Pick a Day

Music History Events: Milestones

January 8, 1972 Dennis Coffey becomes the first white performer on Soul Train, performing his hit "Scorpio."

April 13, 1970 Loretta Lynn becomes the first female country artist with a gold album when Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind), featuring the chart-topping title song, is certified by the RIAA.

October 16, 1965 The Family Dog hosts A Tribute to Dr. Strange at the Longshoreman's Hall in San Francisco. It's the world's first full-scale psychedelic music show, drawing inspiration from the Charlatans' six-week Red Dog Saloon residency.

June 21, 1965 The Charlatans begin a six-week residency at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada. These are the first psychedelic shows ever, and the poster promoting the event (later called "the Seed") is the world's first-ever psychedelic music poster.More

March 8, 1963 "Please Please Me" by The Beatles shows up at #40 on the Chicago radio station WLS' weekly Silver Dollar Survey, marking the first time a Beatles song makes a radio station survey in America. WLS very likely became the first US radio station to play a Beatles song when they put "Please Please Me" on the air.

January 26, 1963 Dionne Warwick lands her first solo hit when her debut single, "Don't Make Me Over," peaks at #21 on the Hot 100. It also marks the beginning of her longtime collaboration with songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

July 25, 1959 Introduced by Johnny Cash, 13-year-old Dolly Parton makes her Grand Ole Opry debut singing George Jones' "You Gotta Be My Baby." She receives three encores.

April 20, 1959 Thirteen-year-old Dolly Parton releases her first single, the rockabilly-style love tune "Puppy Love."

November 28, 1957 Harry Belafonte becomes the first black man to hit #1 in the UK when "Mary's Boy Child" tops the chart. The single stays at #1 for seven weeks and becomes a Christmas favorite.

January 7, 1955 Marian Anderson is the first African-American singer to appear at the Metropolitan Opera. Her performance as Ulrica in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera breaks barriers for black artists in the States.

September 12, 1943 Frank Sinatra starts his film career when he signs a 7-year contract with RKO Pictures.

February 15, 1928 "Among My Souvenirs" is the top song in America according to Variety.