August 19

Births

1939: Ginger Baker (Drums for Cream & Blind Faith)

1940: Johnny Nash (Pop Singer)

1945: Ian Gillian (Lead Singer for Deep Purple)

1951: John Deacon (Bass for Queen)

1963: Joey Tempest (Lead Singer of Europe)

1966: LeAnn Womack (Country Singer)

1967: Tabitha Soren (MTV reporter)

1970: MC Eric (Eric martin) (Technotronic)

1972: Elizabeth Wolfgramm (Singer in The Jets)

1989: Lil’ Romeo (Percy Romeo Miller Jr) (Rapper)

Events

1957: Pat Boone appears on the cover of Newsweek with the tag "His Refreshing Song Fills The Air." The article inside claims that "the teen-agers are finally revolting against the musical delinquents."

1966: Just before their first show at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, TN (which is picketed by local KKK members), the Beatles receive an anonymous phone call warning them that at least one of them will be assassinated on stage as a result of John Lennon's "bigger than Jesus" remarks. Midway through their second show of the evening, a lit firecracker is thrown on stage, frightening the band and making them look around to see which of them had been shot. This incident is one of the main reasons the Beatles make this tour their last.

1967: Ringo Starr and his wife, the former Maureen Cox, give birth to their second son, Jason.

1968: The final episode of The Monkees, directed by Micky Dolenz, airs for the last time on NBC-TV. The last song performed in this, the 58th episode, is "Zor And Zam."

1969: Crosby, Stills, and Nash appear on ABC-TV's Dick Cavett Show, the first band to report on the just-concluded Woodstock festival. Joni Mitchell appears, too, to debut her new song about the concert.

1972: The musical variety show The Midnight Special, featuring DJ Wolfman Jack as announcer and John Denver as host, debuts on NBC. The first song performed is War's "Slippin' Into Darkness."

1973: Kris Kristofferson marries Rita Coolidge at his Malibu home in a ceremony officiated by his father, an ordained minister. The marriage would last seven years.

1979: American Rockabilly singer Dorsey Burnette died from a heart attack at his home in Canoga Park, California. He wrote 'It's Late', a hit for Ricky Nelson and Shakin' Stevens.

1980: An asthma attack forces Alice Cooper to cancel tonight's show in Toronto, sparking a riot in the crowd of 1,400.

1988: Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" is named the most played song in the first hundred years of the jukebox's existence.

1997 - Fleetwood Mac's reunion album "The Dance" was released. It was their first album since 1987 and went on to sell over 5M copies.

1999: Lauryn Hill won New Artist Of The Year and Album Of The Year at the US 'Source Hip Hop Music Awards' in Los Angeles. R. Kelly won R&B Artist of The Year; DMX won Artist Of The Year and solo and live performer Of The Year.

2001: American soul singer Betty Everett died aged 61. She had the 1964 US No.6 single 'The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss'), later covered by Cher.

2001: Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted made his first live appearance with EchoBrain.

2003: A man from Nottinghamshire who sent threatening emails to S Club singer Tina Barrett was jailed for six months. 41 year-old Steven Hindley, showered the singer with roses, chocolates and teddy-bears. But when the messages were ignored, he began to mention threats to the band, including a potential sniper attack. One email begged Miss Barrett to visit him at his home, claiming he was the victim of an incurable brain-tumour and had just three weeks to live.

2005: A life-size bronze statue designed by Paul Daly of Phil Lynott (Lead Singer of thin Lizzy) was unveiled on Harry Street in Dublin. The ceremony was attended by his former Thin Lizzy band members Gary Moore, Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham.

2008: Saxophonist LeRoi Moore, a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, died aged 46. Publicist Ambrosia Healy said he died from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident in June on his Virginia farm.

2008: Lady Gaga's debut album "The Fame" was released.  The album has sold over 12M copies.