John, Paul, George and Ringo record together for the first time
The Beatles recorded Gershwin's Summertime at the Akustik studio in Hamburg, with Ringo Starr on drums, backing Rory Storm and the Hurricanes bassist Wally Eymond, who sang as Lu Walters, per the Beatles Bible.
Stuart Sutcliffe was there but did not play, and as Summertime is not officially released, the clip below is Ain't She Sweet, an official Hamburg-era Beatles recording.
1968 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Stevie Wonder releases For Once in My Life
Tamla issued 18-year-old Stevie Wonder's For Once in My Life as T 54174 in the United States, per Wikipedia.
Berry Gordy had shelved the upbeat Henry Cosby production after its 1967 recording, and the single peaked at No. 2 on both the Billboard Pop and R&B charts, which the clip below is.
The Beatles mix Happiness Is a Warm Gun and I'm So Tired
The Beatles spent two hours from 6pm in Studio Two at EMI Studios with George Martin and engineer Ken Scott, mixing three John Lennon songs, per the Beatles Bible.
They made stereo mixes of Happiness Is a Warm Gun, I'm So Tired and Cry Baby Cry plus mono mixes of the last two, and the clip below is Happiness Is a Warm Gun.
1967 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Cream play the Grande Ballroom in Detroit
Cream made their first Grande Ballroom appearance in Detroit over the weekend of October 13 to 15, on a bill with the MC5 and the Rationals, per a contemporary notice in the Fifth Estate.
The Gary Grimshaw poster for the run is one of the best known of the era, and the clip below is the band's Sunshine of Your Love.
1966 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Four Tops hit No. 1 with Reach Out I'll Be There
Reach Out I'll Be There reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of October 15, 1966, per Wikipedia.
Written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland, it stayed on top for two weeks and became one of the defining Motown singles.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience play Villerupt, France
The new Jimi Hendrix Experience opened for Johnny Hallyday in Villerupt, their second show after Nancy the night before.
The trio recorded Hey Joe at De Lane Lea Studios in London eight days later, and the clip below is that song.
1965 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Jimi Hendrix signs with Ed Chalpin's PPX Enterprises
Jimi Hendrix signed a contract with PPX Enterprises on or about October 15, 1965, after a demo session with Curtis Knight at Ed Chalpin's New York studio, per Ultimate Classic Rock.
He thought it was a release for his participation, but it carried a $1 payment and a 1% royalty, and Chalpin later used it to challenge Hendrix's deals, while the clip below is Curtis Knight and the Squires' How Would You Feel.
The Great Society make their debut at the Coffee Gallery
Grace Slick, Jerry Slick, Darby Slick and David Miner played their first show as the Great Society at the Coffee Gallery in San Francisco's North Beach, per Wikipedia.
Slick later joined Jefferson Airplane, and the clip below is Someone to Love, the song she sang with the Great Society.
The Rolling Stones play two shows at the Regal in Cambridge
The Rolling Stones played two shows at the Regal Cinema in Cambridge on their second British tour of 1965, with the Spencer Davis Group among the support acts, per Wikipedia.
It was their only Cambridge date at the Regal, and the clip below is Get Off of My Cloud, the single they were touring behind.
1964 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Vee-Jay's license to sell Beatles records expires
The April 9, 1964 settlement with Capitol let Vee-Jay sell its existing Beatles records until October 15, after which all rights reverted to Capitol, per Wikipedia.
By then Vee-Jay had sold 1.3 million copies of Introducing... The Beatles, and the clip below is Please Please Me, which Vee-Jay issued as a single in 1963.
1963 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Rip Chords record Hey Little Cobra
The Rip Chords recorded Hey Little Cobra on October 15, 1963, per Wikipedia.
It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1964, a hot-rod hit that sits alongside the surf and garage sound of the era.
The Beatles play their last show at Floral Hall in Southport
The Beatles played their final Floral Hall date in Southport, where the hall was not full despite reporters arriving expecting riotous scenes, per the Beatles Bible.
The same day it was announced that they would appear on the Royal Command Performance, and the clip below is She Loves You, their summer single.
1962 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Bob Dylan plays the Gaslight Cafe in Greenwich Village
Bob Dylan played two sets at the Gaslight Cafe, and Richard Alderson taped 17 songs through the club's PA system, per Wikipedia.
Ten of them were officially released in 2005 as Live at The Gaslight 1962, and the clip below is Don't Think Twice, It's All Right from that album.
1961 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Elvis Presley records Good Luck Charm at RCA Studio B
Elvis Presley recorded the Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold song at RCA Studio B in Nashville with the Jordanaires and Millie Kirkham on backing vocals, per Wikipedia.
Released in February 1962, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart for two weeks and topped the UK chart for five.
1960 in 1960s music: the full year guide
John, Paul, George and Ringo record together for the first time
The Beatles recorded Gershwin's Summertime at the Akustik studio in Hamburg, with Ringo Starr on drums, backing Rory Storm and the Hurricanes bassist Wally Eymond, who sang as Lu Walters, per the Beatles Bible.
Stuart Sutcliffe was there but did not play, and as Summertime is not officially released, the clip below is Ain't She Sweet, an official Hamburg-era Beatles recording.
The Miles Davis Quintet play the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam
The Miles Davis Quintet with Sonny Stitt, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb played the Concertgebouw on Saturday, October 15, 1960, one of two shows that day, per Herecomestheflood.
Stitt had replaced John Coltrane after the spring tour, and the other show that day was at the Kurhaus in Scheveningen, while the clip below is So What from Kind of Blue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in 1960s music on October 15?
October 15 saw 15 verified music events across the decade, including the Beatles recording together for the first time in Hamburg in 1960, Jimi Hendrix signing with PPX Enterprises in 1965, and the Four Tops reaching No. 1 in 1966.
When did John, Paul, George and Ringo first record together?
They recorded Gershwin's Summertime at the Akustik studio in Hamburg on October 15, 1960, backing Lu Walters, the stage name of Hurricanes bassist Wally Eymond, with Ringo Starr on drums.
When did Jimi Hendrix sign with PPX Enterprises?
Hendrix signed with Ed Chalpin's PPX Enterprises on or about October 15, 1965, for a $1 payment and a 1% royalty, believing it was a release for a demo session with Curtis Knight.
When did Reach Out I'll Be There hit No. 1?
The Four Tops' Reach Out I'll Be There reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of October 15, 1966, and stayed there for two weeks.
When did the Vee-Jay license to sell Beatles records end?
The April 1964 settlement let Vee-Jay sell its existing Beatles records until October 15, 1964, after which all rights reverted to Capitol.