1959—Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson (The Big Bopper) are killed when their chartered plane goes down in a snowstorm outside of Clear Lake, Iowa. Richardson was not supposed to be on the flight, however he had been suffering from a bout of influenza, and the tour's bus had no heat. In a last minute switch Richardson took the seat originally offered to Holly's bass player, a 22 year-old Waylon Jennings.
1962—Ringo Starr sits in with the Beatles for two shows at The Cavern Club while their regular drummer Pete Best was sick. When Best is asked to leave the band a year later Starr will be asked to permanently join the band.
1963—The Beach Boys record the tune “Surfin' USA.” Although it was credited as being composed by Brian Wilson, the tune was a note-for-note cover of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen". Following a lawsuit, Berry was granted writing credit and royalties from the record.
1964—Matthew Walsh, the Governor of Indiana, officially bans the song Louie, Louie by The Kingsmen claiming its indecipherable lyrics are “pornographic.” In response the song's publisher, Max Firetag, offers a $1000 reward to anyone who can find suggestive lyrics in the song.
1967--John Lennon buys an 1843 poster from an antiques shop in Surrey, which will provide him with many of the lyrics for "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite".
1969--The Beatles performed in public for the last time when they played a 42-minute rooftop concert above Apple Corps headquarters. The show was stopped by the police after neighbors complained about the noise. Ringo tries in vain to get police to remove him forcefully from the roof, thinking it would add to dramatic tension, however the police refuse to oblige.
2011—Gladys Horton, lead singer for The Marvelettes, who gave Motown Records it's first #1 with Please Mister Postman in 1961 (when Horton was just 16 years old), passed away following a series of strokes at the age of 65.
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