1893
'King Dick' Seddon becomes premier
Richard John Seddon became premier following the death of John Ballance. Immortalised as ‘King Dick’, Seddon was to dominate the New Zealand political landscape for the next 13 years. He remains this country’s longest-serving premier or prime minister.


1955
RNZAF's first combat strike since Second World War
Five Vampire fighter aircraft of No. 14 Squadron carried out the RNZAF’s first combat strike since the Second World War against guerrillas in the Malayan jungle.



In Music History

2023-Gordon Lightfoot ("If You Could Read My Mind," "Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald") dies at 84.

2019-Joe Jonas of Jonas Brothers marries Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner in Las Vegas, where an Elvis impersonator officiates. The marriage lasts until September 2023, when Joe files for divorce.

2017-At the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, John Popper, Susan Tedeschi, Widespread Panic and many other artists perform at a tribute to Col. Bruce Hampton in celebration of his 70s birthday. Hampton, a mentor to many of these musicians, collapses on stage and dies during the encore. "Bruce was the only person I could think of who has ever played at his own funeral," his friend Scott McKinney says.

2013-Chris Kelly of the rap duo Kris Kross dies at age 34 after overdosing on heroin and cocaine. The duo were teenagers when they had their #1 hit "Jump" in 1992; they also opened for Michael Jackson on his Dangerous tour that year.

2012-Bobby Vee announces that he's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

2010-"Nothin' On You" by the rapper B.o.B hits #1 in America. It features vocals from Bruno Mars, who also co-wrote and co-produced the song. He lands his own #1 hit a few months later with his debut single as a lead artist: "Just The Way You Are."

2007-Rush release Snakes & Arrows. Alex Lifeson's guitar work on the album is influenced by David Gilmour's suggestion that he write more acoustic songs.

2006-Rock and roll saxophonist Johnny Paris (leader of Johnny and the Hurricanes) dies at age 65 of hospital-borne infections after an operation.

2006-Rapper Big Hawk (of Screwed Up Click) dies at age 36 when he's shot by an unidentified assailant outside of a friend's house in Houston, Texas.

2003-While being treated for kidney failure, Barry White suffers a stroke, paralyzing the right side of his body. The singer never fully recovers and dies a few months later.

2000-David Gray's album White Ladder, which has been available in Europe for over a year, is finally issued in America as the first release on Dave Matthews' new label, ATO Records. It goes on to sell a million copies there; ATO goes on to sign Crowded House, Brandi Carlile, Alabama Shakes and many other big names.

2000-Former Village Voice scribe Jimmy McDonough sues Neil Young for $1.8 million in civil court for allegedly backing down from his agreement to authorize a biography McDonough spent years writing.

1999-The Lyz Art Forum in Siegen, Germany, presents an exhibition of 70 paintings by Paul McCartney, including "Bowie Spewing," which is indeed a portrait of a young David Bowie.

1998-Brian Eno appears as Father Brian Eno in the "Going to America" episode of British sitcom Father Ted.

1994-New Kids On The Block, which two years earlier was playing stadiums, wrap up a tour of clubs and theaters in support of their Face The Music album. They call it quits soon after, but reunite in 2008.

1992-Sub Pop Records release a compilation album titled The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History, which for many listeners is the first time they can hear the band. Hailing from Scotland, the Vaselines had received renewed interest after Nirvana covered their songs "Molly's Lips" and "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam."

LL Cool J Delivers a Knockout On MTV Unplugged
1991
For the first time, MTV Unplugged features rap acts, with De La Soul, MC Lyte, A Tribe Called Quest and LL Cool J performing. LL steals the show with a shirtless rendition of "Mama Said Knock You Out."

1990-Italian-American tenor Sergio Franchi dies of cancer at age 64.

1986-Hugo Peretti, who co-wrote Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling In Love," dies at age 69 in Englewood, New Jersey.

