This Day in Rock History: October 3

On this day in rock history, Elvis Presley performed in front of an audience for the very first time, and one of the most talented and influential blues-rock guitarists in history was born. Keep reading to discover more about these two events and others that happened on Oct. 3 throughout the years.

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

The King of Rock and Roll got his first taste of the stage on Oct. 3. These are the most important breakthrough moments and milestones to happen on this day:

• 1945: Elvis Presley made his first public performance, competing in a youth talent contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo, Mississippi. He played the song “Old Shep” by Red Foley and won fifth place, earning him $5 and some fair ride tickets.
• 1999: Tom Jones, who was 59 at the time, became the oldest artist to reach the top spot of the U.K. album chart with new material. He was overtaken in 2009 by Dame Vera Lynn, who was 92 at the time, but then he became the oldest male singer to hold the No. 1 spot with his 2021 album Surrounded by Time, which was released when he was 80 years old.

Cultural Milestones

Some hugely talented rock musicians were born on Oct. 3, including:

• 1941: Chubby Checker was born in Spring Gully, South Carolina. He’s widely credited as a rock pioneer, having popularized the rock-and-roll-inspired Twist craze of the 1960s.
• 1949: Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac’s guitarist and co-lead vocalist, was born in Palo Alto, California. He got the public’s attention as part of the duo Buckingham Nicks in the early ’70s and became Fleetwood Mac’s lead guitarist in 1975, alongside vocalist Stevie Nicks, who was his girlfriend at the time and musical partner.
• 1954: Stevie Ray Vaughan, a blues-rock guitarist, was born in Dallas, Texas. He’s widely considered one of the most skilled and influential guitarists of all time.
• 1962: Tommy Lee, drummer for Mötley Crüe, was born in Athens, Greece. He cofounded the band in 1981, and they’ve sold over 100 million records worldwide.
• 1969: Gwen Stefani was born in Fullerton, California. She’s the founding member and frontwoman of the band No Doubt, and she also had a successful solo career.
• 1991: A year after his tragic demise and on the day he would have turned 37, Texas Governor Ann Richards proclaimed Oct. 3 as “Stevie Ray Vaughan Day.” All proceeds from events happening on this day go to the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Notable Recordings and Performances

Some memorable shows and albums are celebrated today, including:

• 1968: The Beatles began recording the song “Savoy Truffle,” which was written by George Harrison. It was part of the White Album, which was released a month and a half later on Nov. 22.
• 1975: The Who released their seventh studio album, The Who by Numbers, in the UK, through Polydor Records. It peaked at No. 7 on the UK albums chart and earned a Platinum certification in the US.
• 1980: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band started their The River Tour at the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in support of their album The River. The tour had two North American legs and a European one.
• 1983: Genesis released their self-titled twelfth studio album via Charisma and Virgin Records in the UK and Atlantic Records in the US. It was a huge commercial success, topping the UK charts and peaking at No. 8 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
• 1988: Keith Richards released his debut solo album, Talk Is Cheap, through Virgin Records. Recorded at a time when he had a frosty relationship with his Stones bandmate Mick Jagger, the album was well-received by critics and earned Gold certification in the US.

Oct. 3 is significant for rock fans, with many legends either being born or celebrating major milestones on this day. Come back tomorrow to find out what major moments took place on that day in rock history.