From the MCRFB music calendar:
Events on this date: MARCH 19
1957: Although he wouldn’t finalize the deal in six more days, Elvis Presley puts down a deposit to secure the 14-acre estate with a two-story colonial at 3734 Highway 51 South, Memphis, Tennessee, later know as Graceland.
1958: As Tom and Jerry, Simon and Garfunkel release their third single, a ditty named, “Our Song.”
1964: British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who would later be satirized in the band’s song “Taxman,” presents the Beatles for being “Show Business Personalities Of 1963” At the Variety Club of Great Britain Annual Show Business Award.
1965: Britain’s Tailor and Cutter runs an article by tie makers asking the Rolling Stones to start wearing ties with their suits, a fashion which had gone out of style among the youth. Mick Jagger responds, diplomatically, that ties would only give screaming female fans something else they can grab unto in a mob-crowd.
1966: The Walker Brothers’ Gary Lewis undergoes a fake abduction by college students as a charity stunt.
1966: Lesley Gore guest stars as herself on the final “Byline — Jeffrey Stone” episode of ABC-TV’s The Donna Reed Show.
1968: Donovan goes to India to study under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Dean Martin’s Reprise’ album Houston is certified gold.
1970: David Bowie marries his first wife, model Angela Barnett, in Kent, England, who became the eventual subject of the Rolling Stone’s 1974 titled hit, “Angie.”
1974: Jefferson Airplane reforms with their core of original members, although this time they renamed the group as Jefferson Starship.
1980: Elvis Presley’s autopsy is entered into proceedings held by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners against Dr. George Nichopoulos, better known to his clients — including Elvis — as “Dr. Nick.” The doctor will eventually be found guilty of over-prescribing the drugs that led to Presley’s death and will have his license revoked, even though he repeatedly took measures to help cure Elvis of his addiction through prescribed detoxification.
1988: Michael Jackson begins construction on his 2,800-acre ranch and private amusement park in Santa Barbara, California. Jackson will name it “Neverland,” namely after a fantasy location he had taken while reading his favorite book , Peter Pan, and according to the book, it is a place where children will never grow up.
2004: After she had an allergic reaction to prescribed antibiotics, Aretha Franklin is admitted to Detroit’s Sinai-Grace Hospital.
And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day….