Few events took place on September 13 in Entertainment History but those that did really stood out. A 14-year old girl met the man she would marry, an iconic song was released in America, rock and roll fans in Canada got a very special treat, a peace song for the ages was released, and a rock legend passed.
1959 – 14-year old Priscilla Beaulieu met 24-year old Elvis Presley at a party at his off base home in Bad Nauheim, West Germany during his stint in the U.S. Army.
Initially, Priscilla’s parents forbade her from seeing Elvis again, upset that she had come home late the night of the party. He soon convinced them to allow him to “court” her … and I guess we all know how that turned out.
1965 – The Beatles released Yesterday as a single in the U.S.
Written by Paul McCartney – who was the only member of the band to appear on the record – Yesterday shot to #1 on the Billboard singles chart and swiftly became the most-played song on American radio, a position it held for eight consecutive years.
In England, the song appeared on the Help! soundtrack – although it wasn’t included in the film – but was not released as a single until 1976 when Parlophone finally released it in the UK. The single peaked at #8 on the UK Singles Chart.
With over 3,000 cover versions by other artists, Yesterday holds the record as the most covered song in history, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
1969 – The Plastic Ono Band, until then John Lennon’s conceptual group with no members, performed at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival.
The festival was headlined by The Doors, and also featured Bo Diddley, Chicago Transit Authority, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, and Little Richard, but the 20,000 in attendance – who had no idea Lennon was going to appear until the show was underway – went crazy when John, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann and Alan White took the stage.
Lennon led the group through six songs: Blue Suede Shoes, Money (That’s What I Want), Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Yer Blues, Cold Turkey and Give Peace A Chance.
And yes, Yoko shrieked her way through a couple of songs.
1971 – Cat Stevens released Peace Train as a single off his Teaser and the Firecat album.
The song climbed to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
1974 – The Rockford Files premiered on NBC.
The series, which ran for six seasons, starred James Garner as private investigator Jim Rockford, with Noah Beery Jr. in the supporting role of his father.
1990 – Law & Order premiered on NBC.
It became one of the longest-running primetime dramas in TV history (20 seasons) and spawned several popular spin-offs.
1996 – Rapper Tupac Shakur, 25, died at a Las Vegas hospital six days after he was wounded in a drive-by shooting.
The assailant(s) were never found.
2015 – Moses Malone, a 12-time NBA All Star and an inductee in the NBA Hall of Fame, died of atherosclerotic heart disease at the age of 60.
2019 – Rock singer Eddie Money died of esophageal cancer at the age of 70.
Money’s greatest success came in the 1970s and 1980s with eleven Top 40 songs including Baby Hold On, Two Tickets To Paradise, Think I’m In Love, and Take Me Home Tonight.
Compiled by Ray Lemire ©2005-2020 RayLemire.com / Streamingoldies.com. All Rights Reserved.
I really enjoy these “easy reads” Ray!! It seemed on this day we had some Law and Order!! Hope you are doing ok thought I’d sneak in a little prayer!! Hang in me ole friend!!
Thanks, Fred!
I’m doing very well, my friend. Thanks for the prayer 🙂
We need a little more Law and Order today!
I can’t Imagine at 14 being wooed by such a famous older man. Not sure their relationship was good for either of them.
Such a beautiful iconic song…moving and poignant and beautifully sung by Paul. It will live forever
Must have been one outstanding concert!
Peace Train…loved Cat Stevens! We could use a peace train still to this day.
Great TV shows, both of them.
RIP to all.
Thanks, Donna.
I was always surprised Priscilla’s parents were not more reluctant to let her move to the U.S. at such a young age.
LOVED Rockford Files!
I’m afraid I could never see a 14 y/o girl and a 24 y/o man together …. there is just too much of an age difference… loved the song Yesterday.
and I felt that John Lennon had the biggest ego of the Beatles (please correct me if I am wrong). Maybe the influence of Yoko Ono was partially the issue. He was incredibly talented but he had a huge ego …. and yes Law and Order and the Rockford Files were both great shows … and why am I always surprised when a celebrity dies in some horrible way …. lots of others have as well.
Thanks for the look back Ray … hoped you Rocked this Cool Fall Day!
Thank you, Barbara. 🙂
I believe John Lennon’s perceived high opinion of himself was more a case of a guy who was thrust into the limelight and had no idea how to deal with the fame. He repeatedly in later years said the Beatles were “forced to act like trained seals” and he resented the fact he went along with it. As for his ego, I think it was his relationship with Yoko that changed him in ways that became very public. He was desperate to drop the “mop top” image he had helped to create and there were times he went overboard to accomplish that.
I think there is very little doubt that the biggest ego in the band belonged to Paul McCartney. That played out in the last 3-4 years of the band when he all but took over the day-to-day responsibility for “being in charge.” He admits now he behaved terribly and can see how the others, especially George Harrison, felt like session players.
I did ROCK THE DAY by skipping all the NFL games!