1958 : The first ever Gold Record is awarded for sales of a million copies. It goes to Perry Como’s “Catch A Falling Star.”

1958 : No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: The Champs’ Tequila

1960 : Sam Cooke begins an unprecedented tour of the West Indies with a concert in Jamaica’s Montego Bay.

1963 : Cliff Richard and The Shadows were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Summer Holiday.’ Taken from the film of the same name, it became Richards’ seventh UK No.1 single.

1963 : Gerry Marsden of The Pacemakers sneaks a custom-made guitar purchased in Germany through British customs and is fined sixty pounds.

1963 : On a UK tour with Chris Montez and Tommy Roe, The Beatles appeared at the Gaumont Cinema, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. For the third night in a row, John Lennon, suffering from a bad cold, was unable to perform.

1964 : Billboard Magazine reports that Beatles records make up 60% of all singles sold.

1964 : The Beatles’ Twist And Shout enters the charts

1964 : For the first time in British recording history, all Top Ten singles in the UK were by British acts. No.1 was ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’ by Cilla Black, No.2 – ‘Bits and Pieces’ by The Dave Clark Five, No.3 – ‘Little Children’ by Billy J Kramer, No.4 – ‘Diane’ by The Bachelors, No.5 – ‘Not Fade Away’ by The Rolling Stones, No.6 – ‘Just One Look’ by The Hollies, No.7 – ‘Needles and Pins’ by The Searchers, No.8 – ‘I Think Of You’ by The Merseybeats, No.9 – ‘Boys Cry’ by Eden Kane, and No. 10 – ‘Let Me Go Lover’ by Kathy Kirby.

1965 : Petula Clark makes her American TV debut singing “Downtown” and “I Know A Place” on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show.

1968 : The promotional film for ‘Lady Madonna’ was broadcast in black and white on Top Of The Pops on UK television. The video portion of the film clip was shot while The Beatles were performing the song ‘Hey Bulldog’, but the ‘Lady Madonna’ audio track was paired with the video for the promo release.

1969 : The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded a live concert for ‘Fan Club’, the Dutch TV show in Amsterdam, Holland.

1970 : John Lennon’s Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) hits #1

1970 : The Supremes’ Up The Ladder To The Roof enters the charts

1972 : Carole King’s Tapestry takes Album of The Year at the Grammy Awards. Carly Simon wins for best new artist.

1974 : Stevie Wonder announces his intention to move to Ghana, Africa. He wouldn’t actually move there for 21 years.

1980 : On the occasion of his forty-seventh birthday, Quincy Jones is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine.

1981 : Eric Clapton was hospitalised with bleeding ulcers causing a US tour to be cancelled. He was back in hospital five weeks later after being involved in a car crash.

1982 : Metallica made their live debut when they appeared at Radio City in Anaheim, California.

1983 : Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Alec John Such formed Bon Jovi. Their fourth album, New Jersey, released in 1988, is notable for producing five Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 singles, the most top ten hits to date from a hard rock album.

1998 : A few weeks after winning a Grammy for Best Country Album, Johnny Cash’s record company takes out a full page ad in Billboard featuring an old photo of Cash flipping the bird, and the text: “American Recordings and Johnny Cash would like to acknowledge the Nashville music establishment and country radio for your support.”

2001 : Peter Blake, who designed The Beatles classic Sgt. Pepper album cover sued the group’s record company for more money. Blake was paid $340 for the famous figures in 1967, but was now ‘cheesed off’ that EMI had never offered to pay more money.

2005 : In New York City, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts Percy Sledge, The O’Jays, U2, Buddy Guy, and The Pretenders.

2006 : U2 topped Rolling Stone magazine’s annual list of the year’s biggest money earners from 2005 with $154.2m. The Rolling Stones were listed second with $92.5m and The Eagles third with 63.2m. Paul McCartney was in fourth place with $56m and Elton John in fifth with $48.9m.

2011 : Long neglected Neil Diamond is finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Dr. John, Darlene Love and Leon Russell.