Events in Music History in 1969

  • Jan 2 Allan Sherman and Albert Hague's musical "The Fig Leaves Are Falling", starring Dorothy Loudon, Barry Nelson, and David Cassidy, opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 4 performances
  • Jan 2 The Beatles begin rehearsals, while being filmed, for the Let It Be project at Twickenham Film Studios, London

"Two Virgins"

Jan 3 John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Two Virgins" album declared pornographic in New Jersey

  • Jan 4 Allan Sherman and Albert Hague's musical "The Fig Leaves Are Falling", starring Dorothy Loudon, Barry Nelson, and David Cassidy, closes at Broadhurst Theatre, NYC, after 4 performances
  • Jan 5 "Maggie Flynn" closes at ANTA Theater NYC after 82 performances

"Bayou Country"

Jan 5 Creedence Clearwater Revival release their second album "Bayou Country", featuring singles "Good Golly, Miss Molly" and "Proud Mary"

I'm Livin' In Shame

Jan 6 The Supremes release single "I'm Livin' In Shame"

  • Jan 7 Dance Theatre of Harlem ballet school opens in a church basement
  • Jan 11 "Hooked on a Feeling" by BJ Thomas peaks at #5
  • Jan 12 Atlantic Records releases eponymous debut album of Led Zeppelin in US
  • Jan 12 Walter Marks' musical "Golden Rainbow", starring Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé closes at the George Abbott Theatre, NYC, after 383 performances
  • Jan 22 "Celebration" opens at Ambassador Theater NYC for 110 performances
  • Jan 26 "Red, White, & Maddox" opens at Cort Theater NYC for 41 performances
  • Jan 30 The Beatles perform their last live gig, a 42 minute concert on the roof of Apple Corps HQ in London, England

"Canterbury Tales"

Feb 3 Musical adaptation of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales", opens at Eugene O'Neill Theater, NYC; runs for 121 performances

  • Feb 4 Beatles appoint Eastman & Eastman as general counsel to Apple Records
  • Feb 6 Jerry Herman's "Dear World" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 132 performances

This Is Tom Jones

Feb 7 "This Is Tom Jones" debuts on ABC TV

  • Feb 7 British rock band The Who record their song "Pinball Wizard" at Morgan Studio's, London
  • Feb 13 Launch party for Mary Hopkin's debut album "Post Card", at the Post Office Tower restaurant in London, England; attendees include producer Paul McCartney, songwriter Donovan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Brian Jones, and Tony Visconti
  • Feb 17 "Cloud Nine" 9th studio album by The Temptations is released (Grammy Award Best Rhythm & Blues Performance by a Duo or Group 1969, Billboard Album of the Year 1969)

Music Recording

Feb 17 Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash record an album; it is never released

  • Feb 21 Apple Records releases Mary Hopkin's debut album "Post Card", in the UK, produced by Paul McCartney
  • Feb 22 Beatles begin recording what becomes their "Abbey Road" album at EMI Recording Studio at 3 Abbey Road in Westminster, London, England; the studio was later renamed in honor of their achievements there
  • Mar 1 "Red, White, & Maddox" closes at Cort Theater NYC after 41 performances
  • Mar 1 After 88 weeks, the Beatles' album "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" drops off the charts

Music History

Mar 1 Jim Morrison allegedly exposes himself on stage at the Dinner Key Auditorium in Miami, Florida

Music History

Mar 2 Dmitri Shostakovich completes his 14th Symphony

  • Mar 3 Apple Records releases Mary Hopkin's debut album "Post Card", in the US, produced by Paul McCartney: US version substitutes her earlier hit singles for two tracks included on the UK version

Grammy Awards

Mar 12 11th Grammy Awards: "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" by Glen Campbell wins best record

  • Mar 16 Sherman Edwards' historical musical "1776", starring William Daniels and Ken Howard, opens at 46th St Theater (transferring to the St. James, and later the Majestic), NYC; runs for 1217 performances, winning 3 Tony Awards
  • Mar 18 "Come Summer" opens at Lunt Fontanne Theater NYC for 7 performances
  • Mar 22 "Come Summer" closes at Lunt Fontanne Theater NYC after 7 performances

Music Concert

Mar 25 American singer Judy Garland’s gives what becomes her very last concert, at Falkoner Centret in Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Mar 25 Beatle John Lennon and new wife Yoko Ono stage their 1st bed-in for peace, at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Mar 29 14th Eurovision Song Contest: Salome of Spain ("Vivo cantando"), Lulu of United Kingdom ("Boom Bang-a-Bang"), Lenny Kuhr of Netherlands ("De troubadour"), and Frida Boccara of France ("Un jour, un enfant") all win in Madrid, Spain
  • Apr 17 The Band (formerly The Hawks), perform their 1st concert, at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California
  • Apr 20 23rd Tony Awards: "The Great White Hope" (play) & "1776" (musical) win

