January

 January 1:

 Born:     Country Joe McDonald (1942)

Events:  Hank Williams dies age 29. (1953)

The Beatles hve their first record company audition. A record executive told their manager "These boys won't make it.  Guitar groups are out. Go back to Liverpool, Mr. Epstein. You have a good business their." (1962)

Simon and Garfunkle's "Sound of Silence" reaches No. 1 (1966).

January 2:

Born:     Roger Miller (1936)

Events:   Senator John F. Kennedy announces his candidacy for U.S. President (1960)

              The AFL first championship football game played: Houston Oilers beat the San Diego Chargers 24-16 (1961)

             David Lynch,The Platters, dies. (1981)

             Tex Ritter dies age 67 (1974)

             Anne Francis (actress - movie The Forbidden Planet and televsion series Honey West dies age 80 (2011)

             Larry Reinhardt, guitarist, Iron Butterfly, dies at 63 (2012)

             Daryl Dragon, muscian, half of duo, of Captain & Tennille, dies at 76 (2019)

January 3:

 Born:     George Mitchell, The Beatles producer (1926)

              Stephen Stills (1945

Events:  1st electric watch introduced. (1957) 

              Alaska admitted to union as  the 49th U. S.  state. (1959)

              Ground is broken for the Houston Astrodome  (1962)

              Jack Paar Show, shows a clip of the Beatles singing "She Loves You"  (1964)

              Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys is indicted for draft evasion  (1967)

               Jimi Hendrix plays on LuLu's Show BBC, (1969)

               John Lennon's "2 Virgins" album declared pornographic in New Jersey (Ono and  Lennon     are shown naked on the cover) 30,000 copies are confiscated. (1969)

               Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman to be inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame (1987)

              Pat Hingle, stage, TV, movie actor ("Hang "Em High", "On The Waterfront') dies age 89 (2009)

              Phil Everly (Everly Brothers)  dies at 74 (2014)

              Jay Traynor (Jay& the Americans) lead singer of song "She Cried" dies at 69 (2014)

              Gerry Marsden, lead singer, Gerry and the Pacemakers dies at 80 (2021)

January 4:

Events:   Elvis Presley records a ten minute demo in Nashville. (1954)

               1st automated (unmanned) subway train (New York City NY) (1962)

                  Beatles last recording session at EMI studios (1970)

                 Gerald "Gerry" Rafferty a Scottish singer songwriter best known for his solo hits "Baker Street", dies at 63 (2011) 

                  Raymond Thomas  an English musician, flutist, singer and composer in the UK rock band The Moody Blues dies at 76 (2018)

                 Tanya Roberts, actress, former Bond Girl dies at 65 (2021)

                 David Soul, singer, actor, best know for TV show Starsky and Hutch dies at 80 (2024)

                        January 5:

Born:     Sam Phillips, Owner of Sun Records (1926)

             Wilbert Harrison, (Kansas City) singer (1929)

Events:   Buddy Holly releases his last record "It Doesn't Matter"  (1959)

              US breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba (1961)

              Dr Benjamin Spock indicted for conspiring to violate draft law. (1968) 

                       Sonny Liston, former heavyweight champion who lost title to Muhammed Ali found dead at age 36 (1971) 

             Jerry Van Dyke, actor, comedian, dies at  86 (2018)

January 6:

Events:    "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" with Marlin Perkins begins on NBC. (1963) 

                  The Rolling Stones begin their first tour headlining withThe Ronettes. (1964)

              "Milton Berle Show" last airs on ABC-TV. (1967) 

               Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" album goes #1 & stays #1 for 8 weeks. (1968)

               Dr N E Shumway performs 1st US adult cardiac transplant operation. (1968) 

               Lou Rawls, singer dies at 72 (2006)

               Sidney Poitier, Academy Award Winning actor, dies at 94 (2022)

January 7:

Born:          Paul Revere, Boise ID, keyboardist (Paul Revere & Raiders ) (1942)   

Events:       1st class postage raised from 4 cents  to 5 cents (1963)

                    " Snoopy vs. The Red Baron" LP is released byThe Royal Guardsmen (1967)

                  Newlywed Game" premieres on ABC TV (1967)

