Buddy Holly

This Day in Music History — November 9

1956 : Buddy Holly begins his first solo tour, opening for country singers George Jones and Hank Locklin.

1966 : According to the “Paul Is Dead” rumors, this was the day Paul McCartney “blew his mind out in a car,” meeting his doom and being replaced with a lookalike.

1967 : The first issue of the rock periodical Rolling Stone hits the shelves in San Francisco, CA, with a cover featuring John Lennon, in a still from his upcoming movie How I Won The War, and a free roach clip with every issue.

1998 : Rick James suffers a stroke after a blood vessel ruptures in his neck while he is head banging during a performance in Denver, Colorado. A spokesman later comments, “The doctor called it a result of rock’n’roll neck, the repeated rhythmic whiplash motion of the head and neck.”

1999 : The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announces the biggest-selling artists of the century in the United States: The Beatles have sold the most albums (106 million), Garth Brooks is the best-selling male solo act, and Barbra Streisand the best-selling female. Elton John’s 1997 “Candle In The Wind” is the best-selling single of the century, and the best-selling album is the Eagles’s Greatest Hits 1971-1975.

 

This Day in Music History — October 8

1980 : During his performance at Pittsburgh’s Stanley Theater, Bob Marley collapses on stage and is rushed to New York’s Sloan-Kettering Hospital for treatment, then flown to Ethiopia for rest. It was to be his last stage performance before losing his battle with cancer in 1981.

1985 : Little Richard crashes a rented Nissan 300SX into a telephone pole in West Hollywood. The accident nearly kills him, and his right leg is so badly broken it requires two operations to repair. He credits God with saving his life and continues to preach.

US Stamps - 1993 Rock & Roll Sheet of 35 Stamps, Elvis, Otis, #2730a1992 : The US Postal Service issues a booklet of commemorative rock and roll stamps featuring Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Otis Redding, Bill Haley, Ritchie Valens, Clyde McPhatter, and Dinah Washington.

2012 : Green Day is forced to cancel their appearance at the New Orleans’ Voodoo Music Festival, citing Billie Joe Armstrong’s problems with substance abuse and rehab. Armstrong had previously had an onstage outburst mid-show in Las Vegas in September of 2012, which began the band’s decision to get treatment for Billie.

This Day in Music History — September 7

1936 : Buddy Holly is born. He would live just 22 years, but influence many of the biggest stars of the ’60s, including The Beatles. Don McLean’s American Pie is about his death.

1984 : With most of her family (including her parents) on the road with The Jacksons Victory tour, 18-year-old Janet Jackson elopes with James DeBarge from the group DeBarge. The marriage would end eight months later.

1996 : Tupac is shot 5 times in a drive-by following a boxing match in Las Vegas. He would die 6 days later.

2008 : MTV makes up for trotting out a lethargic Britney Spears to open their previous year’s Video Music Awards by giving her three awards for Piece Of Me. Kanye West also debuts Love Lockdown on the show