1878: 75 years before the creation of rock ‘n’ roll, something happened that was extremely important in rock history. It was on this day that Thomas Edison and his assistants created the phonograph. It started out to be a telegraph repeater, but Edison’s assistant made some changes based on sketches supplied by Edison.

1968: With its founding leader, Syd Barrett, committed to a mental institution, Pink Floyd asks guitarist David Gilmour to be his replacement. As with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joining Fleetwood Mac, the move proves to be a resounding success.

1968: The San Francisco based band, Big Brother and the Holding Company with their lead singer, Janis Joplin, travels to New York for a gig at the Anderson Theater. Following their show, the band is signed by Columbia Records.

1963: The Beatles’ second single, “Please, Please Me,” becomes their first Top 10 record in the UK, something close to what their producer, George Martin, predicted during the recording session. Martin thought it would reach #1, but it stalls at #2.

Less than one year later, they will be holding down the #1 position on record charts all over the world.

1958: The phenomenal success of American Bandstand in the afternoons convinces ABC that Dick Clark should get a prime time series. The Dick Clark Show (sponsored by Beech-Nut Gum) debuts on this day with guests Pat Boone, Connie Francis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Willis, the Royal Teens and Johnnie Ray.

As you might expect, a lot of weddings took place on this day in rock history. Three that involved pop stars were:

1974: Daryl Dragon (aka “The Captain”) and Toni Tennile are married in Virginia City, Nevada

1980: Lou Reed marries Sylvia Morales in Greenwich Village, New York

1984: Elton John marries Renate Blauel in Sydney Australia

1981: Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” breaks the record (pun intended) for most consecutive weeks on Billboards Top 200 Album Chart, notching its 491^st week in a row. It would gone on (and on) from there, finally setting the record (still unmatched) at 741 weeks, leaving the charts (only to return shortly thereafter) in 1988.

The previous record holder? “Johnny Mathis’ Greatest Hits,” which took the title from “My Fair Lady” with the original Broadway cast.

1956: A heavily intoxicated Screamin’ Jay Hawkins records the classic “I Put a Spell on You.” The next morning, he wakes up totally unaware that he recorded anything the night before. The song goes on to become his biggest hit and an R&B/rock classic that’s been covered by many other artists.

Is it voodoo? Exactly 44 years to the day, Hawkins passes away.

1967: Due to increasing criticism about being a “manufactured” rock band, the Monkees announce that they will play their own instruments on future releases. While Mickey, Davy, Michael and Peter do gain more control over their records, session musicians will still lend a helping hand.

1974: Legendary (and now infamous) record producer Phil Spector is seriously burned in a car crash while driving from L.A. to Phoenix. He requires extensive plastic surgery which only increase his already serious reclusiveness.