Music History

Apr 24 Paul McCartney says there is no truth to rumors he is dead

  • Apr 26 "Celebration" closes at Ambassador Theater NYC after 110 performances
  • Apr 26 "George M!" closes at Palace Theater NYC after 435 performances
  • Apr 28 4th Academy of Country Music Awards: Glen Campbell and Cathie Taylor win
  • Apr 28 British progressive rock band King Crimson with Robert Fripp, Greg Lake & Ian McDonald debuts
  • Apr 29 "Trumpets of the Lord" opens at Brooks Atkinson NYC for 7 performances

Clouds

May 1 Reprise Records releases "Clouds", Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell's 2nd studio album

  • May 3 "Trumpets of the Lord" closes at Brooks Atkinson NYC after 7 performances

Music History

May 16 Barbra Streisand appears at a Friars Club Tribute

Music History

May 16 The Who's Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey charged with assault

  • May 17 "My Wife, My Dog, My Cat" by Maskman & The Agents hits #92
  • May 18 "Canterbury Tales" closes at Eugene O'Neill Theater NYC after 122 performances
  • May 23 The Who release rock opera "Tommy"
  • May 24 "Sugar, Sugar" single released by cartoon band The Archies (Billboard Song of the Year, 1969)
  • May 24 Beatles' "Get Back" single goes #1 and stays #1 for 5 weeks
  • May 26 John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their 2nd bed-in for peace at Hotel La Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  • May 29 Atlantic Records releases the eponymous debut album of "Crosby, Stills & Nash"; it contains hits 'Marrakesh Express' and 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes'
  • May 31 "Dear World" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 132 performances

Music History

May 31 "Gitarzan" by Ray Stevens peaks at #8

  • May 31 John Lennon and Yoko Ono record "Give Peace a Chance" in a Montreal hotel, during their second 'bed-in' for peace; other performers include Tommy Smothers, Petula Clark, Timothy Leary, and Dick Gregory

My Cherie Amour

May 31 Stevie Wonder releases the single "My Cherie Amour" which goes on to become a soul classic

  • Jun 4 Beatles release "The Ballad Of John & Yoko" (recorded by just John and Paul), backed with George Harrison's song, "Old Brown Shoe" in the US

Johnny Cash Show

Jun 7 "Johnny Cash Show" debuts on ABC-TV

  • Jun 7 Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash perform duet on a "Grand Ole Opry" TV special

Music Premiere

Jun 7 Supergroup Blind Faith's debut performance in Hyde Park, London, featuring Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Steve Baler and Rick Grech

  • Jun 7 Tommy James and the Shondells release single "Crystal Blue Persuasion"

Brian Jones Leaves Rolling Stones

Jun 8 Guitarist Brian Jones is asked to leave the Rolling Stones, replaced by Mick Taylor

Music History

Jun 9 Brian Jones leaves the Rolling Stones after developing a serious drug problem

#1 in the Charts

Jun 11 "The Ballad Of John & Yoko" by The Beatles hits #1 in UK; recording involved only John (guitars, vocals, percussion) and Paul (bass, drums, piano, backing voice)

Newport '69

Jun 20 200,000 attend Newport '69, then largest-ever pop concert in Northridge, California. Jimi Hendrix gets $120,000 to appear

  • Jun 21 Dmitri Shostakovich's 14th Symphony premieres in Moscow
  • Jun 21 Zager & Evans release "In the Year 2525"
  • Jun 27 Denver Pop Festival opens; 50,000 attend; Frank Zappa, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Jimi Hendrix headline; other performers include Three Dog Night, Tim Buckley, Big Mama Thornton, Johnny Winter, Joe Cocker, and Poco
  • Jul 1 John Lennon and Yoko Ono are admitted to hospital after he crashes his car near Durness in the Scottish Highlands
  • Jul 2 American guitarist Leslie West and producer, bassist Felix Pappalardi form rock group Mountain

Music History

Jul 3 Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, Rhode Island opens, 78, 000 attend over 4 days; performers include: George Benson; Blood, Sweat, and Tears; Jeff Beck; James Brown; Bill Evans; Sun Ra; Mothers of Invention; Dave Brubeck; Miles Davis; Stephane Grapelli; and Sly & The Family Stone

