Births
1935: Abdul "Duke" Fakir (Tenor singer in The Four Tops)
1939: Phil Spector (Producer & Songwriter)
1953: Henning Schmitz (Member of Kraftwerk)
1961: James Kottak (Drummer for Kingdom Come & The Scorpions)
1963: Lars Ulrich (Drummer for Metallica)
1971: Jared Leto (Vocals for 30 Seconds To Mars)
1979: Chris Daughtry (Singer for Daughtry)
Events
1964: The Rolling Stones, whose long hair has solidified the new standard for teenagers set by the Beatles, take out an ad in New Musical Express wishing starving hairdressers of the UK a "Happy Christmas."
1966: Backstage before a show at London's Uppercut Club, Jimi Hendrix scribbles out the lyrics to a new song called "Purple Haze."
1967: The Beatles' new television movie, a concept of Paul's entitled Magical Mystery Tour, has its first airing on the BBC. Shot in color but broadcast in black-and-white for some reason, the wandering psychedelic mess has critics and fans in the band's home country howling in disappointment and confusion. A planned later US airing is quickly cancelled.
1968: Led Zeppelin begin their first-ever US tour, opening for Spirit, the MC5, and Vanilla Fudge.
1970: George Harrison started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'My Sweet Lord', making him the first Beatle to score a No.1 US hit. The song was originally intended for Billy Preston.
1987: Run D.M.C.'s Jam Master Jay was hospitalized when his Jeep was hit head-on by a driver going the wrong-way.
1999: Curtis Mayfield died at the North Fulton Regional Hospital in Roswell, Georgia his health having steadily declined following his paralysis.
