Ed Sullivan Show

This Day in Music History — October 13

1974 : Renowned television host Ed Sullivan dies of esophageal cancer in New York City, at age 73. One of the biggest events in music history unfolded on his program, The Ed Sullivan Show, when a new group from Liverpool called The Beatles made their live US debut.

1980 : George Jones wins Single of the Year at the Country Music Association awards for “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” starting a career resurgence for the Country legend.

2000 : Eddie Vedder, Ani DiFranco, Ben Harper and Patti Smith all take part in a Madison Square Garden rally for US presidential candidate Ralph Nader. George Bush would eventually win the election, with Nader taking key votes from Al Gore.

2001 : Complaining of tightness in his chest, and under the advice of his doctor, Merle Haggard cancels the balance of his US touring plans through Nov. 3. Haggard has a history of coronary artery disease.

2007 : T.I. is arrested just hours before he is scheduled to perform at the BET Hip Hop Awards. According to police, the rapper paid $12,000 to a bodyguard to buy 3 guns for him. Police take him into custody on weapons charges and place him in federal custody over the weekend.

This Day in Music History — September 27

1964 : The Beach Boys make their national television debut on CBS’ Ed Sullivan Show, performing their recent hit I Get Around.

1979 : While onstage at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, CA, Elton John collapses from “exhaustion.” The song he’d been performing, ominously, was entitled Better Off Dead.

1990 : Marvin Gaye receives a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street.

2004 : Legendary rock producer Phil Spector, best known for creating the “Wall Of Sound” on hits like The Ronettes’ Be My Baby and The Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’, is indicted for the February 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson at his estate in Alhambra, California.