  • Jul 4 "Give Peace a Chance" single by John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band is released in UK

Music History

Jul 4 140,000 attend 2-day Atlanta Pop Festival in Byron, Georgia; performers include: Janis Joplin; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Chicago; Led Zeppelin; Delaney and Bonnie; Creedence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat; Joe Cocker; Chuck Berry; Spirit; and Johnny Winter

  • Jul 5 Rolling Stones play a free concert in London's Hyde Park

Music History

Jul 6 "Ned Kelly" starring Mick Jagger begins filming in and around Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia

Space Oddity

Jul 11 David Bowie releases the single "Space Oddity" 9 days before Apollo 11 lands on the moon

  • Jul 11 Rolling Stones release "Honky Tonk Woman"

Music History

Jul 22 Aretha Franklin arrested for disorderly conduct following a traffi accident in Highland Park, Michigan; charges were later dropped

Music History

Jul 25 70,000 attend Seattle Pop Festival (across 3 days); performers included: Bo Diddley, Flying Burrito Brothers, Ten Years After, Guess Who, Santana, Tim Buckley, Byrds, Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Chicago Transit Authority, Chuck Berry, Led Zeppelin, and The Doors

Music History

Aug 1 3-day Atlantic City Pop Festival opens at the Atlantic City Race Course in Hamilton Township, New Jersey; performers include: Procol Harum; Joni Mitchell; Chicago; Santana; Little Richard; Booker T and the MG's; Sir Douglas Quintet; Janis Joplin; Jefferson Airplane, B.B. King; The Byrds; Creedence Clearwater Revival; Tim Buckley; Hugh Masekela; Dr. John; and The Mothers of Invention; attendance estimated at 110,000

  • Aug 2 Bob Dylan makes surprise appearance at his 10th high school reunion, in Hibbing, Minnesota
  • Aug 8 The Beatles are photographed by Iain MacMillan crossing the street as they walk away from EMI Recording Studios, for the cover of their "Abbey Road" album [1]
  • Aug 9 Kander and Ebbs' musical "Zorba" closes at Imperial Theater, NYC, after 305 performances

Woodstock Music and Art Fair

Aug 15 Woodstock Festival opens in Bethel, New York on Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm; performers include Richie Havens, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, and Joan Baez

  • Aug 16 Second day of the Woodstock Festival in Bethel, New York; performers include Santana, John Sebastian; Mountain, Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, The Who, and Jefferson Airplane
  • Aug 17 Woodstock Festival closes with Jimi Hendrix / Band of Gypsys as final act (taking the stage at 9AM on the 18th); other performers included Joe Cocker, Country Joe MacDonald & The Fish, The Band, CSN&Y, and Sha Na Na
  • Aug 18 Mick Jagger accidentally shot while filming "Ned Kelly" in Australia; he survives

Music History

Aug 19 Film adaptation of Arlo Guthrie's song "Alice's Restaurant", directed by Arthur Penn, and starring Guthrie premieres

  • Aug 22 The Beatles last official group photo session, at John & Yoko's home 'Tittenhurst Park', near Ascot

Sky River Rock Festival

Aug 30 3-day 2nd Annual Sky River Rock Festival opens in Tenino Washington - 25,000 attend; performers include: James Cotton; Country Joe and the Fish; Flying Burrito Brothers; Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks; Mississippi Fred McDowelll; Steve Miller Band; and Sons of Champlin

  • Aug 30 3-day New Orleans Pop Festival opens - 25,000 attend; performers include: Spiral Staircase;. Rex; The Byrds; Janis Joplin: Grateful Dead; Chicago; Dr. John; and Santana
  • Aug 30 3-day Texas International Pop Festival opens in Lewisville, Texas - 125,000 attend; performers include: Chicago Transit Authority; Delaney and Bonnie and Friends; Grand Funk Railroad; Janis Joplin; B.B. King; Led Zeppelin; Nazz; Sam and Dave; Sly and the Family Stone; and Johnny Winter

Music History

Sep 6 John Kander and Fred Ebb's "Cabaret" closes at Broadhurst Theater, NYC, after 1166 performances and 8 Tony Awards

  • Sep 13 Plastic Ono Band's 1st live performance, featuring John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Eric Clapton, at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival

Music History

Sep 18 American singer Tiny Tim (37) and Victoria "Miss Vicki" Budinger (17) get engaged

