1963: An estimated 250,000 people attended the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington D.C., which advocated for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. In addition to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial calling for an end to racism, musicians Peter, Paul & Mary performed along with Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Odetta, Mahalia Jackson, and Marian Anderson.

1964: After arriving by helicopter, the Beatles took the stage at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York in front of over 16,000 fans for the first of two days performing at the tennis stadium. Later, the band stayed at the Delmonico Hotel on Park Avenue near Central Park. According to their press officer, Derek Taylor, the hotel had received 200,000 incoming calls during their stay. Outside, fans crowded outside, held back by barricades. Police patrolled the building’s corridors, and no one was permitted to visit the Beatles’ sixth floor suite without authorization. Among the group’s guests at the Delmonico included Peter, Paul & Mary, the Kingston Trio, radio DJ Murray the K, and Bob Dylan, who introduced most of the Beatles to cannabis. Wary of the police and room service, the Beatles, Dylan, road manager Victor Maymudes, mutual friend and writer Al Aronowitz, Brian Epstein, Mal Evans, and road manager Neil Aspinall retreated to the bedroom to smoke.

1964: The Miracles released “That’s What Love Is Made Of” from their UK-only album, I Like It Like That.

1965: The Rolling Stones signed a five year deal with Decca Records, brought about by American businessman Allen Klein, who, after meeting the band three days earlier, had signed on to co-manage the group alongside Andrew Loog Oldham. The Stones later broke with Klein five years later after mounting disputes led to litigation and accusations that included withholding royalty payments, stealing publishing rights, and neglecting to pay taxes. In 1969, Klein also became the manager of the Beatles, who, by the early 1970s, also felt they had been deceived by Klein’s business practices. To this day, the Stones’ Decca catalog is currently owned by Klein’s ABKCO label.

1967: The Young Rascals released “How Can I Be Sure,” the final single from the group’s third studio album, Groovin’. It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 in Canada.

1968: The Beach Boys achieved their second and final #1 on the UK singles chart with “Do It Again.”

1968: At Trident Studios in London’s Soho district, the Beatles—minus drummer Ringo Starr, who’d temporarily walked out on the group six days earlier—began recording “Dear Prudence,” with Paul McCartney playing drums.

1970: “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5 was released as the lead single from their third studio album.

1971: Aretha Franklin began three weeks at the top of Billboard’s R&B chart with her version of the Ben E. King song, “Spanish Harlem.”

1971: Canada’s Five Man Electrical Band’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, “Signs,” peaked at #3. It was the group’s only top 10 hit in the US and first of three singles to enter the top 10 in Canada.

1973: Marvin Gaye released his thirteenth studio album, “Let’s Get It On.”

1974: Mike Oldfield released his second studio album, Hergest Ridge, named after the border area between England and Wales where he retreated to after the unexpected success of his debut album, Tubular Bells. Like his first album, Hergest Ridge also reached #1 on the UK chart.

1983: The Moody Blues released The Present, their eleventh studio album and second with keyboardist Patrick Moraz, in the UK. Less than a week later the LP was issue in the US.

1984: Stevie Wonder’s soundtrack to the film The Woman in Red was released.

1986: Cyndi Lauper released “True Colors,” the lead single and title track from her second studio album.

1989: The Beach Boys released their twenty-sixth studio album, Still Cruisin’.

1978: Akron, Ohio band Devo released their debut studio album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!. It later reached #78 on the Billboard pop chart and #12 in the UK.

1982: Marshall Crenshaw had his only top 40 hit on the US pop charts when “Someday, Someway” peaked at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1993: Billy Joel’s twelfth studio album, River of Dreams, debuted at #1 on the Billboard pop chart.

1995: Morrissey released his fifth studio album, Southpaw Grammar.

Birthdays Today

Billy Grammar, country singer, songwriter, and guitarist, was born in Benton, IL in 1925.

Joe Osborn, bassist and session musician with Los Angeles group the Wrecking Crew and Nashville group the A-Team who contributed to records by The Mamas & the Papas, The Association, The Grass Roots, The 5th Dimension, Simon & Garfunkel, America, Nancy Sinatra, and Neil Diamond, was born in Mound, LA in 1937.

Clem Cattini, drummer for the Tornados and Johnny Kidd & the Pirates who, as a session musician, played on hundreds of recordings by artists such as Cliff Richard, Dusty Springfield, Bee Gees, Jeff Beck, the Hollies, Tom Jones, the Yardbirds, Marc Bolan, Joe Cocker, Paul McCartney, Lou Reed, and played on 42 UK #1 singles, was born in Stoke Newington, North London, England in 1937.

Ivy Jo Hunter, Motown songwriter, producer, singer, and session musician, was born George Ivy Hunter in 1940.

Joseph Shabalala, founder and musical director of choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo who collaborated with Paul Simon on his Graceland album, was born Bhekizizwe Joseph Siphatimandla Mxoveni Mshengu Bigboy Shabalala in Ladysmith, South Africa in 1941.

Honey Lantree, drummer for the Honeycombs, was born Anne Lantree in Hayes, Middlesex, England in 1943.

Danny Seraphine, drummer and founding member of Chicago, was born in Chicago, IL in 1948.

Martin Lamble, drummer for Fairport Convention from 1967-1969, was born in St. John’s Wood, London, England in 1949.

Hugh Cornwell, singer-songwriter and original lead vocalist and guitarist for the Stranglers from 1974-1990, was born in Tufnell Park, North London, England in 1949.

Florence Welch, singer, songwriter, producer, and frontwoman for Florence + the Machine, was born in Camberwell, London, England in 1986.