This Day in Music History – July 9th

1955 – The Bill Haley & His Comets single “Rock Around the Clock” hit #1 on Billboard’s Pop charts. This was the first time a rock and roll recording accomplished this feat.

1956 – Dick Clark made his debut as host of “Bandstand” on a Philadelphia TV station. The name of the show was changed to “American Bandstand” when it went to ABC-TV.

1958 – Johnny Cash signed with Columbia Records.

1972 – Paul McCartney appeared on stage for the first time since 1966 as his group, Wings, opened at Chateauvillon in the south of France.

1974 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young started their reunion tour in Seattle.

1977 – Elvis Costello quit his day job as a computer operator at a cosmetic factory.

1981 – The Jacksons began a 36 city tour.

1981 – The second Broadway revival of “Fiddler on the Roof” opened at Lincoln Center’s New York State Theater.

1984 – The album “Ice Cream Castle” was released by The Time.

1991 – U.S. President George Bush presented a National Medal of Art to Roy Acuff.

1995 – The Grateful Dead gave their last concert with Jerry Garcia at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Garcia died the next month of a heart attack.

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