August 15

1995: Spanish Latin-pop duo Los del Rio release the single Macarena. The song inspires a dance craze and stays at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks in 1996. It stays on the chart for a total of 60 weeks, the longest run among #1 songs, only surpassed fifteen years later by Adele’s Rolling in the Deep.

1980: George Harrison becomes the first Beatle to release an autobiography when his book I Me Mine is published.

1969: It’s day 1 of the Woodstock festival in Bethel, New York. Acts appearing this day included Richie Havens, Joan Baez, Tim Hardin and Arlo Guthrie.  The CSN&Y song Woodstock commemorated the event.

1969: The Beatles record: Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End, Something and Here Comes The Sun.

1968: The Beatles record Rocky Raccoon

1965: The Beatles play Shea Stadium in New York. It is probably The Beatles most famous concert.

1960: Elvis Presley’s It’s Now Or Never is #1.

1948: Tom Johnston of The Doobie Brothers is born.  He wrote and sang many of The Doobie Brothers’ hits including Listen to the Music, Rockin’ Down the Highway and China Grove.

1925: Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson is born.  His Hymn To Freedom was one of the most important anthems of the civil rights movement.

Songs of The Day:

Macarena (Los del Rio); It’s Now Or Never (Elvis Presley); Listen To The Music (The Doobie Brothers); China Grove (The Doobie Brothers); I Me Mine (George Harrison); Woodstock (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young); Something (Beatles); Here Comes The Sun (Beatles); Rocky Raccoon (Beatles); Hymn To Freedom (Oscar Peterson)