1997: Elton John’s tribute to Lady Diana, a reworking of his tribute to Marilyn Monroe, “Candle in the Wind” goes on sale and racks up sales of 600,000 copies on its first day in England alone. It goes on to eclipse Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” as the best-selling single of all-time.

1968: Just two years after the Monkees proved you could create a popular rock band artificially, CBS debuts the Saturday morning show The Archies, based on the popular, long-running comic book characters.

The idea was to avoid previous problems that arose when the Monkees actually demanded more control of their records. By using cartoon characters, musical producer Don Kirshner guaranteed he’d never face another mutiny in the recording studio.

1990: In a sign that the times really have “a-changed,” Bob Dylan performs for the cadets at the West Point Military Academy. And yes, he does perform his scathing anti-war song “Masters of War.”

During the concert, the cadets also engage in an impromptu singalong with Dylan on his other anti-war classic “Blowin’ in the Wind.”

1966: NBC debuts a new sitcom, one that also includes musical numbers. The Monkees is broadcast for the first time. The idea of a show built around rock & roll music is off-putting to the management of several NBC affiliates who pass on carrying the broadcast.

Just one week later, “Last Train to Clarksville” hits the top of the American charts and the show does very well in the markets that carry it. Most of the affiliates who passed on the show, now decide they will air it after all.

1967: The Beatles beginning filming their first project that flops – the ill-fated Magical Mystery Tour. The specially chartered, psychedelic bus is two hours late. The band and the rest of the entourage spend most of the day gathering film footage that proves unusable.

Perhaps, they should have taken that as an omen.

1977: Bing Crosby issues a surprising invitation to British rock singer David Bowie to appear on what would prove to be Der Bingle’s last Christmas TV special. Bing proposes they sing a duet on the show.

1956: This is the day Elvis Presley made that famous appearance of The Ed Sullivan Show. Everyone remembers that Elvis was shot only from the waist up, lest his hip-swiveling action corrupt the youth of America and scandalize their elders. A then-record 54 million Americans were watching (83% of the country’s TV sets are tuned to the show).

The next day, advance orders for “Love Me Tender” (performed on the show) shot through the roof, causing RCA Victor to rush the single out two weeks ahead of schedule.

What no one remembers is that Ed Sullivan did NOT host that show. He was ill. Actor Charles Laughton was the emcee that night.

1956: One of the founding fathers of rock ‘n’ roll, Eddie Cochran signs his only recording contract on this day – a one year deal with Liberty Records.

1978: On this day we lost the Who’s great drummer, Keith Moon. He died of an overdose of a sedative doctors had prescribed to ease his withdrawal from alcohol.

1970: Jimi Hendrix performs for an audience for the last time. He headlines the Open Air Love and Peace Festival in Fehmarn, Germany. Less than two weeks later, he will be gone.