1964: One of the legendary concerts in rock history took place on this day. Dubbed the Teen Age Music International or T.A.M.I. Show, the concert featured Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, James Brown, Lesley Gore, the Rolling Stones, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Supremes, Jan and Dean and Billy J. Kramer.

Tickets were given away for free (!) and the entire event was filmed. Stunningly, the film was an initial box office flop. Then, legal wrangling (mainly with the Beach Boys) kept the complete concert film from getting a decent home video release.

The complete film was finally released on home video in 2010 and is a “must-have” for any fan of the early days of rock music. Many consider James Brown’s performance to be amongst the best ever recorded. Also, if you watch the film closely, you will see a very young Teri Garr and Toni Basil shaking it up as background go-go dancers.

1975: With the release of Born to Run, his third album, Bruce Springsteen finally moved from critics’ darling to mainstream rock stardom. That effort received a considerable boost on this day, when the pride of the Jersey shore landed on the covers of both Time and Newsweek.

For the next year or so, Springsteen himself made fun of this by changing the lyrics of his popular song “Rosalita,” when he sang it in concert, to mention this momentous event.

1974: “Then Came You” hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is the first #1 pop hit for both Dionne Warwick (at the time, adding an extra “e” to the end of her name) and the Spinners.

Equally amazing, when first released, “Then Came You” was intended to be the B-side of a single. The record label initially was pushing “Just as Long as We Have Love” as the A-side.

1964: The Rolling Stones make their American television debut by appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show.

After Stones fans nearly trash the theater that is the show’s home, Ed Sullivan not only vows that the Stones will never appear again, he also tells reporters he will no longer book rock bands!

Rock bands soon return to The Ed Sullivan Show and the Stones also come back to make 5 more appearances.

1980: The Guinness Book of World Records presents a special rhodium record to the songwriter who has sold the most records ever. Paul McCartney is honored for having written 43 platinum-selling songs and having total sales in excess of 100 million.

1966: The Yardbirds take the stage of the Fillmore West in San Francisco, marking the first time their newly promoted rhythm guitarist is playing lead at a live gig.

The lucky lad stepping into his new position is named Jimmy Page.

1964: The mods’ favorite band, the High Numbers, fail their record audition with EMI. Within the year, they will change their name to the Who and successfully audition for Brunswick Records.

1971: Mick Jagger becomes a parent for the first time when his wife Bianca gives birth to Jade Jagger in Paris.

1977: Another sad day for rock and roll as three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zandt, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, die when their charter plane runs out of fuel and crash lands in a forest near Gillsburg, Mississippi. The rest of the band survives the crash, but are so shaken, they will not perform together again for another decade.

1964: A concert that would have a tremendous impact on British rock takes place at Fairfield Hall in Croydon, England.

The American Negro Blues Festival features Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Lightning Hopkins, Willie Dixon, and many more.

In attendance are many young Brits who will eventually become rock legends getting their first taste of live American blues.

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