Births
1942: Johnny Rivers (Singer / Songwriter)
1943: Joni Mitchell (Singer / Songwriter)
1960: Tommy Thayer (Lead guitarist, took over Ace Frehley's character in Kiss)
1971: Robin Finck (Guitarist for Nine Inch Nails & Guns N' Roses)
Events
1951: Frank Sinatra marries his second wife, actress Ava Gardner. The marriage, her third, lasts six years and is credited for moving Sinatra into his "mature" phase as a singer, with Nelson Riddle stating: "It was Ava who did that, who taught him how to sing a torch song. That's how he learned. She was the greatest love of his life and he lost her."
1956: Elvis Presley becomes the first artist to chart an Extended Play or EP 45 rpm record when the four-song Love Me EP enters the Billboard charts.
1959: Smokey Robinson marries Claudette Rogers, still a member of the group and the eventual inspiration for his song "My Girl," made famous by the Temptations. The two would divorce in 1985.
1961: Ray Charles is arrested for possession of drugs in Indianapolis, IN, after local authorities discover marijuana and heroin in his hotel room.
1963: The Beatles make their only visit to Ireland as a group, performing two shows in Dublin at the Adelphi Cinema.
1967: Elton John, still going by his given name of Reg Dwight, and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin sign their first major publishing deal, with their parents there to witness the signing, as both are still minors.
1974: Ted Nugent won a National Squirrel-shooting contest after picking off a squirrel at 150 yards. The heavy metal guitarist also shot dead 27 other mammals during the three day event.
1986: Willie Nelson guest stars as a corrupt cop on tonight's "El Viejo" episode of NBC-TV's Miami Vice.
1986: Tracey Pew, bassist with The Birthday Party died during an epileptic fit aged 28.
1987: Tiffany became the youngest act to score a US No.1 since Michael Jackson ('Ben', in 1972) with 'I Think we're Alone Now'.
1991: Frank Zappa was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He died on December 4th, 1993.
1995: The Captain (Daryl Dragon) and (Toni) Tenille renew their vows in Virginia City, NV on the occasion of their 20th anniversary.
2000: Garth Brooks filed for a divorce from his wife Sandy.
2002: 12 Guns N' Roses fans were arrested during a riot after a gig in Vancouver was cancelled. Promoters pulled the gig after Axl Rose's flight from Los Angeles was delayed.
2002: Whitney Houston's husband, New Edition singer Bobby Brown was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, speeding, driving without a licence and having no proof of insurance after he was stopped by police in Atlanta City.
2003: In a desperate effort to reassure visitors that the SARS outbreak is no threat, Hong Kong officials invite the Rolling Stones, among others, to play a massive concert in the city. The total cost for appearance fees tops $100 million.
