October 2, 1962 Sigtryggur Baldursson (drummer for The Sugarcubes) is born in Norway to Icelandic parents.
October 1, 1962 Johnny Carson's Tonight Show makes its debut. The theme song ("Johnny's Theme") is written by Paul Anka, but as part of the deal, Carson writes some lyrics for the song that are published, but never used, earning him half of the royalties from the song, which are substantial, as the song runs throughout Carson's 30-year tenure on the show.
October 1, 1962 The Beach Boys release their first album, Surfin' Safari, which includes their debut single, "Surfin'." The album climbs to #32 in the US.More
September 29, 1962 After a wildly successful six-and-a-half-year run, the musical My Fair Lady closes on Broadway.
September 21, 1962 A year and a half before The Beatles break in America, The Springfields' "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" becomes the first British song to reach the Top 20 in the US. Later, member Dusty Springfield would have several more solo hits of her own.
September 18, 1962 Synthpop singer Joanne Catherall (of The Human League) is born in Sheffield, England.
September 15, 1962 The Four Seasons' "Sherry" hits #1 for the first of five weeks.
September 13, 1962 Frank Sinatra begins filming the movie Come Blow Your Horn, adapted from the hit Neil Simon play.
September 11, 1962 At Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles record their first British singles: "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You."
September 10, 1962 The BBC bans Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Halloween novelty single "Monster Mash," finding it in poor taste. However, in 1973 the radio giant lifts the ban, sending a re-release of the holiday favorite to #3.
September 1, 1962 Tommy Roe's "Sheila," which he wrote when he was just 14, hits #1 in America for the first of two weeks.
August 27, 1962 Gospel singer Yolanda Adams is born in Singapore to American parents. She will be raised in Houston, Texas. Known for her 1999 Grammy-award-winning album, Mountain High... Valley Low.
August 25, 1962 Vivian Campbell, who would replace the late Steve Clark as guitarist for Def Leppard, is born in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
August 25, 1962 Little Eva, who takes care of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's daughter, takes their song "The Loco-Motion" to #1 in America.
August 23, 1962 John Lennon marries Cynthia Powell at the Registrar office in Liverpool with Paul McCartney as best man. His wedding night is spent playing a gig with The Beatles at the nearby Riverpark Ballroom.
August 23, 1962 Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder is born in Lancashire, England. He likens his lyrics to comic-strip stories, with different narratives pieced together. You'll hear it on songs like "Kinky Afro" and "Loose Fit."
August 18, 1962 The Beatles perform at the 17th annual fete for the Birkenhead, England, Horticultural Society at the local Hulme Hall, a gig notable as the first time Ringo Starr will play onstage with the band. Ringo had prepared for two hours with the group beforehand.
August 16, 1962 Stevie Wonder's first single is released: "I Call It Pretty Music (But Old People Call It The Blues)." Motown newbie Marvin Gaye plays drums on the track.
August 16, 1962 Pete Best is fired as drummer for The Beatles, replaced by Ringo Starr. The group's manager Brian Epstein does the firing by calling Best into his record shop and giving him the bad news.
August 11, 1962 Neil Sedaka's "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" hits #1 for the first of two weeks.
August 11, 1962 Tony Bennett releases "Once Upon A Time" b/w "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." When DJs begin flipping over the record and playing the b-side, "San Francisco" climbs to #19 on the charts and eventually wins Bennett Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Solo Vocal Performance.
August 5, 1962 Marilyn Monroe dies of a barbiturate overdose at age 36 in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California. Musically, she's known for an iconic performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."
August 2, 1962 Aretha Franklin makes her television debut, singing "Don't Cry Baby" and "Try A Little Tenderness" on American Bandstand.
July 28, 1962 Singer/actress Rachel Sweet is born in Akron, Ohio. Recorded the hit "Everlasting Love" with Rex Smith.
July 16, 1962 The Beach Boys sign to Capitol Records, which has already released the group's single "Surfin' Safari."
July 15, 1962 Héctor Angulo, a Cuban student attending the Manhattan School of Music, plays the song "Guantanamera" for Pete Seeger during the Folk Festival of the Catskills at Camp Woodland in Phoenicia, New York, where Angulo is working as a counselor for the summer. Seeger learns the song and adds it to his repertoire, introducing it to American audiences.
July 14, 1962 Bobby Vinton's "Roses Are Red (My Love)" hits #1 for the first of four weeks.
July 12, 1962 The Rolling Stones make their live debut at the Marquee Club in London subbing for Long John Baldry's Blues Incorporated. The band members are Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Dick Taylor, Ian Stewart and future Kink Mick Avory.
July 10, 1962 NASA launches the Telstar 1 satellite, the first active communications satellite, inspiring the Tornadoes' instrumental hit "Telstar" later that year.
July 10, 1962 Christopher "Play" Martin (of Kid 'N Play) is born in Queens, New York City.
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