Business

German immigrant Emile Berliner applies for a patent in Washington, D.C., USA, for his new sound-reproduction apparatus, the gramophone.

Composer Charles A. Tyler publishes his ragtime two-step A Cotton Patch through publisher J.W. Jenkins in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

During a year-long music-recording expedition in the Far East, sound-recording pioneer Fred Gaisberg arrives in Calcutta, India, Asia. Gaisberg has been described as "the first A+R man."

US music trade magazine Billboard reports that fourteen music publishing houses received $697,024 in mechanical royalties from 37,315,488 sales of records in 1950-51. The song Tennessee Waltz is reported as having been the most popular of 1951, having paid $79,580 in royalties from sales of 4,225,547 records.

The Rock-Ola Juke Box Corporation, based in Chicago, Illinois, USA, introduces its 120-selection 45 rpm Fireball model - a dramatic step-forward in juke box technology.

The Sonny Rollins Quartet records There's No Business Like Show Business, It's All Right With Me, and other material for Prestige Records at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, USA.

Jazz, doo-woop, R'n'B and Rock'n'Roll music producer John Dolphin, aka Lovin John and The Toast of the Coast, is murdered aged 55 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Dolphin is murdered behind the desk of his office in Hollywood by frustrated singer and shipping clerk Percy Ivy. His murder is witnessed by young musicians Bruce Johnston, Sandy Nelson and Dave Shostac, who were trying to get Dolphin interested in their music. In a long career, Dolphin worked with, among others, Sam Cooke, Jesse Belvin, Charles Mingus, Pee Wee Crayton, Major Lance, Scatman Crothers, Harry Caesar, Tony Allen, Gene Forrest , Percy Mayfield, Damita Jo, Marvin Phillips, Jesse Belvin, Illinois Jacquet and Linda Hayes. He was also a political activist, organising campaigns against racial intimidation in the music business.

Having won a legal battle to free himself from Keen Records, Sam Cooke signs a new recording contract with RCA Victor in the USA.

Jazz and blues saxophonist Sax Mallard posts an indefinite contract, on the Local 208 musicians' union list, with Casa Madrid, a favoured hangout of The Mob, in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

After spending eight years with the Bron organisation, Dick James begins his own music publishing business, Dick James Music, in London, England, UK, Europe.

Impresario Larry Parnes' package tour, Star Spangled Nights, plays at The Granada, Woolwich, England, UK, Europe. Featured artists include Billy Fury, Eden Kane, Joe Brown, Tommy Bruce, The Allisons, The Viscounts, The Karl Denver Trio, Peter Jay And The Jaywalkers, Terry Hale and newcomer Georgie Fame.

It is announced that UK pop idol John Leyton is set to star in three upcoming movies.

At a second meeting with The Beatles, in Liverpool, England, UK, Europe, Brian Epstein offers to become their manager. John Lennon accepts on behalf of the group.

When Ernest Tubb plays at East Point, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, he offers Jack Greene a job as drummer in his band. Six months later, Greene joins the band.

Judy Garland is signed to play the role of Jean Harlow's mother in the Electronovision version of the biographical movie Harlow.

Atco Records assigns a master number to the King Curtis recording of Spanish Harlem.

Rising English pop star David Jones changes his name to David Bowie, allegedly to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees.

Electric Flag and Blue Cheer give the final performances at Top promoter Bill Graham's original Fillmore Ballroom in San Francisco, California, USA. Graham now plans to move The Fillmore to a new location at The Carousel Ballroom.

The Who fly from London, England, UK, Europe, to America to begin a new tour.

Bill Backer, creative director for ad agency McCann-Erickson flies to London, UK, to join up with two songwriters, Billy Davis and Roger Cook, to write and arrange radio commercials for The Coca-Cola Company, to be recorded by The New Seekers. The end-result of the visit will be the song I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing.

To demonstrate his disgust for the phenomenon of disco music, deejay Steve Dahl sparks a riot by blowing up a huge pile of disco records with dynamite during a White Sox vs Detroit Tigers game at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Fans bringing disco records for Dahl to destroy are given entrance to the game for just $1.

New York City's notoriously hedonistic disco nightclub, Studio 54, closes with a final party called 'The End of Modern-day Gomorrah. Guests include Diana Ross, Ryan O'Neal, Mariel Hemingway, Jocelyn Wildenstein, Richard Gere, Gia Carangi, Jack Nicholson, Reggie Jackson, and Sylvester Stallone.

Polydor Records reluctantly agree to delete Ian Dury's single Spasticus Autisticus from their catalogue, because British radio stations are refusing to play it. Stricken by polio, Dury had, of course, chosen the title carefully and deliberately but radio programmers refused to play the track because it might cause offence.

Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney attend a musical reception at St. James' Palace, London, England, UK, Europe, to help launch a £1m appeal for the Aldeburgh Foundation.

When Dead Or Alive turn up to record UK tv show The Tube and admit they can't play their current No1 hit, You Spin Me Round, live, they are refused permission to appear.

During a British tour, African group The Bhundu Boys are refused pre-booked rooms in the Grenfield Lodge Hotel, Leicester, England, UK, Europe. The group considers suing the hotel on grounds of racism, but decides to not to.

Forever Your Girl by Paula Abdul is certified as a platinum album by the R.I.A.A. in the USA.

The members of The Rolling Stones begin arriving in Rotterdam, Holland, Europe, where they are shortly to begin rehearsals for their Urban Jungle tour.

The Most Beautiful Girl In The World by Prince is certified as a gold disc by the RIAA in the USA.

Beyonce Knowles of Destiny's Child is ordered by a New York Supreme Court judge to pay damages to the Wilhelmina Modelling Agency because she had failed to honour her contract with them by not paying them a commission and service fee for setting up a deal with L'Oreal in 2001.

In an interview with Billboard magazine, former Guns N'Roses frontman Axl Rose states categorically that either he or guitarist Slash would have to die before their old band could get back together.

Take That (without Robbie Williams) perform at a private show for 350 people in Barbados. The event, for which the band reportedly earns £2m, is described by some sources as a warm-up for their forthcoming sold-out stadium tour, while others report it as a party for record industry executives and their families. Guests at the show include Rihanna.

John Rich of Big And Rich earns $20,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as the winning project manager for a four-page Donald Trump Collection advertising presentation on NBC tv's The Celebrity Apprentice in the USA.

When Usher and his longtime girlfriend/business partner Grace Miguel attend the Golden Globes Art of Elysium Heaven Gala in Los Angeles, California, USA, Grace is seen to be wearing a huge diamond ring on her wedding ring finger! Shortly after, it is confirmed that the couple have become engaged.

Rachel Platten makes a personal appearance, signing copies of her debut album Wildfire at Barnes And Noble at The Grove, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Lana Del Rey is among the guests attending the P+E Wing Event honouring producer Rick Rubin at The Village Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Lady Gaga is among the guests attending Mark Ronson's Grammy Afterparty at Elyx House, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Hailee Steinfeld attends a DJ night hosted by Vanity Fair, L'Oreal Paris and herself at Palihouse Holloway, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA.