August 31

Events

 * 1880 - Thomas A. Edison was granted a U.S. patent for his invention of an "Electro-Chemical Receiving-Telephone" (No. 231,704).
 * 1962 - U.S. President Kennedy signed the Satellite Act. Congress thus stated that it was to be the policy of the U.S. "to establish, in conjunction and in cooperation with other countries, as expeditiously as practicable a commercial communications satellite system, as part of an improved global communications network, which will be responsive to public needs and national objectives, which will serve the communication needs of the United States and other countries, and which will contribute to world peace and understanding."
 * 1969 - Bob Dylan plays Isle of Wight Festival, earning £38,000 in cash for a one-hour set, backed by the Band.
 * 1974 - Carole King's 'Jazzman' released in US
 * 1976 - Judge rules that George Harrison is guilty of subconsciously plagiarising the tune of 'He's So Fine' in composing the single 'My Sweet Lord'
 * 1989 - The Rolling Stones "Steel Wheels", their first concert tour in eight years starts at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.
 * 1992 - Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Cleveland OH on WNCX 98.5 FM
 * 1998 - As he prepares to become an Internet Service Provider,David Bowie holds a number of webcast performances featuring Ani DiFranco, the Specials, Jesus and Mary Chain, the Jay Hawks and Spacehog.

Births

 * 1741 -, French composer (d. 1816)
 * 1834 -, Italian composer (d. 1886
 * 1913 -, English radio astronomer who established and directed (1951-81) Jodrell Bank Experimental Station, Cheshire, England, with (then) the world's largest steerable radiotelescope, now named after him  Prior to WW II, he worked at Manchester University on cosmic ray research.
 * 1939 - (Crickets)
 * 1945 -, Northern Irish musician
 * 1945 -, Israeli violinist
 * 1947 - (Gino Washington Ram Jam)
 * 1948 -, German guitarist (Scorpions)
 * 1957 -, American drummer (The Go-Go's)
 * 1957 -, English singer and guitarist (Squeeze)
 * 1960 -, American musician (d. 2005)
 * 1963 -, American guitarist (Winger, Whitesnake)
 * 1970 - (Lost in Your Eyes)
 * 1976 -, French singer-songwriter, pianist and composer
 * 1977 -, Australian musician (The Vines)
 * 1979 -, Scottish musician (Biffy Clyro)
 * 1980 -, American rapper
 * 1981 -, American rapper
 * 1982 -, Swiss singer

Deaths

 * 1730 –, Czech composer
 * 2002 –, American vibraphone player (b. 1908)
 * 2002 –, Persian musician (b. 1944)
 * 2004 –, English singer (b. 1943)