New York City

Richard Bentley of London, UK, publish a new book, The Whale, by Herman Melville. The book will find worldwide fame under the title Moby Dick, and Melville's great white whale will inspire numerous songs including Moby Book by Steve Goodman and Ahab by MC Lars. It's perhaps also worth noting that Led Zeppelin, recorded a tiresome instrumental blues knock-off called Moby Dick and Ahab turns up as a character in the Bob Dylan song Bob Dylan's 115th Dream. For a fuller list of Moby Dick-related songs, visit http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/yradish/songs-inspired-by-herman-melvilles-moby-dick.html

The musical comedy Hodge, Podge And Co plays at the Madison Square Theare, Broadway, New York City, USA.

The musical comedy Florodora is in its eighth month at The Casino Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA.

The musical comedy Florodora is presented during a lengthy run at The Casino Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA.

The Second Grand Carnival And Minstrel Show of The Colored Vaudeville Benevolent Association is held at Harlem River Park And Casino, New York City, USA.

Butterbeans And Susie record Brown Skin Gal, If You Can't Bring It You've Got To Send It, I'll Put You Under The Jail and Hydrant Love (Turn It On, Shut It Off), for Okeh Records in New York City, USA.

LaVern Baker With Gary Sherman's Orchestra records Fly Me To The Moon, Go Away, Remind My Baby Of Me, You Better Find Yourself Another Fool and Ain't Gonna Cry No More for Atlantic Records in New York City, USA.

Bud And Joe Billings, a pseudonym for Frank Luther and Carson Robison, record Stuff and Nonsense, at Victor Studio, 44th Street, New York City, USA for Victor Records.

The Missourians record Vine Street Drag, 400 Hop, Scotty Blues and I've Got Someone, in New York City, USA for Victor Records.

The musical revue Sweet And Low is presented at Chanin's 46th Street Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 184 performances.

The orchestras of Chick Webb with Ella Fitzgerald on vocals, and Count Basie with Billie Holiday on vocals take part in a Battle Of The Bands at The Savoy Ballroom, New York City, USA. The result is a draw.

Mildred Bailey records Wham [Re-Bop-Boom-Bam] for Columbia Records in New York City, USA.

Saxophone star Earl Bostic records Sleep, Always and I'm Getting Sentimental Over You, in New York City, USA.

Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by Sy Oliver And His Orchestra, records It's My Own Darn Fault, I Don't Want To Make A Change, There Never Was A Baby and Give A Little Get A Little for Decca Records in New York City, USA.

The Clovers, The James Moody Combo and pianist Eddie Heywood's Band are playing during a week at The Apollo Theatre, Harlem, New York City, USA.

Danny Thomas and Georgia Gibbs play during a week of shows at The Chicago Theater, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Experimental jazz pianist Alec Templeton records Apres Midi D'un Faune, Vocalise, Waltz Antique and Ridin' Thru The Rye for Atlantic Records in New York City, USA. The tracks will appear on his album The Magic Piano.

Seven year old Barry Gordon records novelty song Nuttin' For Christmas for MGM Records in New York City, USA.

Johnny Cash plays in White Plains, New York State, USA.

Jazz saxophonist Yusef Lateef records the album The Three Faces Of Yusef Lateef for Riverside Records in New York City, USA.

Jazz saxophonist John Coltrane is in Atlantic Recording Studio, New York City, USA, recording Village Blues, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes and My Favourite Things.

Barbra Streisand continues with a month-long residency at The Caucus Club in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Noted bandleader, pianist, clarinettist and ragtime and jazz composer Wilbur C. Sweatman dies in New York City, USA.

Stand By Me by Ben E. King enters the UK singles chart at No28. Written by Ben E. King with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller [who also produced the track] it will peak at No27.

Miles Davis records Pfrancing and Drad-Dog, for Columbia Records in New York City, USA.

Fifty folksingers convene at The Village Gate, Greenwich Village, New York City, USA, to protest against the ATV show Hootenanny, which has refused to allow Pete Seeger And The Weavers to appear because of their left-wing politics.

LaVern Baker begins a month-long season at The Riviera, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. This is the first time she has played in Las Vegas, despite having been in the business for fifteen years.

Ray Charles plays at Utica Memorial Auditorium, Utica, New York State, USA.

The Greatest Record Show Of 1963, starring Brook Benton, Dion, Trini Lopez, Timi Yuro, Lesley Gore and The Ken Thorne Orchestra plays at The Odeon, Liverpool, England, UK, Europe.

Top Ten singles of this week as played by WABC Radio, New York City, USA, are as follows :

1. I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles (Capitol)
2. Louie Louie - The Kingsmen (Wand)
3. There! I've Said It Again - Bobby Vinton (Epic)
4. Forget Him - Bobby Rydell (Cameo)
5. Dominique - The Singing Nun (Philips)
6. Since I Fell For You - Lenny Welch (Cadence)
7. Popsicles and Icicles - The Murmaids (Chattahoochee)
8. Wives and Lovers - Jack Jones (Kapp)
9. Somewhere - The Tymes (Parkway
10. You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore (Mercury)

Tony Bennett records Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams, I Walk A Little Faster and Got The Gate On The Golden Gate in CBS 30th Street Studio, New York City, USA.

The Animals, Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent,The Nashville Teens and Tommy Tucker play at the Colston Hall, Bristol, UK.

Johnny Mathis, The Young Americans and Woody Allen play the second of seven nights at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Bob Dylan plays at The Mosque Theater, Newark, New Jersey, USA.

Quicksilver Messenger Service, Country Joe And The Fish and Eric Mercury play the second of two nights at The Fillmore East, New York City, USA.

When Lisa Eichhorn is fired from the romantic comedy movie All Night Long, filming in Los Angeles, California, USA, she is replaced by Barbra Streisand, who is paid a record-breaking $4.5m plus 15% of the gross by Universal for 24-days of work.

Glass Houses by Billy Joel reaches No1 in the Billboard Albums Chart in the USA.

Iggy Pop plays at The Ritz, New York City, USA.

Interpol play at The Apollo, Manchester, England, UK.

Rihanna releases her debut single, Pon De Replay, worldwide (except the USA, where it was released three months earlier) on Def Jam Recordings.

On her Monster Ball tour, Lady Gaga plays at The ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, USA.

Tony Bennett plays at Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine, USA.

Laura Gibson releases a new LP, Empire Builder on City Slang in the UK.