Pick a Day

Music History Events: Awards and Honors

February 19, 1977 At the Grammy Awards, Stevie Wonder earns his third Album Of The Year trophy with Songs in the Key of Life. "I Write The Songs" by Barry Manilow wins Song Of The Year, an award that goes to Bruce Johnston, who wrote it.

June 29, 1976 The Memphis City Council votes to change Elvis' home street, Highway 51 South, to "Elvis Presley Boulevard."

May 16, 1976 Mayor James H. McGee declares today "Ohio Players Day" in the band's hometown of Dayton, Ohio.

March 7, 1976 Elton John becomes the first rock star since The Beatles to be immortalized at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London.

February 20, 1976 Kiss immortalize their hand prints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

February 10, 1976 Elvis Presley is made an honorary Captain in the Memphis Police Department.

November 8, 1975 John Lennon names his good friend Elton John the godfather of his new son, Sean.

October 23, 1975 As part of "Elton John Week" in Los Angeles, Elton is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6901 Hollywood Blvd.

September 17, 1975 Mayor Stephen Juba of Winnipeg, Canada, declares today "Guess Who Day" in honor of its native sons.

March 1, 1975 At the Grammy Awards, Olivia Newton-John takes Record of the Year for "I Honestly Love You," Barbra Streisand wins Song of the Year for "The Way Were," and Stevie Wonder gets Album of the Year for Fulfillingness' First Finale.

January 18, 1975 Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago officially declares today Bobby Vinton Day as a tribute to the artist.

November 7, 1974 Hard rocker Ted Nugent (of The Amboy Dukes) becomes national squirrel shooting champion.

March 2, 1974 Stevie Wonder wins four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Innervisions. Gladys Knight & The Pips win for "Neither One of Us" (Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group or Chorus) and "Midnight Train To Georgia" (Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Group).

March 2, 1974 Olivia Newton-John wins the Grammy for Best Female Vocal Country Performance for "Let Me Be There." Country veterans are miffed, but reach full outrage when she takes the CMA award for Female Vocalist of the Year.

August 15, 1973 Baltimore, Maryland, declares today "Cass Elliot Day" in honor of the native singer for The Mamas & The Papas.

July 21, 1973 "Mary Wilson Day" is declared in Detroit in honor of The Supremes member.

May 1, 1973 Washington, DC, mayor Walter Washington officially declares today Marvin Gaye day in the singer's hometown.

March 27, 1973 Liza Minnelli wins an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Cabaret, beating out Diana Ross, who starred in Lady Sings The Blues.

March 3, 1973 The live album The Concert for Bangla Desh, taken from the Madison Square Garden benefit concert organized by George Harrison, and featuring Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton, wins the Grammy for Album of the Year.

October 30, 1972 Nine years after The Beatles did it, Elton John becomes the second rock act to play a Command Performance for Britain's royalty.

August 11, 1972 The mayor of San Antonio, Texas, declares today "Cheech and Chong Day" after the popular comedy duo, although neither was born anywhere near the city.

March 14, 1972 Carole King's Tapestry takes Album of The Year at the Grammy Awards. Carly Simon wins for Best New Artist.

February 14, 1972 Blaming burnout, Steppenwolf break up for the first time, saying, "We were locked into an image and style of music and there was nothing for us to look forward to." The group, which released six albums from 1968-1971, get back together in 1974.

January 17, 1972 Highway 51 South in Memphis, Tennessee, is renamed "Elvis Presley Blvd."

December 17, 1970 The Beach Boys play a Royal Command Performance for Princess Margaret at London's Royal Albert Hall.

October 11, 1970 Elvis Presley is made an honorary "special" deputy sheriff of Bel Air, California.

June 9, 1970 Bob Dylan receives an honorary Doctorate of Music from Princeton University. Dylan attends the ceremony on a hot day, during which the noise made by 17-year cicadas apparently drowns out his introduction. The experience inspires his 1970 song "Day Of The Locusts."

March 11, 1970 The 5th Dimension win the Record of the Year Grammy for "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In." Blood, Sweat & Tears, nominated for a record 11 awards, win three, including Album of the Year. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young win Best New Artist.

December 31, 1969 A BBC TV special declares John Lennon Man Of The Decade on the same day that Rolling Stone names him Man Of The Year and New Musical Express quotes him as saying he's thinking of leaving The Beatles.

April 14, 1969 Barbra Streisand (in Funny Girl) ties Katherine Hepburn (in The Lion In Winter) for the Best Actress Academy Award.