Births
1924 Dinah Washington, US singer, (1959 US No.8 single 'What A Diff'rence A Day Makes', 1961 UK No.35 single 'September In The Rain'). She died on 14th December 1963.
1942 Sterling Morrison, guitar, Velvet Underground, (1968 song 'White Light White Heat'). Morrison died of cancer on 30th August 1995.
1943 Dick Halligan Keyboards, flute, vocals, Blood Sweat & Tears, (1969 US No.12 & UK No.35 single 'You've Made Me So Very Happy').
1945 Chris Copping, Procol Harum, (1967 UK No.1 & US No.5 single 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale').
1953 Rick Downey, Blue Oyster Cult, (1978 UK No.16 single 'Don't Fear The Reaper').
1958 Elizabeth Fraser, vocals, Cocteau Twins, (1984 UK No.29 single 'Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops).
1958 Michael Jackson, singer, songwriter, The Jackson Five (1970 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'I Want You Back') The Jacksons, (1977 UK No.1 single 'Show You The Way To Go'), solo (1983 UK & US No.1 single 'Billie Jean', 11 other US No.1's & 40 UK top 40 singles).
1959 Eddi Reader singer, songwriter, Fairground Attraction, (1988 UK No.1 single 'Perfect'), solo (1994 UK No.33 single 'Patience of Angels').
1963 Jerry Fehily, Hothouse Flowers, (1988 UK No.11 single 'Don't Go').
1967 Chris Gorman, drums, Belly, (1993 UK No.32 single 'Feed The Tree').
1971 Alex Griffin, Neds Atomic Dustbin, (1991 UK No.16 single 'Happy').
1975 Kyle Cook, Matchbox 20, (1998 UK No.38 single 'Push', 2000 US No.1 single 'Bent').
Deaths
1976 Blues artist Jimmy Reed died in San Francisco aged 50. Major influence on The Rolling Stones.
1987 Lee Marvin, actor, singer died, (UK 1970 UK No.1 single 'Wand'rin Star' from the film 'Paint Your Wagon').
1995 While shooting the music video for Meat Loaf's "I'd Lie for You," a pilot and cameraman were killed in a helicopter crash in the Sequoia National Forest about 150 miles north of Los Angeles, CA.
1998 Rockabilly pioneer Charlie Feathers died aged 66.
Events
1946 Ella Fitzgerald and The Delta Rhythm Boys recorded "It's a Pity to Say Goodnight."
1958 Alan Freed's "Big Beat Show" opened at the Fox Theatre in Brooklyn, NY.
1958 George Harrison joined the band Quarrymen. John Lennon and Paul McCartney were also members.
1964 Roy Orbison's single "Oh, Pretty Woman" was released. The song was Orbison's second #1 hit.
1966 The Beatles ended their fourth American tour at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA. It turned out that the show was their last public concert.
1970 The Kinks' single "Lola" was released.
1970 Edwin Starr started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'War', his only No.1a No.3 in the UK.
1976 Appearing at The Screen On The Green, London, England, The *** Pistols supported by The Clash and The Buzzcocks.
1977 3 people were arrested in Memphis after trying to steal Elvis' body. As a result his body was moved to Graceland.
1978 The first night of a four date UK tour by the Patti Smith group at The City Hall Newcastle, with special guests The Pop Group.
1981 Aneka was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Japanese Boy', the Scottish singers only Top 40 hit.
1981 Electric Light Orchestra scored their second UK No.1 album with 'Time'.
1981 The two day Rock on the Tyne festival began in Gateshead, England, featuring Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, U2, Rory Gallagher, Doll By Doll, Wang Chung, Becket, Dr Feelgood, The Gingers Nutters (featuring Ginger Baker), Trimmer and Jenkins and Lindisfarne.
1984 Prince's single "Let's Go Crazy"/"Erotic City" were released.
1984 U2 kicked off their Unforgettable Fire World Tour at Christchurch Town Hall in New Zealand, the first of 19 shows in Australia and New Zealand
1986 The former "American Bandstand" studio was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The studio is in Philadelphia, PA.
1986 A mini dress worn by Kim Wilde was sold at Christie's rock memorabilia auction for Ł400.
1987 Def Leppard scored their first UK No.1 album with 'Hysteria', which also became No.1 on the US chart in July the following year after spending forty-nine weeks working its way to the top.
1987 Los Lobos started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'La Bamba', also a No.1 hit in the UK. Taken from the film about the life of Ritchie Valens.
1987 Rick Astley's debut hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up', started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles, became the biggest selling single of 1987.
1988 During the European leg of his Bad tour Michael Jackson appeared at Roundhay Park in Leeds, England.
1990 Elton John checked into a rehab center in Chicago, IL, for bulimia, drinking and drugs.
1991 At 7pm, DJ Kurt St. Thomas from radio station WFNX in Boston gave Nirvana's album 'Nevermind' its world premiere by playing the album from start to finish.
1992 The Smiths went to No.1 on the UK album charts with the 'Best... 1' compilation album.
1992 U2 became only the second act ever (Billy Joel was the first) to play at The Yankee Stadium in New York City, during their sold out Zoo TV tour.
1994 Oasis released their debut album 'Definitely Maybe', it went on to spend 177 weeks on the UK chart.
1996 Liam Gallagher was reunited with the rest of Oasis in Chicago after a week of speculation on their future of the group, after he had walked out on the band a few days earlier.
1996 Isaac Hayes, who co-wrote the Stax classic "Soul Man," sent a protest letter to presidential candidate Bob Dole requesting Dole to stop using his song, which his supporters had changed to "I'm A Dole Man."
1999 Lou Bega went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Mambo No 5A Little Bit Of'.
2000 Slipknot caused chaos at this years Kerrang! Awards, after smashing glasses, setting fire to their table, throwing a monitor off the stage and destroying a microphone. The band picked up 3 awards including best single and best live act.
2003 Winners at this years MTV Video Music awards held in New York included, Missy Elliot, Video of the year for 'Work It', Viewers Choice award, 'Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous' Good Charlotte, Rap Video went to 50 Cent for 'In Da Club', Pop Video, Justin Timberlake, 'Cry Me A River.' Maddona stunned a packed Radio City Hall audience by passionately kissing Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during a racy version of 'Like A Virgin.'
2004 Prodigy went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned', the groups third UK No.1.
