1968, 50 years ago - A sign of rising tensions among the Fab Four, Ringo Starr left The Beatles during The White Album recordings. In “Anthology”, Ringo cited feeling he was an outsider and not playing

1968: 50 years ago today, The Band released their debut LP, “Music from Big Pink”. After backing Bob Dylan on his 1966 tour as The Hawks, The Band retreated to a pink-shingled rental home in Saugerties,

1938: 80 years ago today, Ella Fitzgerald (with the Chuck Webb Orchestra) went to number one with her breakout hit "A-Tisket A-Tasket", a re-worked nursery rhyme tune. #music #pop #jazz

1968 - 50 years ago today, Herb Alpert had his first number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘This Guy’s in Love with You’. It was also the first number one hit for A&M Records, and for co-writers

1868 - 150 years ago today Wagner’s opera “Meistersinger von Nuernberg” premiered in Munich, Germany to immediate acclaim and success. It is among his longest operas, with a running time of 4-1/2 hours.

1948: 70 years ago today, Columbia records begins mass production of the "Microgroove" 33-1/3 rpm LP ("long player") record album. The decision was partly inspired by the desire to

1998, 20 years ago today, lightning struck twice at Washington DC's RFK Stadium during the Tibetan Freedom Concert. 14 people required medical treatment due to the electrical storm, one, 25-year old Lysa

1988 - 30 years ago “Freedomfest”, a musical tribute to then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela, was held at Wembley Stadium, London. The event was broadcast to 67 countries with an estimated audience of about

1978 - 40 years ago The Rolling Stones released their 14th studio album, "Some Girls". It would go on to reach Billboard's number one spot, and become the Stones biggest selling album in the

2008, Rolling Stone magazine published their curated list of the Top 100 Guitar Songs of all Time [Editor's note: my pick, Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water", did not make the list] What one

1968: 50 years ago Simon and Garfunkel's single Mrs. Robinson went to No. 1 on the US singles chart. This would be the duo's 2nd No. 1 hit ("The Sound Of Silence" hit No. 1 on Jan 1 of that same

1963 - 55 years ago today Dick Dale, the King of Surf Guitar, released "Let's Go Trippin". It's release would be the commercial start of California's Surf Music craze. Two months later the Beach

1878: 140 years ago Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic opera “H.M.S. Pinafore” premiered at the Opera Comique in London. The opera saw poor ticket sales at first, supposedly due to a summer heat wave making

1998: 20 years ago Coldplay published their first release, a 3-song EP called "Safety". It was intended as a demo for the music industry. Only 500 pressings were made of the EP, but all three

1988: 30 years ago today Van Halen released their 8th studio album, and 2nd with Sammy Hagar as lead singer, “OU812”. The album’s original title, “Bone” was nixed by drummer Alex Van Halen. Reportedly

*** Today in rock music history 19 May: *** 1978, 40 years ago, Dire Straits' debut single "Sultans of Swing" was officially released. However, it did not chart until its re-release in January

*** Today in rock music history 17 May: *** 1968, 50 years ago the movie Wonderwall premiered at Cannes Film Festival. The movie is best known for its George Harrison-composed soundtrack. Harrison attended

*** Today in music history 15 May *** 2008: 10 years ago Neal Diamond scored his first number one charting LP with "Home Before Dark". This was his career 27th studio album, released at age 67,