1965: The Beatles, a Saturday morning kids cartoon show debuts on ABC-TV. The show features the songs of the Fab Four, but not their actual voices. It runs for 3 seasons.

1988: It began with the singer waving a gun around in an office building. It ended after a one-hour, two-state car chase when police shoot out the two front tires of the singer’s pickup truck.

It was on this day that James Brown, one time “hardest working man in show business,” is carted off to jail and charged with assault, resisting arrest, illegal possession of a firearm, and (surprise, surprise) drugs.

Happy Rockin’ Birthday to:

1930: Ray Charles

1938: Ben E. King

1943: Steve Boone (Lovin’ Spoonful)

1947: Jerry Corbetta (Sugarloaf)

1949: Bruce Springsteen

1965: At a little coffee shop, known appropriately enough as The Coffee Gallery, a new rock group makes its debut. The group calls itself The Great Society.

The group’s lead singer is a young woman named Grace Slick.

1984: The compact disc, aka the CD, goes into production in the United States when CBS Records opens a plant in Terre Haute, Indiana. The first disc manufactured was Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

1969: With all due respect to Buddy Holly, for many of us in the Baby Boom, this is the day the music really died.

On this day 45 years ago, John Lennon tells the rest of the Beatles that he will be leaving the group. The announcement takes the other three by surprise. Paul McCartney proposes that the band start playing small clubs anonymously to recapture the feeling of unity they once had. Lennon will have none of it, reportedly telling Paul, "I think you’re daft. I want a divorce."

The band realizes they cannot go on without him, but agrees not to say anything until after the release of the Let It Be soundtrack. McCartney will break that agreement with his own announcement shortly thereafter.

1981: Simon & Garfunkel reunite on stage for the first time since 1970, playing a free concert in New York City’s Central Park.

The reunion concert is released on record and video and leads to a reunion tour. Of course, they will break again. And again. And again.

1970: A sad day for rock music as legendary innovative guitarist/singer/songwriter Jimi Hendrix dies in London of a drug overdose. He was only 27 years old.

He remains one of, if not the greatest guitarist in rock history.

1967: Recording an appearance on the CBS television program The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Keith Moon of the Who wants his bass drum to explode as a finale.

Unfortunately, a stagehand packs in way more explosives than necessary. The resulting explosion injures Moon’s leg and results in permanent hearing damage for Pete Townsend.