June 18th

Ravi Shankar (the only artist to get paid for their performance), a return appearance by Big Brother and the Holding Company, Buffalo Springfield (who are joined on stage by David Crosby of The Byrds), The Who, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Scott McKenzie and The Mamas and the Papas perform at The Monterey Pop Festival during its final day.  Hendrix mesmerizes the entire crowd with his first US appearance with The Jimi Hendrix Experience.  (Monkees Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork, who were in the audience that day, were so impressed they asked Jimi to join them on their summer tour as the opening act … incredibly, Jimi's manager said yes … and we all know how well THAT turned out!) 

 

 

  

Chicago's very own Spanky and Our Gang are on hand to help Ed Sullivan celebrate his 20th Anniversary on "The Ed Sullivan Show".  They perform their first big hit, "Sunday Will Never Be The Same".   



TV Guide offers a five-page tribute to the success of Ed's program, calling it "the most successful program in TV history."  They go on to say:  "Like it (and, week in and week out, 30 million Americans do) or lump it (and most critics do from time to time), 'The Ed Sullivan Show' is as much a part of American's Sunday nights as cold mashed potatoes and leftover roast."

TV Guide reports that Sullivan once asked Elvis Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, how much Elvis would want for a return engagement.  When Parker came up with a couple of do's and don't's  Sullivan would have to follow if he wanted Presley, Ed snarled "Give Elvis my best … and my sympathy" … and slammed down the phone.  At the time an appearance on The Sullivan Show guaranteed HUGE record sales the following week … the show could turn careers around literally overnight. 

An hour later The Buckinghams make their famous appearance on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (still talked about 'round these parts some 50 years later!), performing "Don't You Care" and "Mercy Mercy Mercy".  (Their back drop is The Union Jack / British Flag … totally fitting for a group out of Chicago, Illinois, right???)

Paul McCartney (on his 25th birthday ... Happy Birthday, Paul!) admits to Queen Magazine that he has taken LSD.  After the magazine publishes his statement, creating quite a bit of backlash from the British press (and fans all over the world), McCartney criticizes the magazine for going public with this information.  (He basically tells them that YOU asked me the question … and I answered it honestly … but the damage was caused when you chose to go public with this information, knowing the negative reaction it would generate.  Pretty much a case of "irresponsible journalism" in that it was well known how much every movement made by The Beatles helped to influence the world at large.) 

There 's a brand new James Bond movie out in theaters called "You Only Live Twice".  It's #1 at the box office this week.  Nancy Sinatra sings the title track for this one.  
(Paul McCartney, celebrating his 25th birthday today, possibly with LSD, will write and perform the title track to 1973's Bond release "Live And Let Die".) 

Don Wilson of The Houston Astros pitches a no hitter against the Atlanta Braves at The Houston Astrodome, the first ever no hitter pitched in either a domed stadium or on artificial turf.  Wilson strikes out fifteen Braves that night, including Hank Aaron for the final out.