Births
1926 Tony Bennett, singer, (1955 UK No.1 single 'Stranger In Paradise'1965 UK No.25 single 'I Left My Heart In San Francisco').
1935 Gordon Stoker, The Jordanaires, Elvis Presley backing group.
1939 Jimmy Nicol, drummer, temporary member of The Beatles for nine Australian gigs in 1964, after Ringo Starr collapsed and was hospitalised on 3 June 1964 with tonsillitis. George Martin suggested Nicol, as he had recently played on a budget label album called "Beatlemania" and knew the songs.
1941 Beverly Lee, The Shirelles, (1961 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow')
1946 John York, The Byrds, (1965 UK & US No.1 single 'Mr Tambourine Man')
1949 B.B. Dickerson, War, (1976 UK No.12 single 'Low Rider').
1951 John Graham, guitar, Earth Wind and Fire, (1975 US No.1 single 'Shining Star', 1981 UK No.3 single 'Let's Groove')
1953 Ian Brainson, Pilot, (1975 UK No.1 single 'January').
1956 Kirk Brandon, singer, guitarist, Spear Of Destiny, (1987 UK No.14 single 'Never Take Me Alive'), Theatre Of Hate, (1982 UK No.40 single 'Do You Believe In The Westworld').
1958 Robert buck, 10,000 Maniacs, (1993 UK No.47 single 'Candy Everybody Wants'). Buck died on 19th December 2000.
1959 Martin Atkins, Public Image Ltd, (1983 UK No.5 single 'This Is Not A Love Song').
1963 James Hetfield, guitar, vocals, Metallica, guitar, vocals, (1991 UK No.5 single 'Enter Sandman')
1966 Shirley Manson, vocals, Garbage, (1996 UK No. 4 single 'Stupid Girl').
1966 Dean Sams, keyboards, Lonestar, (2000 US No.1 & UK No. 21 single 'Amazed').
1967 Skin, (Deborah Anne Dyer), vocals, Skunk Anansie vocals, (1996 UK No.20 single 'Weak').
1971 Deirdre Roper, Spinderella, Salt-n-Pepa, (1991 UK No.2 single 'Let's Talk About Sex').
1973 Stephen Carpenter, Deftones (2003 US No.2 & UK No.7 album 'Deftones').
1985 Holly Lake, Dream, (2001 US No.3 & UK No.17 single, 'He Loves You Not').
Deaths
2000 Maurice Kinn died aged 76. The UK publisher launched The New Musical Express in 1953 which instigated the first charts based on record sales and organised the annual NME poll-winners concerts.
2001 Co-founder of US group 5th Dimension Ron Townson died of kidney failure aged 68. Had the 1969 US N.1 & UK No.11 single 'Aquarius'.
2006 Arthur Lee, singer and guitarist of the influential 1960s band Love died in Memphis at the age of 61 following a battle with acute myeloid leukaemia. He called himself the "first black hippie" and formed Love in Los Angeles in 1965. Best known for the critically revered 1967 album, 'Forever Changes.'
Events
1961 Eden Kane was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Well I Ask You. His only UK No.1 hit.
1963 The Beatles made their final appearance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. They had performed nearly 300 shows at the club since 1961.
1963 The Beach Boys released "Surfer Girl."
1963 Allan Sherman released "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadda."
1963 The Tymes went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'So Much in Love', it made No.21 on the UK chart.
1964 A documentary 'Follow The Beatles' filmed while the group were making 'A Hard Days Night' was shown on BBC1 in the UK.
1966 The Rolling Stones recorded "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby."
1967 The Jimi Hendrix Experience played the first of five nights at the Salvation Club in New York City.
1968 The first Newport Pop Festival opened in Costa Mesa.
1968 The Doors started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hello I Love You', the groups second US No.1, it made No.15 in the UK. They had eight top 40 US hits from 67-71.
1969 Carl Wilson (Beach Boys) was indicted for failure to report for civilian duty in lieu of serving two years in the army.
1971 Paul McCartney announced the formation of his new band Wings.
1974 Bad Company went to No.1 on the US album chart with their self-titled debut album.
1974 Jeff Baxter quit Steely Dan and joined the Doobie Brothers.
1974 At The Schaefer Festival, New York the headlining act was Anne Murray and the opening act was Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Bad Company went to No.1 on the US album chart with their self titled debut album. Guitarist Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter and drummer Jim Holder quit Steely Dan.
1985 'Drive', by The Cars was re-released following It's dramatic use during 'Live Aid', with all royalties going to the Band Aid trust. Madonna had her first UK No.1 single with 'Into The Groove'. Tears For Fears started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Shout', the duo's second US No.1.
1985 Madonna scored her first UK No.1 single with 'Into The Groove'. The track was taken from the movie 'Desperately Seeking Susan' which featured Madonna and Rosanna Arquette.
1985 Tears For Fears started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Shout', the duo's second US No.1.
1986 The News Of The World printed an exclusive interview with 16 year old model Mandy Smith, who revealed she has been having an affair with Rolling Stone Bill Wyman for the past 2 and a half years
1987 Def Leppard released their album "Hysteria."
1991 'Cities In The Park' took place in Heaton Park, Manchester, a two day event with O.M.D. The Buzzcocks, The Fall, Wonder Stuff, The Soup Dragons, Happy Mondays, Electronic and The Railway Children.
1991 Metallica held a playback party to launch their self-titled album at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Kurt Cobain and Chris Novoselic from Nirvana both attended.
1996 Los Del Rio started a 14 week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Macarena', a No.2 hit in the UK.
1997 Diamond Rio hosted a 30th anniversary party at the Kennedy Space Center at the request of NASA.
1999 Patsy Cline received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2003 Blu Cantrell feat Sean Paul started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Breath.'
2003 UK band The Coral scored their first UK No.1 album with 'Magic and Medicine.'
2007 Queen guitarist Brian May handed in his astronomy PhD thesis - 36 years after abandoning it to join the band. May had recently carried out observational work in Tenerife, where he studied the formation of "zodiacal dust clouds".
2007 Usher married Tameka Foster, six days after calling off their first ceremony. Their original ceremony was cancelled hours before it was due to take place amid reports pregnant Foster was taken to hospital for stress.
