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Charles Edward Anderson is born. (Chuck Berry)
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Richard Penniman (Little Richard) is born.
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Elvis Presley's day of birth.
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Ringo Starr is born.
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John Lennon is born.
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The birth of Bob Dylan.
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Otis Redding
Otis Redding was an American R&B, Blues musician. While flying from Nashville, TN, to Madison, WI his airplane went down only 4 miles away from their destination. The cause of the crash was never determined. He died at age 26. -
Paul McCartney is born.
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Janis Lyn Joplin is born in Texas.
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George Harrison is born.
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Period: to
Bob Marley's lifetime.
Marley was a Jamaican musician who made reggae music throughout his lifetime. He was an internationally successful artist. He believed in the Rastafarian movement. He made his debut with a band known as 'The Wailers.' They disbanded in 1974. Marley was still recognized and pursued a solo career. His deveopled malignant melnoma in his toe. He refused to aputate his toe because of religious belief. He died of cancer at the age of 36. -
Aretha Franklin releases her first album.
After Aretha's mother died when she was 14, her father worked as her mamager. She signed on J.V.B. Records shortly after, and released her first album, "Songs of Faith." -
Elvis Presley gets drafted into the War.
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Period: to
The Bee Gees
Brothers Maurice, Robin, Barry start a band by the name of the Bee Gees. Typically played Rock music until the disco era. -
The beginning of the Motown Movement.
Berry Gordy Jr. created a record label under the name of 'Motown'. -
The Day The Music Died.
A plane carrying Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens crashes in Clear Lake, IA. They all were killed in the accident. -
The Beatles form in Liverpool.
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The Twist
Hank Ballard wrote the song in 1959. It became more popular in 1960 when Chubby Checker covered it. -
Stand By Me is recorded by Ben E. King
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The Animals form in Newcastle.
The band's name comes from their wild stage act. -
The Rolling Stones form.
The Rolling Stones are formed, using the name 'The Blue Boys'. Brian Jones coined 'The Rolling Stones' after being asked the name and glancing at the back of a Muddy Waters LP, and seeing "A Rollin' Stone". -
The Rolling Stones' first gig.
The Rolling Stones play their first gig at the Marquee Club in London. -
(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave by Martha & The Vandellas
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Pink Floyd is founded in London.
Members Syd Barret, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright form Pink Floyd. They first became popular in London's underground music scene. -
The British Invasion Begins.
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The Beatles appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.
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The House of The RIsing Sun by The Animals
The Animals record 'House of The Rising Sun' which topped the U.S. pop singles chart in September of that year. -
You Really Got Me, The Kinks.
One month after it was released, it topped the U.K. single charts at #1. Holding the spot for two weeks. Recieving a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. 'Rolling Stone' magazine places it as #82 on '500 Greatest Songs of All Time". -
Period: to
The Byrds
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You've Lost That Loving Feeling by The Righteous Brothers
The first rock and roll song that was longer than 3 minutes. The song was ranked as having had more radio and television play in the United States than any other song during the 20th century. It was also ranked #34 on the '500 Greatest Songs of All Time' by Rolling Stone. -
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) by The Four Tops
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Like A Rollin' Stone by Bob Dylan
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Do You Believe In Magic?, The Lovin' Spoonful.
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In The Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett
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Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds
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As Tears Go By, Marianne Faithfull
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Good Lovin' by The Young Rascals
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Janis Joplin joins 'Big Brother & The Holding Company.
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You Can't Hurry Love by The Supremes
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Big Brother and Holding Company sign on to Mainstream Records
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Try A Little Tenderness by Otis Redding.
Although deterred from covering the song, Otis Redding is often credited with this song as the best he ever did. -
Human Be-In
20,000 people gather at Golden Gate Bridge Park to protest the illegalization of LSD. -
Elvis marries Priscilla.
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Carrie Ann by The Hollies
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club
The Beatles release their 8th studio album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club. It was a huge success and spent 27 weeks at the top of the UK Album Chart and 15 weeks on Billboard 200 in the United States. -
Period: to
Monterey Pop Festival
A three day concert event at Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. Acts included Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Ravi Shankar, Janis Joplin and Otis Redding. Typically referred to as the first large scale outdoor concert. -
I Can See For Miles by The Who
Biggest United States single by The Who. -
Daydreamer Believer by The Monkees
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Led Zepplin forms in London.
Members: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. Genre: Rock. -
Period: to
Woodstock
Woodstock was a music festival held on a dairy farm, owned by Max Yasgur, in the Catskills of Bethel, New York. The festival included acts such as: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane and The Who. -
Jimi Hendrix dies.
