| 107 | years ago | 1919 | Folk singer Pete Seeger is born. |
| 98 | years ago | 1928 | James Brown is born. |
| 90 | years ago | 1936 | Engelbert Humperdinck is born. |
| 89 | years ago | 1937 | Frankie Valli, lead singer of the Four Seasons, is born. |
| 75 | years ago | 1951 | Christopher Cross is born. |
| 68 | years ago | 1958 | Outside the Boston Arena after a show hosted by Alan Freed, teenagers allegedly attack policemen with stones and bottles. There are several injuries and the press calls it a “riot.” Over the next several days, authorities will claim that stabbings, looting, rapes, and narcotics were also involved. Police blame Freed, saying it was his remark during the show, “The police don't want you to have any fun here.” Freed counters that the police had been hostile to both him and audience. |
| 67 | years ago | 1959 | Soft Cell's David Ball is born. |
| 59 | years ago | 1967 | The New York Times reports on a “Cosmic Love In” heard at New York City's Village theater, which would some become the Fillmore East. |
| 58 | years ago | 1968 | The Beach Boys open a 17-date tour of the U.S. with a show in New York. The second half of the concert is given over to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who lectures on “spiritual regeneration.” The audiences reaction is so negative, more than half of the tour dates are cancelled. |
| 57 | years ago | 1969 | Canadian Mounties nab Jimi Hendrix at Toronto's International Airport for possession of narcotics. He is released on $10,000 bail. |
| 55 | years ago | 1971 | New York City's Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center announces it will begin presenting rock, pop, and jazz concerts as well as its usual classical fare. Among the first non-classical artists booked are Carole King, Kris Kristofferson, and Gordon Lightfoot. |
| 55 | years ago | 1971 | Grand Funk Railroad “consents” to meet the press, which has never treated the group with respect despite its string of gold records. 150 reporters are invited to New York's Gotham Hotel, but only six show up, ensuring more strained relations with the press. |
| 50 | years ago | 1976 | Paul McCartney makes his first concert appearance in America in almost ten years as the Wings commence their Wings over America tour in Fort Worth, Texas. |
| 50 | years ago | 1976 | Paul Simon organizes a benefit show at Madison Square Garden for the financially troubled New York Public Library. Phoebe Snow, Jimmy Cliff and the Brecker Brothers pitch in for the concert, which brings in over $30,000 for the institution. |
| 48 | years ago | 1978 | FM, a film about the battle between progressives and regressives at a radio station, debuts in Los Angeles. The soundtrack features Steely Dan, Steve Miller, The Eagles, Neil Young, Billy Joel, and Warren Zevon. More people get their hands on the soundtrack than see the film. |
| 18 | years ago | 2008 | 15-year-old Miley Cyrus returns to a stage in Orlando to perform songs for a Disney Channel special. She says nothing about the controversy over her recent Vanity Fair portrait |
| 18 | years ago | 2008 | Rolling Stones and Sea Level keyboardist Chuck Leavell entertains graduates of Central Michigan University at commencement activities, where he receives an honorary Doctor of Music degree. As a life lesson, he asks the graduates, “What’s the difference between a municipal bond and a musician? A municipal bond matures and makes money,” is his answer. |