Bobbie Gentry performs her #1 Hit "Ode To Billie Joe" on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Pete Seeger is also a guest. It is Pete's first prime time television appearance since he was blacklisted in 1950.
Elvis Presley records "Guitar Man", a song written by Jerry Reed, in Nashville, TN. Reed also plays guitar on the track. Although it's not a particularly popular track on the US Charts (it peaked at #36 in Record World and #43 in Billboard), Elvis will use it as part of the opening number to his NBC Singer Television Special the following year. RCA will release an updated remix of the single in 1981 after Elvis' passing and it will fare a little better on the charts, this time peaking at #28. Although it failed to chart at all on Billboard's Country Singles Chart in 1967, it will reach #1 on that chart when it is re-released in 1981. Also recorded that day was Elvis' next single, "Big Boss Man". These two stand-out tracks show a much grittier Elvis than we've heard in recent years.
Joel Horlen of The Chicago White Sox pitches a no hitter against The Detroit Tigers in Game One of a double-header. I remember watching that game at my grandparents' house in the city … absolutely GLUED to the television set! It was the first time I'd ever seen a no hitter. (I was home sick from school the day that Sandy Koufax no hit The Chicago Cubs … but had to listen to that one on the radio.) The Sox also shut out the Tigers in Game Two.
"Bonnie And Clyde" is number one at the box office again this week.
