August 20

Events

 * 1896 - Dial patented
 * 1911 - The first cable message sent around the world from the U.S. by commercial  was transmitted from New York City. It read "This message sent around the world," left the New York Times building at 7:00 pm and was received at 7:16 pm after travelling nearly 29,000 miles through 16 relays via the Azores, Gibraltar, India, Phillipines, Midway, Guam, Hawaii and San Francisco.
 * 1912 - received U.S. patent No. 1036470 for a "Phonographic Apparatus," and No. 1036471 for a "Storage Battery."
 * 1920 - The first commercial, 8MK (WWJ), begins operations in Detroit, Michigan.
 * 1925 - WJR-AM in Detroit Michigan begins radio transmissions
 * 1965 - release 'Satisfaction' in UK

Births

 * 1905 -, American musician (d. 1964)
 * 1923 -, American singer (d. 1964)
 * 1924 - (He'll Have to Go)
 * 1937 -, Spanish singer and actor (d. 2007)
 * 1941 -, British musician and founder of Hawkwind
 * 1941 - (Santana)
 * 1942 -, American singer, songwriter, and actor (d. 2008)
 * 1946 -, German musician (Kraftwerk)
 * 1947 - (Chicago)
 * 1948 - (Led Zeppelin)
 * 1949 -, Greek composer and singer (d. 1988)
 * 1949 -, Irish musician (d. 1986)
 * 1951 - (Thin Lizzy)
 * 1952 -, American musician (The Knack)
 * 1952 -, American musician
 * 1954 -, American disc jockey (d. 2007)
 * 1955 -, Hong Kong singer and writer
 * 1965 -, American rapper
 * 1970 -, American singer (Limp Bizkit)
 * 1971 -, American musician (guitarist for Third Day)
 * 1974 -, Australian musician (The Living End)

Deaths

 * 1611 –, Spanish composer (b. 1548)
 * 1707 –, French organist and composer (b. 1627)


 * 1980 –, American singer (b. 1938)


 * 1996 –, German rock musician and singer (b. 1950)


 * 1998 –, Danish singer (b. 1915)


 * 2005 –, Polish drummer (b. 1970)


 * 2009 –, American keyboard player and bassist (b. 1940)