January 20, 1969- 50 years ago- although these weren’t news headlines at the time a few interesting notes in music from this day-

• In Memphis, Tennessee- The King was at American Studios working on an upcoming album that would be “From Elvis In Memphis”- and recorded a Mac Davis written song called “In The Ghetto”- it would be released in April as a single and would become Elvis’ first Top 10 hit in four years.

• The mighty Led Zeppelin- believe it or not on this night- January 20, 1969 on their American Tour- played before 55 people at the Wheaton Youth Center in Wheaton, Maryland- north of Washington, D.C.  It was the night of the Nixon Inaugural. There seems to be some debate as to did this concert really happen or not- but Led Zeppelin lists it on their website under their concert list.

• The Boss- wasn’t The Boss yet but on this day in 1969 he was in his second semester at Ocean City College and today he had two of his poems published in the college literary yearbook Seascapes. I wonder if either of them mentioned cars?

• Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers [great name for a band in my opinion] – born Nicholas Jones in Tredegar, Monmouthshire , Wales on this date 50 years ago. Nicky Wire has been a lyricist, bassist and occasional singer for the Manic Street Preachers. He was the co-writer of the bands songs until Richey Edwards disappeared in 1995 and has been their principal lyricist since. My favorite Manic Street Preachers song? Autumnsong.