Another week of Rock & Roll History:
Some pretty big accolades occurred:
In 1955, RCA demonstrates the first music synthesizer at Colombia University.
Elvis Presley’s ”Heartbreak Hotel” was released AND he made his first TV appearance in 1956.
The Shirelles’ 1961 song ”Will You Love Me Tomorrow” hit #1
In 1970, The Jackson 5’s ”I Want You Back” hits #1
KISS played their first show at the Coventry Club in Queens New York in 1973
The Ohio Players’ ”Love Rollercoaster” hits #1 in 1976
In 1977, Rose Royce’s “Car Wash” hits #1 in America.
Prince made his TV debut on American Bandstand in 1980, performing “Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad” and “I Wanna Be Your Lover.”
“We Are The World” was recorded in 1985
In 1987, Neil Diamond performs the National Anthem at the Super Bowl
ZZ Top, James Brown and The Blues Brothers perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans in 1997.
Some controversy occurred:
During a Rolling Stones tour of Australia and New Zealand, guitarist Keith Richards had his shirt torn off after 50 fans invaded the stage in 1965
In 1968, Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested and charged with public drunkenness after harassing a security guard at a Las Vegas adult movie theatre.
The Beatles’ last public performance, on the roof of Apple Records in London, was broken up by the police in 1969.
In 1979, Emerson, Lake & Palmer disband after 10 years together
Following a Motley Crue show in 1984, Tommy Lee found out that his girlfriend had posed for Penthouse magazine after a fan passed judgment on her pictures. Tommy knocked the fan out with one punch.
In 1994, Michael Jackson settled his child molestation suit with Jordy Chandler for $20 million
James Brown was charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful use of a firearm after police were called to his South Carolina home in 1988. Brown later claimed the drugs were used to help his ‘eyesight.’
And some tragedies occurred:
Billy Joel crashed his Mercedes while driving in Long Island in 2003.
In 2018, Huey Lewis lost his hearing before a concert in Dallas, causing him to retire from touring and performing live indefinitely.
Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell died at the age of 56 of a suspected heart attack in 2009
