History Highlight:

On this day in 1969, the Beatles' last public performance featuring Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr took place on the roof of Apple Records in London during recording sessions for Let It Be. With keyboardist Billy Preston, the group played multiple takes of “Get Back,” “Don’t Let Me Down,” “I’ve Got A Feeling,” “The One After 909,” and “Dig A Pony.” The impromptu concert was broken up by the police. Footage from the performance was central in the 2021 documentary series The Beatles: Get Back, and three tracks featured on Let It Be were recordings from this rooftop performance.

Also, Today In:

1956 - Elvis began laying down tracks at RCA Victor's New York studios for what would be his first album. One of the memorable tunes recorded on this day was Presley's version of Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes."

1958 - Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" enters the UK chart at #1, the first single ever to do so.

1961 - The Shirelles became the first girl group to have the No. 1 song on the U.S. chart when "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" (also known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow") reached the top, and peaked at No. 4 in the U.K. The song has since been recorded by many artists over the years, including a 1971 version by co-writer Carole King. Fun fact about The Shirelles: they were founded in 1957 for a talent show at their high school.

1971 - Janis Joplin released her most successful single "Me And Bobby McGee" posthumously, as she had died the previous October of an overdose. The song was written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster, originally performed by Roger Miller.

1973 - After recently 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.

1975 - The Bee Gees begin recording "Jive Talkin", which became their second U.S. chart topper and No. 5 U.K. hit.

1982 - Influential blues guitarist Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins died of cancer in Houston.

1984 - Berry Gordy’s son Kennedy “Rockwell” Gordy released Somebody’s Watching Me featuring the hit single of the same name (with Michael Jackson singing the chorus). The album also features “Obscene Phone Caller” and a cover of the Beatles’ “Taxman.”

1988 - Tiffany was at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "I Think We're Alone Now", the singer's only U.K. No. 1 single. In the U.S., it peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was a hit for Tommy James & The Shondells in 1967.

1989 - New Order released Technique, featuring the singles “Fine Time” and “Round & Round.” It was the group’s first No. 1 album in the U.K.

1990 - The Stone Roses, not happy with plans to re-release their single "Sally Cinnamon," trashed the offices of Revolver FM, their London-based record company, and then hurled paint on cars parked outside. They were later arrested and charged.

1995 - Simple Minds released their 10th studio album, Good News from the Next World. It features “She’s a River.”

2010 - Neil Young was named the MusiCares Person of the Year for his "influential artistic accomplishments and philanthropic work". A string of artist including Elton John, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, John Fogerty, Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crow performed his songs as he was honored by the U.S. Recording Academy at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

2013 - Mick Jagger was named the most stylish rock star of all time by lifestyle website Complex. Jagger lead their top 50 list ahead of Prince, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious and Keith Richards. Complex stated "Even today, he wears silk scarves and suits with more rakish appeal than most men - and he's pushing 70." (He is now 79.)

2013 - Patty Andrews (lead singer of The Andrews Sisters) dies at age 94. She was the youngest and last surviving member of the group of singing sisters.

2016 - David Bowie's Blackstar album hits #1 in America, 20 days after his death. It's Bowie's first #1 album in the States.

2021 - Scottish music producer, songwriter, and DJ Sophie died at age 34 in a hospital after an accidental fall in Athens, Greece. They were attempting to take a photo of the full moon and fell from a rooftop.

Birthdays:

Jefferson Airplane co-founder Marty Balin was born today in 1942.

Today in 1947, Stephen Peter Marriott — songwriter and frontman of Small Faces and Humble Pie — was born. Marriott was in the Small Faces from 1965-1969 and 1977-1978, and in Humble Pie from 1969-1975 and 1980-1981. He was known for his powerful voice, often-photographed mod style, and small stature (he was 5'5"). He died of a house fire in 1991 at the age of 44 and was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of Small Faces.

Phil Collins is 73.

Jody Watley is 65.

Andy Milonakis is 48.

Kid Cudi is 40.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.