1979-Elton John becomes the first Western rock star to play in Israel when he performs a concert in Jerusalem as part of a tour that also takes him to Russia, where he becomes one of the first Western rock stars to tour the Soviet Union.

1977-The Police release their first single, "Fall Out," which is available only in the UK. Guitarist Andy Summers has yet to join the band.

1976-Led Zeppelin's Presence album, with the rockers "Achilles Last Stand" and "Nobody's Fault but Mine," hits #1 in America.

1976-The Bellamy Brothers' "Let Your Love Flow" hits #1 in America.

1975-Bachman-Turner Overdrive begin their first UK tour at Glasgow Apollo; they are supported by Thin Lizzy.

1975-The Rolling Stones announce their Tour Of The Americas by rolling down 5th Avenue in New York City playing "Brown Sugar" from the back of a flatbed truck.

1974-At the request of President Nixon, the Carpenters perform at a state dinner honoring West German Chancellor Willy Brandt.

1973-Washington, DC, mayor Walter Washington officially declares today Marvin Gaye day in the singer's hometown.

1969-Neil Young releases his second solo album, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, which features favorites "Cowgirl in the Sand," "Cinnamon Girl," and "Down by the River."

1968-Paul McCartney and John Lennon watch Bill Haley play Royal Albert Hall in London.

1968-D'Arcy Wretsky-Brown (bass guitarist for The Smashing Pumpkins) is born in South Haven, Michigan.

1967-Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys is arrested by the FBI for draft-dodging and refusing to take an oath of allegiance to the United States. Wilson, a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, is eventually exonerated by his draft board and rejoins the band, touring in Ireland.

1967-Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu are married in a private ceremony at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. They met seven years earlier when Priscilla was 14, but she claims they didn't consummate their relationship until this wedding night.

1966-The Beatles play their last concert (not counting their Apple Records rooftop appearance in 1969) in their native England when they perform at a show put on by the New Musical Express. The last song is "I'm Down."

1966-Rock bassist Johnny Colt (of The Black Crowes, Lynyrd Skynyrd) is born Charles Brandt in Cherry Point, North Carolina.

1965-Spike Jones, known for satirical takes on classics and popular songs, dies at age 53 of emphysema.

1963-The Rolling Stones sign a management deal with Andrew Loog Oldham, who removes their apostrophe (they were The Rollin' Stones) and drops piano player Ian Stewart from the official lineup; he continues to play with the band and acts as road manager, but isn't recognized as a member. Stewart, who doesn't look the part, remains an integral part of the Stones operation until his death in 1985.

1957-The Kingston Trio form in Palo Alto, California.

1957-The first issue of 16 Magazine, featuring Elvis Presley on the cover, is published.

1956-Little Willie John records "Fever."

1956-Johnny Cash releases "I Walk The Line," a pledge of fidelity to his first wife. When the song becomes a hit, Cash finds it much harder to be true and strikes up an affair with June Carter, whom he later marries.

1955-A St. Louis guitarist named Chuck Berry is signed to Chess Records in Chicago after bluesman Muddy Waters recommends him to the label.

1954-Guitarist and songwriter Ray Parker, Jr., writer and performer of the Ghostbusters theme, is born in Detroit, Michigan.

1946-Nick Fortuna (bass guitarist for The Buckinghams) is born in Chicago, Illinois.

1946-Jerry Weiss (trumpeter and flugelhorn player for Blood, Sweat & Tears) is born in New York City.

1945-Singer-songwriter Rita Coolidge is born in Lafayette, Tennessee.

1942-The US government halts production of jukeboxes so their factories can assist with the war effort. The Seeburg company produces electrical components for the armed forces; Wurlitzer makes communications systems for aircraft.

1939-Tommy Dorsey records "Lonesome Road."

1939-Folk singer Judy Collins is born in Seattle, Washington.

1934-Jazz singer and pianist Shirley Horn is born in Washington, DC.

1933-R&B singer-songwriter Titus Turner, known for writing the oft-covered tunes "Leave My Kitten Alone" and "Sticks and Stones," is born in Atlanta, Georgia.

