Listen to the Rock History Report podcast:

Features Player

1959 - Today marks the day the music died. Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson were killed in an airplane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. The tragedy was immortalized in Don McLean's classic, “American Pie.”

1961 - In New York, Bob Dylan recorded his first song: “San Francisco Bay Blues.”

1966 - Paul McCartney checked out a then-15-year-old Stevie Wonder performing at Scotch of St. James’ Club in London. The former Beatle, taken with the piano wonder, even went backstage to meet the up and coming legend.

1973 - Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock” hit No. 1 on the American charts.

1976 - David Bowie began an American tour with a concert in Seattle, taking the stage for the first time as the Thin White Duke.

1982 - The J. Geils had a No. 1 chart topper with their hit, “Centerfold.”

1998 - Pearl Jam’s fifth album, Yield, was released, though it failed to top the Billboard 200 like its predecessors. The album peaked at No. 2.

Birthdays:

1943  Eric Haydock of The Hollies
1943  Dennis Edwards of The Temptations
1943  Shawn Phillips
1947  Dave Davies of The Kinks
1948  Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath
1957  Tony Butler of Big Country
1959  Lol Tolhurst of The Cure

© 2013 Cumulus Media