March 23 in Music History: Elvis releases his debut album, U2 signs their first record contract

1956 – Elvis Presley releases his self-titled, debut album.

1963 – Johnny Cash records “Ring Of Fire.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It7107ELQvY

1964 – John Lennon’s first book, In His Own Write, is published.

1972 – The film The Concert For Bangladesh, featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton, premieres in New York. The event is the first benefit concert of its magnitude in world history. The concert raises $243,418.51 for Bangladesh relief, which is administered by UNICEF. Sales of the album and DVD continue to benefit the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF.

1980 – U2 sign a worldwide deal with Island Records. They get about $100,000 for their first album.

1985 – Billy Joel marries the “Uptown Girl” Christie Brinkley. They remain married for 9 years.

1987 – The Soul Train Music Awards debuts. It is the first televised awards ceremony to pay exclusive homage to Black producers, songwriters and recording artists in the music industry.

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