January 4

Births

1943: John McLaughlin (Guitarist for Mahavishnu Orchestra & Solo)

1956: Bernard Sumner (Vocals & Guitar for New Order & Guitar for Joy Division)

1956: Nels Cline (Guitar for Wilco)

1957: Patty Loveless (Country Singer)

1960: Michael Stipe (Singer for R.E.M.)

1962: Robin Guthrie (Guitar & Keyboards for Cocteau Twins)

1962: Peter Steele (Lead Vocals & Bass for Type O Negative)

1963: Till Lindemann (Vocals for Rammstein)

1965: Beth Gibbons (Vocals for Portishead)

1966: Deana Carter (Country Singer)

Events

1950: Two years after Columbia Records introduces the long-playing record, RCA announces its intention to follow suit.

1954: A young truck driver named Elvis Presley enters the Memphis Recording Service in Memphis, TN, ostensibly to record a song for his mother's birthday (which was, in reality, many months away). He records "Casual Love Affair" and "I’ll Never Stand in Your Way." It was this recording that would lead MRS head Sam Phillips to call Presley back to record for his Sun Records label.

1965: Leo Fender sells Fender Guitars to CBS for $13 million.

1967: The Doors released their self-titled debut album The Doors. Unique packaging of the album included each band members bio.

1970: The Who's Keith Moon accidentally runs over his chauffeur, Neil Boland, killing him. Apparently, Moon's car was under attack from some unruly teenagers, and when Boland jumped out to get them to move, Moon, in a panic, got behind the wheel to drive the car away himself. Unfortunately, the crowd had since pushed Boland under the car.

1986: Irish singer, songwriter and bassist Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy died of heart failure and pneumonia after being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose at age 35.

2004: Britney Spears had her surprise marriage annulled less than 55 hours after tying the knot at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas with childhood friend Jason Alexander.