March 16 in Music History: The Smithereens release Green Thoughts, the RIAA presents the first diamond awards

1964 – The Beatles set a new record in the US when their fans place more than two million preorders for their latest single, “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

1968 – “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” becomes the first posthumous #1 single in US chart history, where it stays for five weeks. Otis Redding had been killed in a plane crash just three months earlier on December 10, 1967; three days after recording the song.

1977 – The Sex Pistols are fired from A&M only 6 days after signing  due to pressure from other artists on the label and its Los Angeles head office. The band made $127,500 from the deal and 25,000 copies of “God Save The Queen” were pressed.

1979 – Twisted Sister becomes the first band to sell out New York City’s Palladium without ever releasing a record. The band did not sign a record deal for another three years.

1988 – The Smithereens release Green Thoughts.

1999 – The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) presents the first Diamond Awards. The awards are given in recognition of albums and singles that have sold 10 million copies or more.

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