This Day in Music History: Elton John signs with Uni, Derek & the Dominoes begin recording Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

1906 – The Victor Talking Machine Company, headquartered in Camden, NJ, begins manufacturing the world’s first mass-market home record player, the Victrola. Price: $200.

1956 – Elvis Presley begins working on his first movie, Love Me Tender. In the drama that is set during and just after the Civil War, Elvis plays Clint Reno, the youngest of four brothers.

1962 – The first TV appearance of The Beatles is recorded by Manchester based Granada TV, who filmed a lunchtime session at The Cavern Club in Liverpool (the performance is shown on October 17, 1962).

1968 – Having come home from vacation to find her husband in bed with Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s first wife Cynthia files for divorce — one day before their sixth anniversary. That same day, Ringo Starr quits The Beatles during The White Album sessions when the constant bickering and tension become too much for him (the news of Ringo’s departure is kept secret, and he rejoins the sessions on September 3rd). After Ringo walks out, the remaining Beatles record “Back In the USSR,” with Paul on drums and John playing bass.

1969 – The Beatles meet at John Lennon’s Tittenhurst Park home in England for their final ever photo session. Three shots from this session (by Ethan Russell) form the front and back covers of the Capitol compilation album Hey Jude.

1970 – Songwriter Elton John signs with Uni, a division of MCA, as a solo act.

1970 – Derek and the Dominoes begin recording their one and only studio album, Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs.

1978 – Sid Vicious makes his last live stage appearance, performing at London’s Electric Ballroom with Rat Scabies from The Damned, former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock, and Nancy Spungen. Elvis Costello, Blondie, Joan Jett, The Slits, and Captain Sensible are among the audience members.

1988 – The TV documentary Aretha Franklin: Queen Of Soul, honoring the famed singer, airs on PBS.

2014 – The BBC screens The Kate Bush Story: Running up That Hill.

Information for this post was gathered from This Day in Music, The Music History Calendar, On This Day, and Wikipedia.