – Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones) released his first solo album, “Monkey Grip.” It was the first solo effort by a member of the Rolling Stones.
1984 – Nils Lofgren replaced “Miami” Steve Van Zandt in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
1985 – Prince released the single “Raspberry Beret.”
2009 – Eminem released his 5th studio album “Relapse.”

On This Day …

1714 – Composer Gottfried August Homilius was born.
1937 – Guy Lombardo and his orchestra recorded “Boo Hoo.”
1949 – The first 45 RPM record was released.
1956 – The Coaster signed with Atlantic Records.
1957 – Fats Domino sang “Blueberry Hill” and “Blue Monday” on the “Perry Como Show” on television.
1959 – Frankie Avalon’s “Venus” was released.
1959 – The Coasters song, “Charlie Brown,” was released.
1963 – The Beatles began their first British tour supporting Helen Spapiro.
1978 – Van Halen signed with Warner Brothers Records.
1979 – At the age of 21, ex-Sex Pistol bass player Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in the New York City apartment of his present girlfriend, Michelle Robinson.
1999 – Prince released “1999 New Master.” It was a re-release and re-done version of the 1982 version of the song “1999.”

On This Day …

1894 – Composer Ernest John Moeran was born.
1904 – Composer Nathan Milstein was born.
1923 – Singer Eddie Cantor opened in the lead role of “Kid Boots.”
1929 – Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played “Auld Lang Syne” as a New Year’s Eve song for the first time.
1961 – The Beach Boys played a show under this name for the first time at a Ritchie Valens memorial concert in Long Beach, CA.
1969 – Jimi Hendrix introduced his new Band of Gypsys at a show that was recorded and later released as the live album “Band of Gypsys.”
1971 – The Beatles broke up.
1971 – David Clayton-Thomas made his last appearance with Blood, Sweat & Tears (until their reunion).
1975 – Elvis Presley performed for 60,000 fans at the Silverdome, in Pontiac, MI. He set a world record for earning $800,000 for a single concert by a single artist.
1976 – The Cars gave their debut performance at Pease Air Force Base, Portsmouth, NH.
1978 – The Bauhaus gave their performance debut in England.
1981 – MTV hosted the first New Year’s Eve Rock and Roll Ball.
1983 – MTV completed its first profitable quarter.
1993 – Barbra Streisand performed her first paid concert in 22 years at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, NV.
1999 – “Rave Un2 The Joy 2000” was aired. Prince had recorded the show on December 18, 1999 at Paisley Park Studios.