Pick a Day

Music History Events: TV Shows

September 24, 1987 The Cosby Show begins its fourth season, introducing a new, jazzy version of the theme song performed by Bobby McFerrin. It finishes the season as the highest-rated show on TV.

September 14, 1985 The TV series The Golden Girls debuts on NBC. Its theme song is "Thank You for Being a Friend," written by Andrew Gold but sung by a jingle singer named Cynthia Fee. Gold's version was released in 1978 and reached #25 in the US.

September 28, 1983 Season 2 of the sitcom Family Ties premieres on NBC, with its theme song, "Without Us," now being performed by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams.

July 9, 1981 The ABC News show 20/20 runs a story called "Rappin' To The Beat," becoming the first national TV news magazine to cover rap music. "You never miss the fact there's no melody," Hugh Downs says in his introduction. "It's all beat and talk." The coverage suggests rap may be more than just a passing fad.

September 13, 1980 The TV series Solid Gold premieres. Like its genre-mates American Bandstand and Soul Train, the show consists of Top-40 music (mostly recorded) in a studio with a dance stage and floor. A feature of the show is a specialty crew of "Solid Gold dancers" who bump and grind to the tunes. Dionne Warwick is the host for the first season, but the show rotates through numerous hosts during its course. The show runs almost eight seasons before discontinuing in 1988.

June 16, 1975 Singer Adam Wade becomes the first African-American game show host when Musical Chairs debuts on CBS. The short-lived series is created by noted record producer Don Kirshner, and features a slew of musical guests, including The Tokens, The Spinners, and Sister Sledge.

March 24, 1973 With Soul Train gaining in popularity, Dick Clark Productions airs a competing show called Soul Unlimited, which lasts just one episode as it caves to pressure from black leaders. Gladys Knight and Rufus Thomas are the guests.

September 9, 1967 The Spider-Man animated series debuts on ABC. The iconic theme song inspires a range of covers from the Ramones to Aerosmith to Michael Buble.

April 4, 1967 Jimi Hendrix guests on the first broadcast of the BBC show Dee Time, hosted by Simon Dee. Cat Stevens is also on the show.

October 19, 1959 ABC airs The Frank Sinatra Timex Show, the first of four Timex-sponsored TV specials hosted by the singer. Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Mitzi Gaynor sing "High Hopes" with Frank to open the show.

November 2, 1936 Adele Dixon sings "Television" on the first ever broadcast of the BBC entertainment programme Variety.