Rock 'n' Roll History for
June 22


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1846 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
In Paris, France, 32-year-old Adolphe Sax, a Belgian musician and musical instrument designer, patents the saxophone. Sax continued to make instruments throughout his life, however, rival instrument makers challenged the legitimacy of his patents and initiated a campaign of litigation against him and his company, driving him into bankruptcy twice, in 1856 and 1873.

1957 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
The Quarrymen, consisting of Rod Davis, Eric Griffiths, Colin Hanton and John Lennon, performed on the back of a coal truck during a street party marking Liverpool's 750th anniversary.

1959 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
Fabian's biggest hit, "Tiger" entered the Billboard chart, where it would top out at #3. In all, the Philadelphia singer, born Fabiano Forte, placed eight songs in the US Top 40.

1963 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
The Surfaris' "Wipe Out" is released in the US, where it will enter the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks later and reach #2 by mid-August. The record would also climb to #5 in the UK. The song would be re-issued in 1966 and ascend to #16 on the Billboard Top 40 and again in 1970 when it failed to chart.

1967 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
The Young Rascals record "How Can I Be Sure", featuring Eddie Brigati on lead vocals, at A&R Studios in New York. The song was one of several tunes, including "Groovin'" and "A Girl Like You", that were inspired by group founder Felix Cavaliere's girlfriend, Adrienne Becchuri. The record would rise to #4 on the Hot 100, but was not a hit in the UK.

1969 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
47-year-old singer/actress Judy Garland was found dead in the bathroom of her rented house in Cadogan Lane, Belgravia, London. She is most often remembered for her role in the 1939 film, The Wizard Of Oz where she sang "Over the Rainbow". That song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Garland's signature tune. In March, 2017, her rendition of the song was entered in the National Recording Registry by the US Library of Congress as music that is "culturally, historically, or artistically significant."

1970 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
Chubby Checker and three companions were arrested by U.S. Customs officials at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, who allegedly found marijuana, capsules and hashish in an automobile occupied by the men. Checker, whose real name is Ernest Evans, had his charges dropped later in the day, while the others were given a $250 fine.

1974 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
The Stylistics biggest hit, "You Make Me Feel Brand New", was the largest selling single in America according to Cashbox magazine. The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 during a fourteen week stay.

June 22
Gordon Lightfoot started a two-week run at the top of the Billboard album chart with "Sundown". The title track reached #1 on the Pop and Adult Contemporary charts as well as #13 on the Country chart, while "Carefree Highway" reached #10 on the Pop chart, #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #81 on the Country chart.

1979 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
Reprise Records releases Neil Young's album, "Rust Never Sleeps". Praised by most Rock critics, the LP rose to #13 in both the US and the UK.

1981 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
The most hated man in Rock 'n' Roll history, Mark David Chapman, pleads guilty to murdering John Lennon in December of 1980 and was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison. First he was sent to Attica Correctional Facility outside of Buffalo, New York, then on May 15th, 2012 he was transferred to Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York. On March 30, 2022, he was relocated to the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York. He was housed in a solitary confinement unit for violent and at-risk prisoners, in part due to concern that he might be harmed by Lennon's fans in the general population. Chapman appeared before the parole board in early March, 2024 and was denied release for the thirteenth time.

1988 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
English singer Robert Palmer releases the single, "Simply Irresistible", which will peak at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would also win a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at next year's ceremony. In the UK, the record was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Single, even though it had only risen to #44 on the Official UK chart.

1990 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
Billy Joel becomes the first Rock artist to perform at Yankee Stadium.

June 22
Kripp Johnson, a founding member of the Del-Vikings, died of cancer at the age of 57. One of the first racially-integrated Rock 'n' Roll groups, the Doo Wop quintet had two Top 10 hits in 1957, "Come Go With Me" (#4) and "Whispering Bells" (#9).

2010 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
Lynyrd Skynyrd release "Live from Freedom Hall". Recorded three years earlier in Louisville, Kentucky, the LP failed to crack the Billboard 200, although it did chart in Italy, Greece, Germany and France.

2012 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
The crypt in which Elvis Presley was first buried was withdrawn from a Los Angeles auction after more than 10,000 fans protested it should be kept as a shrine. Presley was temporarily interred there alongside his mother, Gladys, for two months after he died before being re-buried at his Graceland home.

2018 - ClassicBands.com

June 22
"The Beach Boys With the Royal Philharmonic" topped both the Billboard Classical Albums and Classical Crossover Albums charts. The album blends The Beach Boys' original recordings of such hits as "California Girls", "Kokomo" and "Good Vibrations" with new orchestral accompaniment from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.



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