Hendrix dies of aphyxia while intoxicated by barbituates. -
Janis Joplin dies.
Janis Joplin overdoeses on heroin. -
Jim Morrison dies.
Jim Morrison dies of a supposed heroin overdose. -
'Black and White' by Three Dog Night.
One of the first reggae songs to hit the Top 40. -
Kiss forms in New York City, New York.
Members: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer. Kiss is a band that is considered hard rock, or glam metal. The band wore costumes making them appear as characters. It was an interesting thing to see. They used a lot of theatrics, like fake blood and fire. They're still active today. -
The Sex Pistols form in London.
Band members: Steve Johnson, Paul Cook, Glen Matlock and Johnny Rotten. The band is of punk rock genre. Producing music that inspires rebellion and punk culture. Punk developed in the UK during the 1970s because of the lack of money in the UK. The economy wasn't very good and this music is a depiction of the hard times in the UK. -
Way Down by Elvis Presley.
The last single to be released by Presley. -
Elvis Presley dies.
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Elvis Presley dies.
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Casette Based Sony Walkman is released.
The world's first (low cost) portable stereo is released in Japan. It's later released in the US and UK in 1980. -
The first annual Monsters of Rock Festival
Acts included: Rainbow, Scorpions, April Wine, Judas Priest, Saxon, Riot and Touch. The festival was held annually for 26 years. It was located in England but also was held in the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and the Soviet Union. More famous acts include: AC/DC, Whitesnake, Twisted Sister, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, KISS, Megadeath, Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith. -
John Lennon is shot to death.
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MTV is launched for the first time.
Music Television makes it's debut. The first television station of it's kind, MTV headquarters are located in NYC, NY. It's main idea was to play music videos and in the beginning that's really all it did. -
I Love Rock N' Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
The song held the number one spot on the charts for several weeks. -
Death of Blues Brother John Belushi
John Belushi of the Blues Brothers dies of an overdose on a mixture of cocaine and heroin. -
Abracadabra by The Steve Miller Band
Listed at #70 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of all time. The song became a worldwide hit, charting in ten countries and topping the charts in six countries, and has become one of the band's biggest hits, along with "The Joker" and "Rock'n Me". Held the number 1 spot on Billboards Hot 100 for 2 weeks. -
The first 'US' festival.
Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne, sponsors the first US festival in Glen Helen Regional Park near Devore, San Bernardino, California. It featured Tom Petty, The Police and Fleetwood Mac. -
The Tube debuts on BBC Television
The Tube is an innovative United Kingdom pop/rock music television programme, which ran for five seasons, from 5 November 1982 until 1987. -
Thriller album is released.
Thriller is and was the best selling album of all time. It sold over 65 million copies worldwide. -
The Moonwalk is unveiled on Motown 25.
Michael Jackson performs hit single, "Billie Jean" on Motown 25 and debuts his dance move, the moonwalk. -
Death of Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye is shot and killed by his father. -
First MTV music video awards.
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VH1 premieres.
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Licensed to Ill is released.
Licensed to Ill is the debut album by the Beastie Boys, released in 1986. It was the first rap LP to top the Billboard album chart. It was also one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and eventually sold over 9 million copies in the United States. -
Period: to
Nirvana
Nirvana formed in Aberdeen, Washington. The band was put together by Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. Later they added Dave Grohl as their drummer. Nirvana was the first of the few grunge bands that began in Seattle, Washington. They released three full studio albums: Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero. The bands successful career was cut short when Cobain committed suicide in 1994. The band is acredited as one of the most influential bands of the modern era and of modern rock. -
Freddie Mercury dies of aids.
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I WIll Always Love You by Whitney Houston.
Tops the charts for 14 weeks. -
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is established.
The museum dedicated on September 1, 1995, with the ribbon being cut by an ensemble that included Yoko Ono and Little Richard, among others, before a crowd of more than 10,000 people. The following night an all-star concert was held at the stadium. It featured Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Al Green, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Iggy Pop, John Fogerty, John Mellencamp and many others.
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, the museum documents the entire history of rock and -
2Pac is shot to death.
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Notorious B.I.G. is shot to death.
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Rio PMP300 is released.
The mp3 player becomes the first commercially successful digital media player. -
Candle in the Wind by Elton John
Elton John remakes his song and it becomes the second best selling single of all time. -
The Jimi Hendrix Experience (album) is released.
The album Jimi worked on between 1966 and 1970 is finally released in 2000. -
George Harrison dies of lung cancer.
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Rick Allen loses his left arm.
Drummer for Def Leppard, Rick Allen loses his left arm in a car accident as a result from street racing. However it does not end his career and he adjusts to playing with one arm.