                  1st class postage raised from 5 cents  to 6 cents (1968)

                  Surveyor 7 lands on the Moon (1968) 

                  "GE College Bowl" quiz show premieres on NBC TV (1968) 

                  Ray Thomas, co-founder of the Moody Blues dies at  76 (2018) 

                 Tommy Lasorda, best known as baseball manager Los Angeles Dodgers, winning eight divisional titles, appeared in four World Series winning two dies at 93 (2021)                        

   January 8:

Born:   Soupy Sales, actor, comedian, tv-radio personality (1926) 

           Elvis Presley (1935)

           Shirley Bassey (1937)

           Bob Eubanks, TV host (Newlywed Game) (1937)

           "Little Anthony" Gourdine, Little Anthony and the Imperials (1941)

           Robbie Krieger , The Doors (1946)

           Terry Sylvester, The Hollies (1947

           David Bowie (1947)

Events:  Elvis Presley pays $4 to a Memphis studio & records his 1st two songs, "Casual Love"& "I'll Never Stand in Your Way"  (1954)

            Golfer Jack Nicklaus, 21, 1st pro appearance, he came in 50th (1962)

              Who & the Kinks perform on the last "Shindig" TV show on ABC  (1966)

             Pat Buttram actor (Haney-Green Acres), dies of kidney failure at 78 (1994)

             Ed Byrnes, actor, best known in 77 Sunset Strip and the movie Grease dies at 87 (2020)

January 9:

Born:     Joan Baez (1941)

            Jimmy Page (1944)

Events:  All US cigarette packs have to carry "Caution Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health" (1966)

            Cigarette advertisements banned on TV (1971)

            Maurice A Chevalier French actor (Can Can, Gigi), dies at 83 (1972)

            Verna Bloom, actress, best known in movie Animal House and High Plains Drifter dies at 80 (2019)

            Dwayne Hickman, actor CBS executive producer and director, best known as Dobie Gillis in the sitcom The Many Loves of Doby Gillis dies at 87 (2022)

            Bob Saget, standup comedian and actor dies at 65 (2022)

January 10:

Born:     Rod Stewart (1945)

Events:  US version of "That Was The Week That Was" premieres (1964)

             Julian Bond denied seat in Georgia legislature for opposing Vietnam War (1966)

             Richard Boone actor (Paladin-Have Gun Will Travel), dies at 63 (1981)

             Paul Lynde comedian/actor (Uncle Arthur-Bewitched,  Bye Bye Birdie) dies at 55 (1982)

             Rod Allen, bass player for The Fortunes (Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again) dies at age 63 (2008)

             David Bowie, (singer, songwriter, actor, movie producer) dies at 69 after a 18 month battle with cancer (2016) 

             Doreen Tracey, original Mouseketeer, dies at 74 (2018) 

             Jeff Beck, guitarist, best known as member of The Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group dies at 78 (2023) 

  January 11:

Born:     Bobby Goldsboro (1941)

Events:   The first disco, The Whiskey-A-Go-Go, opens in Los Angeles (1963)

               David Nelson (The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet) dies age 74 (2011)

January 12:

Born:        Glenn Yarborough singer (1930)

Events:    Ernie Kovacs comedian (Ernie Kovacs Show), killed in auto crash at 42 (1962)

              "Please Please Me" is released by The Beatles in the United Kingdom. A month later it reaches No. 1, their first. (1963)

               "Hullabaloo     ," hosted by Johnny Holliday, premieres on NBC-TV (1965)

               "Batman" with Adam West & Burt Ward premieres on ABC TV (1966)

                Red Auerbach wins his 1,000th game as coach of NBA Boston Celtics (1966)

                Louisville KY, draft board refuses exemption for boxer Muhammad Ali (1967)

                Super Bowl III New York Jets beat Baltimore Colts, 16-7 in Miami; Super Bowl MVP Joe Namath, New York Jets, Quarterback (1969)

                Agatha Christie mystery writer dies at age 85 (1976)

                Maurice Gibb, The Bee Gees dies at 53 (2003)

                Ronnie Spector, lead singer of The Ronettes, known for the hits Be My Baby, Baby I Love You and many more, dies at 78 (2022)

                Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis, dies at age 54 (2023)

January 13:

Events:     Wham-O Company produces the 1st Frisbee (1957) 

                "Duke of Earl" by Gene Chandler charts (1962)

                First black selected for Presidential cabinet (LBJ selects Robert C Weaver-HUD) (1966)

                 Rolling Stones appear on Ed Sullivan Show (1967)

                Beginning of Tet-offensive in Vietnam (1968)

               "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream charts - their first hit (1968)

                  Beatles release "Yellow Submarine" album (1969) 

                 Patrick McGoohan, actor, (Danger Man, The Prisoner), dies age 80 (2009) 

                 Teddy Pendergrass, singer (Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes) dies age 59 (2010)

January 14:

Born:    Clarence Carter, singer (Slip Away)   (1936)

            Jack Jones, singer (1938)

                 Tim Harris,The Foundations (1948)  

Events:  "The Twist" by Chubby Checker charts for the second time. (1962)

             Ricardo Montalban, actor, director (Fantasy Island) dies age 88 (2009)

January 15:

Born:     Chuck Berry (1926)

Events:    Supremes signed with Motown Records (1961)

             The Who's first single, "I Can't Explain/Bald Headed Woman" is released by Decca. Only 1,000 are pressed, but within six weeks more than 100,000 are sold. (1965)

            The Rolling Stones on "The Ed Sullivan Show" sing "Let's Spend Some Time Together." The song is "Let's Spend the Night Together." Ed Sullivan wanted the lyrics changed for live TV. (1967)

             Super Bowl I Green Bay Packers beat Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10 in Los Angeles; Super Bowl MVP Bart Starr, Green Bay, Quarterback (1967)

              Carol Channing, actress, singer, dancer and comedian. Known for starring in Broadway and film musicals, dies at 97 (2019)

January 16:

Born:     Bob Vogle, The Ventures  (1937)

Events:   "Hello, Dolly!" starring Carol Channing, opens at St James Theater New York City NY for 2,844 performances (1964) 

                      Outer Limits" last airs on ABC-TV (1965)

               Conrad Bain, actor (Diff'rent Strokes) dies at 89 (2013)

               "Dear Abby", Pauline Phillips, dies at 94 (2013)

               Phil Spector, record producer, muscian, songwiter, dies at 81 (2021)

               Gina Lollobrigida, Italian actress and international sex symbol during the 1950s and 1960s dies at 95 (2023)

January 17:

Born:       Muhammad Ali [Cassius Clay], heavyweight champ boxer (1942)   

               William Hart, The Delfonics (1945)

               Mick Taylor, ex-Rolling Stone (1948)

Events:     Billy Stewart singer (I Do Love You), dies in auto-accident at 32 (1970) 

                Bobby Fishcher, American Chess Grandmaster, World Chess Champion dies at age 64 (2008)

                 Don Kirshner  a music publisher and producer who worked with artists including Neil Sedaka, Neil Diamond, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Gerry Goffin and Carole King. He also worked with local songwriter and producer Jeff Barry on The Monkees and The Archies dies at age 66 (2011)

                 Yvette Mimieux, actor, dies at 80  (2022)

 January 18:

Born:     David Ruffin, The Temptations (1941)

Events:   Plans for the World Trade Center announced (New York City NY) (1964)

              Reese "Goose" Tatum, basketballer (Harlem Globetrotters), dies at 45 (1967)

              Albert DeSalvo (Boston Strangler) sentenced to life in prison (1967)

              Expanded 4 party Vietnam peace talks began in Paris (1969)

              Sargent Shriver (brother-in-law of JFK, first director of the Peace Corps,  Vice Presidential candidate) dies age 95 (2011) 

               Jimmie Rodgers, singer and actor, best known for hits Honeycomb and Kisses Sweeter Than Wine plus many others, dies at 87 (2021) 

January 19:

Born:     Phil Everly (1939)

             Janis Joplin, rock singer (1943)

             Rod Evans rocker (Deep Purple) (1945)

Events:   Carl Perkins singer/songwriter, dies at 65 (1998)

              Suzanne Pleshette (Bob Newhart Show) dies at 70 (2008)

