1985: Rock in Rio, a 10-day rock festival, kicks off in Rio de Janeiro. Before it’s over, it will attract 1.5 million music fans, making it the largest concert crowd ever. Headliners includes Queen, Rod Stewart, AC/DC and Yes (who all preform on multiple days. The event was so successful it’s been held 8 other times in Brazil as well as occurring in Lisbon (also 8 times), Madrid (3 times) & Las Vegas (once), all under the name “Rock in Rio.”

1949: RCA Victor announces a new format for recorded music, aimed at replacing the bulky 78 RPM singles that had been the industry standard – a 7-inch vinyl platter that plays at 45 RPM. The “45” would go on to become very important to the rise of rock ‘n’ roll just a few years later.

1979: An all-star concert benefiting UNICEF takes place in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Headlining the venue are the Bee Gees, ABBA, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Happy Birthday to the King and the Thin White Duke

1935: Elvis Presley

1947: David Bowie

Also born today:

1946: Robby Krieger (The Doors)

1947: Terry Sylvester (The Hollies)

1970: Max Yasgur the farmer who allowed his land to be the site of the Woodstock Music Festival is sued by his neighbors for $35,000 for damage to their property caused by festival attendees. Peace and love, my eye!

1975: Boston’s mayor Ken White cancels an upcoming Led Zeppelin concert when more than a thousand fans riot while waiting for advance tickets to go on sale. The fans cause $30,000 in damages.

1979: The double album soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever, largely featuring the music of the Bee Gees, reaches the 25 million copies mark, making it the best-selling album in history to that date.

1954: A young truck driver named Elvis Presley strolls into the Memphis Recording Service saying he wants to record a song for his mother's birthday (a dubious claim as it was still many months away). He records "Casual Love Affair" and "I’ll Never Stand in Your Way."

The owner of the studio, Sam Phillips, hears the recording and immediately calls Elvis back to record professionally for Phillips’ Sun Records.

1987: Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

1978: Rhino Records, an independent record store in L.A. releases its first album, “Wildman” by Wild Man Fisher. From that humble beginning, Rhino’s music & video releases today (all mainly in the “oldies” category) preserve much of our musical heritage.