Religion

Washington Phillips is born in Freestone County, Texas, USA. He will become an influential gospel singer and recording artist, whose recordings will be covered after his death by Ry Cooder, Phish, Mogwai, Will Oldham, The Be Good Tanyas and others.

The Haydn Quartet record Massa's In The Cold Cold Ground, Nearer My God To Thee and Tenting On The Old Campground for Victor Records in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Plácido Simoni Alfaro is baptised in the parish of Nuestra Señora de Balvanera, Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America. He will become a successful pianist and composer, notably in the tango style, sometimes nicknamed Morocho Martín.

Norman Greenbaum, famed for his hit Spirit In The Sky, is born in Malden, Massachusetts, USA.

Kenneth Michael Marks is born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. he will find success as Christian pop-rock singer Kenny Marks during the 1980s.

It's In The Book by Johnny Standley reaches No1 in the Billboard magazine chart of the Best-Selling Singles in the USA. It will become the first million-selling comedy record.

Elvis Presley plays the first of two nights at the Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Before he had even hit town, Judge Marion Gooding had prepared an arrest warrant for Presley charging him with impairing the morals of minors - just in case Elvis swivelled his hips. On the day itself, young people at the Murray Hill Methodist Church heard Elvis denounced in a sermon entitled, "Hotrods, Reefers, and Rock and Roll." Elsewhere in Jacksonville, the Rev. Robert Gray, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, prayed for Presley's salvation after declaring that the singer had "achieved a new low in spiritual degeneracy."

Fats Domino records I'm Walkin' at Cosimo Recording Studios, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Billy Grammer, with Owen Bradley as producer, records Life's Railway To Heaven at Bradley Film and Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Elvis Presley records eight tracks, including (You're The) Devil In Disguise in RCA Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Michael Sweet, lead singer and co-founder of Christian rock band Stryper, is born in Orange County, California, USA.

Rockabilly vocalist Wanda Jackson records You Created Me and Don't Worry, in the USA.

Rockabilly vocalist Wanda Jackson records the Carl Perkins composition Honey Don't, plus Keeper Of The Key and other tracks for Capitol Records in the USA.

Bob Dylan records With God On Our Side, Only A Pawn In Their Game and other tracks during his second recording session for his album The Times They Are A-Changin', at Columbia Records Recording Studios, New York City, USA.

Tennessee Ernie Ford releases a new album, Great Gospel Songs, with vocal backing by The Jordanaires, in the USA on Capitol Records.

Hank Snow, with producer Chet Atkins, records Invisible Hands, Sweet Hour Of Prayer and other tracks, in RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins Street, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The band on the session includes guitarist Harold Bradley, steel guitarist Joseph Tanner, bassist Junior Huskey, drummer Buddy Harman, pianist Hargus Robbins and vibraphonist Joe Layne.

Gospel vocal group Bill Moss And The Celestials record Give It To Jesus, Just The Two Of Us, God Has Been So Good and other tracks for Savoy Records in the USA.

Jimmie Davis with Owen Bradley as producer, records Who Am I, My Heart Can See and Will The Circle Be Unbroken in Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Gospel Garden play at The Speakeasy, London, England, UK, Europe.

The Beach Boys and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi play at Iona College, New York City, USA.

Plastic Penny play at The Tabernacle, Stockport, England, UK, Europe.

B. B. King, Ballin'jack and Christian Rapid play the first of four nights at the Fillmore West, San Francisco, California, USA.

John McLaughlin and Christian Escoude play at Praça de Touros, Rua de Artur Aires, Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal, Europe.

U2 play the second of five nights at the Sports and Entertainment Centre, Melbourne, Australia, Oceania.

U2 play the first of two nights at the Apollo Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia, Oceania.

On their Unforgettable Fire tour, U2 play at The University Of Illinois Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, USA, supported by Red Rockers.

Bad Tune Men play at The Crypt (beneath St. Paul's Church), Deptford, London, England, UK, Europe, supported by Flowers In The Dustbin and Charles Cold.

The single Sun City by Artists United Against Apartheid enters the UK singles chart where it will peak at No21 during an eight week run. Largely the brainchild of Little Steven Van Zandt, the artists involved include U2, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Peter Gabriel, Jimmy Cliff, Lou Reed, Joey Ramone, Simple Minds, Keith Richards and Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock and Gil Scott-Heron.

On his Never Picture Perfect Summer Tour, Rich Mullins plays in Adrian, Michigan, USA, with Avenue G.

Carl Story dies, aged 78, in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. An influential pioneer of bluesgrass music, leading his band the "Rambling Mountaineers", he was dubbed "The Father of Bluegrass Gospel Music" by the governor of Oklahoma.

The Nation Of Islam issues a statement denying that it has taken over any of Michael Jackson's business affairs, or that it is taking a central role in his defence strategy over recent child molestation charges.

U2 play at The Fleet Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

U2 play at Twickenham Stadium, London, England, UK, supported by Athlete.

The Jesus Lizard play at Metro, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

It is announced that Gorillaz are to replace U2 as headliners of this year's Glastonbury Festival. U2 pulled out because frontman Bono has injured his back.

Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, plays at the Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia, Oceania.

Between The Buried And Me, August Burns Red, The Faceless and Good Tiger play at The Complex, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Between The Buried And Me, August Burns Red, The Faceless and Good Tiger play at MacEwan Hall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The Neal Morse Band plays at Rocketown, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

On their 51-date The Joshua Tree Tour 2017, U2 cancel their show at The Dome At America's Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, because of safety concerns, arising from protests taking place in the city following the acquittal of a police officer who shot and killed a black driver.

In an interview published today by entertainment media outlet Vulture, Eryka Badu claims that she can see the "good" in Adolf Hitler and other controversial figures, including Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Her comment swiftly draws criticism from Anti-Defamation League chief Johnathan Greenblatt who calls on her to issue an immediate publiuc apology.