Music History on August 12

  • 1856 Anthony Faas, of Philadelphia Pennsylvania, is granted a second patent for improvements to the accordion (Patent No. 15511A)
  • 1966 Last Beatle concert tour of North America begins with two shows at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1966 Longview, Texas radio station KLUE holds a "Beatles Bonfire" to burn Beatles records and memorabilia; station is struck by lightning the following day

Music History

1966 The Beatles hold press conference at the Astor Tower Hotel, in Chicago, Illinois; John Lennon apologizes for his "more popular than Jesus" remark

Oh! Calcutta! - The Bare Facts

1972 "Oh! Calcutta!" closes at Belasco Theater in NYC after 1316 performances

A Funny Thing

1972 Revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical-comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", starring Phil Silvers, closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater, NYC, after 156 performances

  • 1979 "Whoopee!" closes at ANTA Theater NYC after 204 performances

One-Trick Pony

1980 Warner Bros, Records releases "One-Trick Pony", the fifth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon; it features the song "Late in the Evening" and was accompanied by a dramatic film of the same name, written by and starring Simon

Metallica

1991 Heavy metal band Metallica release their 5th album "Metallica"; debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 chart

MTV Unplugged

1999 Shakira records her first live album in New York City, titled "MTV Unplugged"

Music History

2015 US Postal Service issues a second postage stamp featuring rock singer Elvis Presley, as part of its Music Icon series; design is a black & white photograph taken by William Speer in 1955

  • 2021 Britney Spear's father says he will step down as her conservator after the singer called his conservatorship abusive, amid a #FreeBritney campaign