Music

February 9
A report by the American Research Bureau cites Dick Clark’s American Bandstand as the top-ranked daytime television program, drawing an average of 8,400,000 viewers per day.

1959 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Lloyd Price reached number one on the Billboard Pop chart with “Stagger Lee”, an up-dated version of an 1911 Folk song called “Stack-O-Lee” that was based on the murder of William “Billy” Lyons by Stagger Lee Shelton. Wilson Pickett would take the song to number 22 in 1967.

1962 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Neil Sedaka records “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”, which will become his fifth US Top Ten hit and first number one by the following August. Neil’s ballad version of the song would peak at number eight in February 1976.

1963 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Ray Hildebrand and Jill Jackson, who were billed as Paul And Paula, had the top tune in the US with “Hey Paula”. It made #8 in the UK.

1964 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
The Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which was watched by over 73 million people (60% of the viewing audience). The Fab Four performed “All My Loving”, “Till There Was You”, “She Loves You”, “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. Before their performance, Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein told Sullivan, “I would like to know the exact wording of your introduction.” Sullivan replied, “I would like you to get lost.” Also performing on the show was a future member of The Monkees, Davy Jones, who appeared as part of the cast of Oliver.

1972 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Paul McCartney’s Wings make their concert debut at Nottingham University in England.

1975 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Cher‘s solo weekly TV show premieres on CBS with guest Elton John.

1976 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Percy Faith, who led his orchestra to the top of the Billboard Pop chart with “Theme From A Summer Place” in 1960, died of cancer at the age of 62. Between 1950 and 1973, Faith charted in the US Top 40 sixteen times.

1979 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
A Birmingham, England band called UB40 play their first ever gig at a pub in their hometown. The Reggae group took their name from the UK unemployment benefit form.

1981 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Rock and Roll pioneer, Bill Haley died of a heart attack at the age of 55. He was still a big star in Europe and in Mexico where his “Twist” album was the best selling LP of all time for many years. Haley was getting ready to release a new Country And Western album when he passed away in Harlingen, Texas. He had been suffering from a brain tumor and had given his last concert in South Africa in April of 1980. During his career, Bill Haley sold over 60 million records.

2004 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Diana Ross began serving a two day jail sentence for an Arizona drunk driving conviction at the Greenwich Police Department in upscale Greenwich, where she lives. The former lead singer for the Supremes was arrested December 30th, 2002, after tests showed she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20 percent. Arizona’s legal limit for drivers is 0.08.

2005 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Tyrone Davis, best known for his hits “Turn Back The Hands of Time” and “Can I Change My Mind”, died from complications following a stroke. He was 66.

2010 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr became the 2,401st person to be added to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame during a ceremony that marked the 50th anniversary of the attraction’s groundbreaking. The Beatles as a group were given a star in 1998.

2012 – ClassicBands.com

February 9
Paul McCartney finally got his own star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, becoming the last of the four Beatles to get the honor. His star was placed outside the Capitol Records building, alongside those of band members John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.