  • Sep 20 John Lennon privately announces to Paul and Ringo (George was not there) that he is leaving "The Beatles" at a London business meeting
  • Sep 20 Virtual 'cartoon' band Archies' single "Sugar Sugar" hits #1
  • Sep 22 "Music Scene" debuts on ABC-TV
  • Sep 23 Northern Star and Illinois Univ newspaper start rumors that Paul McCartney is dead

Music History

Sep 24 1st Elvis convention, 2500 fans attend in Cincinnati

  • Sep 26 Apple Records releases The Beatles 11th studio album "Abbey Road", their final recordings as a quartet; tops the charts in 11 countries
  • Oct 9 The Supremes release single "Someday We'll Be Together", Diana Ross' last recording with the group

Music History

Oct 10 "Jesus Christ Superstar" soundtrack album by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is recorded

  • Oct 10 British progressive rock band King Crimson releases their debut album "In The Court Of The Crimson King"

Music History

Oct 11 American blues musician Muddy Waters involved in a car crash that kills 3

Music History

Oct 18 British singer Rod Stewart joins rock band Small Faces

  • Oct 19 Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's musical "The Rothschilds", starring Halden, Jill Clayburgh, and Robby Benson opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, NYC; runs for 505 performances, winning 2 Tony Awards
  • Oct 22 Paul McCartney denies greatly exaggerated rumors of his death
  • Oct 23 "Jimmy" opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 84 performances
  • Oct 31 George Harrison's "Something" is released by the Beatles as a single in UK, his first "A" side
  • Nov 1 The Beatles' "Abbey Road" album goes #1 in US and stays #1 for 11 weeks
  • Nov 7 John Lennon and Yoko Ono release their second album "Wedding Album" in UK

An Evening with Julie Andrews & Harry Belafonte

Nov 9 "An Evening with Julie Andrews and Harry Belafonte ", music special with arrangements by Michel Legrand, premieres on NBC-TV

Get Back

Nov 11 Apple Records releases single "Get Back" by 'The Beatles with Billy Preston' in UK

  • Nov 11 Jim Morrison arrested on an airplane by the FBI for drunkenness
  • Nov 15 Janis Joplin, accused of vulgar & indicent language in Tampa, Florida
  • Nov 25 John Lennon returns MBE to protest "against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts."
  • Nov 29 The Beatles' single "Something / Come Together" reaches #1

Neil Diamond

Nov 30 American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond makes his only appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show", singing "Sweet Caroline" and "Holly, Holy"

Buck White

Dec 2 Oscar Brown, Jr's musical "Buck White", starring Muhammad Ali, opens at George Abbott Theatre, NYC, runs for 7 performances

Come and Get It

Dec 5 Apple Records releases the single "Come and Get It" by the band Badfinger; track was written and produced by Paul McCartney for the dark comedy film "The Magic Christian" starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr

  • Dec 6 300,000 attend free concert featuring The Rolling Stones in Altamont, California; the event is marred by violence and four deaths
  • Dec 6 Oscar Brown, Jr's musical "Buck White", starring Muhammad Ali, closes at George Abbott Theatre, NYC, after 7 performances

The Magic Christian

Dec 12 Comedy film "The Magic Christian", starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr premieres in London, England

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Dec 14 "Leaving on a Jet Plane" single sung by Peter, Paul and Mary, written by John Denver, hits #1 on US Billboard's Hot Top 100

  • Dec 14 One of the most catastrophic flops in the history of showbusiness - the musical "La Strada" opens and closes at Lunt Fontanne NYC after 1 performance
  • Dec 15 John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band, play their only European gig - appearing in UNICEF charity concert at London's Lyceum Ballroom, band is augmented by Bonnie & Delaney Bramlett, guitarists George Harrison and Eric Clapton, and keyboardist Billy Preston
  • Dec 16 "War is Over! If You Want It, Happy Christmas from John & Yoko" posters begin appearing
  • Dec 16 Film adaptation of "Hello Dolly" starring Barbra Streisand premieres; wins 3 Academy Awards

Coco

Dec 18 André Previn and Alan Jay Lerner's musical "Coco", inspired by the life of Coco Chanel, and starring Katharine Hepburn, opens at Mark Hellinger Theatre, NYC; runs for 329 performances, wins 2 Tony Awards

  • Dec 19 Beatle's 7th Christmas fan-club single is released

"Leaving On A Jet Plane"

Dec 20 Peter, Paul & Mary's cover of John Denver's song "Leaving On A Jet Plane" reaches #1

  • Dec 21 Diana Ross' final TV appearance as a Supreme on "The Ed Sullivan Show", performing “Someday We’ll Be Together", after which Sullivan announced her upcoming departure from the group