This Day in Music
On this day in music, January 30, 1969, The Beatles made a media splash when they played an unannounced gig on the roof of the Apple Corps building in London. The lunchtime set marked the legendary band’s final live performance. Joined by keyboardist Billy Preston, the group played 42 minutes of new material, including multiple takes of “Get Back,” “Don’t Let Me Down,” “I’ve Got A Feeling,” “The One After 909,” and “Dig A Pony.” Chaos ensued when fans learned about the impromptu performance and traffic was brought to a standstill, as crowds of people gathered below and watched from the windows and rooftops of nearby buildings. John Lennon ended the performance by saying, “I’d like to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition.”
In 1961, The Shirelles became the first Black girl group to have a No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” The song, penned by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, was also a success in the UK, peaking at No.4.
In 1999, after an 11-week run on the chart, Britney Spears topped the Billboard Hot 100 with her iconic debut single, “…Baby One More Time.” That same day, the pop star’s debut album of the same name also went to No.1.
In 1956, Elvis Presley began a two-day session at New York City’s RCA Studios to record the final tracks for his self-titled debut. The repertoire included a cover of Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes,” a song that would become synonymous with the iconic star.
In 1973, after changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss made their first appearance as KISS at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York.
BORN ON JANUARY 30
1928: Ruth Brown
1942: Marty Balin (Jefferson Airplane)
1947: Steve Marriott (Small Faces)
1951: Phil Collins
1961: Jody Watley