              Stan Musial, (Hall of Fame Baseball Player, St Louis Cardinals) dies at 92 (2013)

              Earl Weaver, (former Oriole baseball manager) dies at 82 (2013)

             David Crosby, singer, musician, founding member of two groups, The Byrds, and Crosby, Stills and Nash,  dies at 81 (2023)

January 20:

Died:     Allan Freed, Rock 'n Roll's first DJ. He coined the phrase "Rock ' Roll" (1965)

            Peter John [Johnny] Weissmuller actor (Tarzan, Jungle Jim), dies after a series of strokes in Acapulco at 79 (1984)

            Jackie Wilson rocker, dies at 49 from a heart attack (1984)

            Barbara Stanwyck [Ruby Stevens], actress (Big Valley), dies at 82 (1990)

            Audrey Hepburn actress (Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday), dies of colon cancer in Tolochenaz, Switzerland at 63  (1993)

Events:   The Beatles first United States album "Meet The Beatles" is released (1964)

                     The Beatles appear on Shindig (ABC-TV) (1965)

              Etta James, blues singer, (At Last) dies at age 73 (2012)

              Johnny Otis, R& B singer, (Willie & the Hand Jive) dies 90 (2012)

              Meatloaf, singer, actor, best known for  "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad", "Bat Out of Hell" , "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) dies at 74 (2022)  

              Louis Anderson, Emmy Winning Comedian, dies at 68 (2022)

January 21:

Born:     Richie Havens (1941)

             Edwin Starr (1942)

             Mac Davis Lubbock TX, song writer/singer/actor (Mac Davis Show, North Dallas 40) penned Elvis' "In The Ghetto" and "Daddy Don't Cry"  (1942)

Events:   Barbara Cowsill rocker (Cowsills), dies of emphysema (1985)

              Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's only manager dies. (1997)

                                                               January 22:

Born:     Sam Cooke, singer, songwriter (1931)

Events:   "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" premieres on NBC (1968)

              Judy Garland singer/actress (Wizard of Oz), dies at 48 of an overdose (1969) 

              President Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) dies. (1973)

              Jean Simmons actor (Guys and Dolls, Spartacus) dies age 80 (2010)

              Henry (Hank) Aaron, Hall of Fame Baseball player, dies at 86 (2021)

              Don Wilson, founder and rhythm guitar player of The Ventures dies at 88 (2022)

              Kathryn Kates, actor, best know in TV for Seinfeld, Law and Order Special Crime Victims Unit and Orange is the New Black dies at 73 (2022)

 January 23:

Events:   Supreme Court rules cities& states have right to censor films (1961)

               Bob Feller& Jackie Robinson elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (1962)

               "The King Family Show" (musical variety) premieres on ABC TV (1965)

               Spy ship USS Pueblo & 83-man crew seized in Sea of Japan by N Korea (1968)

               Bob Keeshan [Captain Kangeroo] dies. (2004)

               Johnny Carson dies. (2005)

               Jack Lalanne (American fitness, exercise and fitness guru) dies age 96 (2011)

               Bobby Freeman (singer known for songs "Do You Want To Dance" and C'mon and Swim" dies at 76 (2017)

               Hal Holbrook, actor, best known for portraying Mark Twain in a one man show.dies at 95 (2021)

January 24:

Born:     Ray Stevens, singer, songwriter, comedian (1941)

             Neil Diamond, singer, songwriter (1944)

Events:   The Beatles sign their first management contract with Brian Epstein (1962)

              James "Shep" Sheppard rocker (Shep & Limelites), beaten to death (1970)

              J Carrol Naish actor (Charlie Chan-Adventures of Charlie Chan), dies at 72  (1973)

              Larry Fine actor (3 Stooges), dies at 72 (1975)

             Gordon MacRae singer (Oklahoma, Carousel), dies at 64 (1986)

             George Gobel comedian, dies of a heart attack at 71 (1991)

             Thurgood Marshall 1st black supreme court justice (1967-91), dies 84 (1993)

               Pernell Roberts actor (Bonanza, Trapper John, MD) dies age 81 (2010)

January 25:

Born:         Ronnie Brandon rocker (McCoys) (1946)

