Births
1930 Jazz legend Ornette Coleman played trumpet, violin, and saxophone is born today in Fort Worth, Texas.
1933 Lloyd Price is born in Kenner, La. His 1959 No. 1 hit, "Stagger Lee," was so violent Dick Clark asked him to tone down the lyrics when he appeared on American Bandstand.
1942 The Velvet Underground's John Cale is born in Garnant, Wales.
1945 Original Procol Harum guitarist Robin Trower is born in London.
1948 Jeffrey Osborne is born in Providence, R.I.
1958 ABC's Martin Fry is born in Manchester, England.
Deaths
1997 The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, age 24. is killed in a drive-by shooting following a Soul Train Music Awards party. The killing is believed to be in retaliation for the death of Tupac Shakur last year in Las Vegas.
Events
1961 The Supremes release their first single, "I Want a Guy." Not a hit.
1963 The Beatles kick off a U.K. tour supporting Tommy Roe and Chris Montez. By the end of the 21-date tour, the band has become the headliner.
1976 The Who postpone their North American tour after Keith Moon collapses at the Boston Garden.
1977 The *** Pistols - with Sid Vicious as their new bassist - sign with A&M in the label's London offices. The next day they will stage a publicity stunt in which they sign a contract in front of Buckingham Palace.
1979 ABC airs Heroes of Rock & Roll. The documentary features clips of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Elvis Costello, among others, and is narrated by actor Jeff Bridges.
1981 Robert Plant performs his first solo gig since the breakup of Led Zeppelin.
1987 U2 release album, The Joshua Tree.
1987 Carole King is admitted to the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
1993 Michael Jackson is named Humanitarian of the Year at the Soul Train Music Awards.
1995 James Brown has charges of domestic violence dropped by a judge in Aiken County, S.C.
1995 Rapper T-Bone is acquitted of murder charges in Torrance, Calif.
1996 "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men remains at No. 1 for a record-setting 15th week.
2000 Chrissie Hynde protests at the use of cow leather from India by clothing chain Gap. She jumps into the window and is arrested at the New York store. She and three others are charged with criminal mischief.
2001 The Recording Industry Association of America sends Napster a list of 135,000 songs they want barred from the MP3-swapping Web site.
