August 16

1977: Elvis Presley dies at home at Graceland at age forty-two.  He had 118 songs make the Top 40 and 18 #1s. The first #1 was Heartbreak Hotel in 1956 and the last #1 was Suspicious Minds in 1969.

1969: Day 2 of Woodstock features performances by The Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin and Santana. A memorable moment comes while The Who’s are on stage, when political activist Abbie Hoffman interrupts their set and grabs the microphone. In response, Pete Townshend hits Hoffman with his guitar, forcing him off the stage.

1969: The Guess Who’s These Eyes is certified gold.

1968: The Jackson 5 play their first live gig, opening for Diana Ross and the Supremes at the Forum in Los Angeles.

1968: The Beatles record While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

1966: The Monkees release Last Train To Clarksville.

1964: Peter, Paul, and Mary release If I Had A Hammer.

1962: Pete Best is fired as the Beatles’ drummer and is replaced by Ringo Starr.

1958: Madonna (Madonna Louise Ciccone) is born. She will become the best-selling female singer of all time.  Her first #1 was Like A Virgin.  Other #1s include Like A Prayer, Take A Bow and Vogue.

1957: The Everly Brothers record Wake Up Little Susie.

1957: Buddy Holly & The Crickets begin a six-night engagement at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater, the first white rock act to play the venue.

1938: Blues legend Robert Johnson dies three day after being poisoned. He was twenty-seven.

Songs of The Day:

Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley); Suspicious Minds (Elvis Presley); These Eyes (The Guess Who); While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Beatles); Last Train To Clarksville (Monkees); Like A Virgin (Madonna); Like A Prayer (Madonna); Vogue (Madonna); Wake Up Little Suzie (Everly Brothers)