1931-Kate Smith makes her radio show debut with the twice-weekly Kate Smith Sings show on NBC.

1930-Blues musician Little Walter, known for the 1952 harmonica standard "Juke," is born Marion Walter Jacobs in Marksville, Louisiana.

1929-Country singer-songwriter Sonny James, known for the 1957 hit "Young Love," is born James Hugh Loden in Hackleburg, Alabama.

1924-R&B singer Big Maybelle, known for the 1956 hit "Candy," is born Mabel Louise Smith in Jackson, Tennessee.

1907-Kate Smith, known for her rendition of "God Bless America," is born Kathryn Elizabeth Smith in Greenville, Virginia.

1904-Czech composer Antonin Dvorak dies at age 62 of an undetermined illness.




Featured Events

2006-Guinness certifies a new world record for most guitarists playing at the same time when 1,581 axepeople simultaneously perform the Jimi Hendrix version of "Hey Joe" in Wrocław, Poland.

2000-Destiny's Child release their third album, Survivor, which is all about sisterhood and empowerment. It's their first release with the lineup of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

Nancy Sinatra Appears In Playboy
1995-Nancy Sinatra, 54, appears on the cover of Playboy magazine. In her centerfold, she wears only her famous boots.More

1993-Charley Pride becomes just the second African American inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, and the only active member (DeFord Bailey, the first, passed away in 1982). Pride first performed there in 1967.

1967-Tim McGraw is born Samuel Timothy McGraw in Delhi, Louisiana. His dad is pro baseball player Tug McGraw of the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.

1966-James Brown performs on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time. Unlike most solo acts, he brings his own band, which allows him to provide the full James Brown experience, including the cape bit where he drops to his knees but is soon revived.

1965-British Invasion band Herman's Hermits hit #1 in America with "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter," a very English song first heard on a BBC show called The Lads in 1963.

1956- Johnny Cash released his breakthrough single “I Walk the Line”, which became his first No.1 on the Billboard country charts and peaked at No.17 on the US pop charts. The song featured Cash’s signature “boom-chicka-boom” sound, created by placing a dollar bill in the guitar neck, and innovative backward guitar runs inspired its chord progression.
This Day In Music

1966- The Beatles performed in the UK for the final time at the NME Poll Winners concert at Wembley Empire Pool, playing five songs to 10,000 fans alongside the Rolling Stones, The Who, The Yardbirds, and Dusty Springfield.
This Day In Music

1965- Herman’s Hermits topped the US Billboard Hot 100 with “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”, while Spike Jones, known for his comedic musical arrangements, passed away at age 53.
soundod.com

1971–1976: Several chart milestones occurred, including Dave and Ansell Collins’ reggae hit “Double Barrel” reaching No.1 in the UK (1971), Led Zeppelin’s Presence topping the US Billboard 200 (1976), and the Bellamy Brothers’ debut single “Let Your Love Flow” hitting No.1 in multiple countries.
soundod.com

1979- Elton John became the first pop star to perform in Israel, beginning a mini-tour of five shows in six nights.
On This Day

1980s–1990s: Notable events include Mick Fleetwood filing for bankruptcy (1984), the opening of musicals like My One and Only (1983) and The Will Rogers Follies (1991), and Andrea Bocelli performing for Pope John Paul II in 2000.
On This Day

2005- Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 with his solo album …Something To Be, featuring the hit single “Lonely No More” and becoming the first male rock group artist to debut at No.1 with a solo LP.


Other Notable Milestones

1786- Mozart conducted the premiere of his opera The Marriage of Figaro in Vienna.

1939- Tommy Dorsey Orchestra recorded “Lonesome Road”.

1972- Paul Simon released his self-titled solo debut album, and The Eagles released their first single “Take It Easy”.

1982- KISS released the album Killers.

1998- Garth Brooks announced the sale of the 4 millionth ticket for his world tour.