Events:      1st live, nationally televised Presidential news conference (JFK) (1961)

                 Walt Disney's "101 Dalmations" released (1961)

                 "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival charts (1969)

                 US-North Vietnamese peace talks begin in Paris (1969)

                  Mary Tyler Moore, actress, best known for The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show dies at 80 (2017)

                  Peter Robbins, voice actor, who was the voice of Peanuts Charley Brown dies at 65 (2022)

                  Cindy Williams, actress, best known for TV series Laverne and Shirley and movie Ameican Grafitti, dies at 75 (2023)                

January 26:

Events:       Edward G Robinson [Goldenberg], actor (Little Caesar), dies at 79 (1973)

                  Paul "Bear" Bryant college football coach, dies in Alabama at 69 (1983)

                  Gladys Horton, lead singer of the Marvelettes dies at 65 (2011)

                  Mike Connors, actor, best known as a detective in the TV series Mannix, dies at 91 (2017)

                  Barbara Hale, actor, best known as Della Street on TV series Perry Mason, dies at 94 (2017)
              

January 27:

Born:          Kim Gardner rocker, The Byrds (1938)                    

                  Nadra Talley, The Ronettes (1947)

Events:       "Sing Along with Mitch" [Miller] premieres on NBC TV (1961)

                  Apollo 1 fire kills astronauts Grissom, White & Chaffee (1967)

                  Treaty banning military use of nuclear weapons in space, signed (1967)

                  Mahalia Jackson gospel singer (He Got the Whole World), dies at 60 (1972)

                  Claude Akins actor (Rio Bravo, Lobo), dies of cancer at 75 (1994)

                  J.D. Salinger, author, (Catcher in the Rye) dies at age 91 (2010)

                  Pete Seeger (song writer and activist) writer of such songs of "Where Have the Flowers Gone," "If I Had a Hammer", "Turn, Turn, Turn" and many others dies at age 94 (2014)

                   Cloris Leachman, Academy Award and Emmy Award Actress, dies at 94 (2021)

January 28:

Born:            Acker Bilk clarinetist (Stranger on the Shore) (1929)

                   Martin Fried rocker (Cyrkle-"Red Rubber Ball") (1944)

Events:       "Between The Buttons" by The Rolling Stones is released. (1967)

                  "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield charts (1967)

                  Harry Harrison, Radio Good Guy, a favorite Rock N'Roll  DJ on AM New York radio for more than 30 years dies at 89 (2020)

                  Cicely Tyson, actor, the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. Tyson has won three Primetime Emmy Awards for her work in television winning for, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman dies at 96 (2021)

                  Barrett Strong, singer, songwriter and the  first artist to record for what became Motown with the song "Money (That's What I Want)".  He is better known as a songwriter with songs such as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine",  Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and other hits by the Temptaions, dies at 81 (2023)

                                                            January 29

Events:       Walt Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" released (1959)

                   Poet Robert Frost dies in Boston at age 88. (1963)

                    The first charter members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are named in Canton, Ohio – Jim Thorpe, Red Grange and George Halas. (They would be enshrined when the Hall opened in September 1963). (1963)

                   US female Figure Skating championship won by Peggy Fleming (1966) 

                   Jimi Hendrix & Peter Townsend wage a battle of guitars (1969) 

                   Jimmy Durante New York City NY, singer/comedian (Ink-a-dink-a-doo, Palooka, The Jimmy Durante Show), dies at 86  (1980)

                   Leif Erickson actor (John-High Chaparral), dies at 74 (1986) 

                   James Ingram,  one of the biggest stars in R & B music in the 1980s and ’90s, and a double Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, dies at 66 (2019)

                   Howard Hesseman, actor,  best known as DJ Johnny Fever or TV comedy WKRP, dies at 81 (2022)

January 30:

Born:            Gene Hackman California, actor (1931)

Events:        The Beatles film and record "Let It Be" at top Apple Records' Abbey Roads studio (1969)

                         Beatles perform their last gig together, a 42-minute free concert on the roof of Apple HQs (1969)

January 31:

Born:     Terry Kath, Chicago (1948)

Events:   US report "Smoking & Health" connects smoking to lung cancer (1964)