March 19

Births

1946: Paul Atkinson (Guitar for The Zombies)

1953: Ricky Wilson (Guitarist for The B-52's)

1953: Billy Sheehan (Bass guitarist for Mr. Big)

1955: Bruce Willis (Singer, yes he had a hit album)

1959: Terry Hall (Vocals for The Specials & Fun Boy Three)

1976: Zach Lind (Drummer for Jimmy Eat World)

Events

1955: The juvenile-delinquent flick The Blackboard Jungle premieres in US theaters. While it is a solid and even daring drama, it's remembered mainly for prominently featuring Bill Haley and His Comets' "Rock Around The Clock." The single, which had been released a full year earlier to little fanfare, rockets back into the charts and straight to #1, kicking off the rock and roll era in earnest.

1958: "Our Song" was released by Tom and Jerry. Later they used their real names, which were Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

1962:  Bob Dylan released his self-titled debut album.

1964: British PM Harold Wilson, who would later be satirized in the band's song "Taxman," presents the Beatles with the award for being "Show Business Personalities of 1963" at the Variety Club of Great Britain Annual Show Business Awards.

1965: Britain's Tailor and Cutter magazine runs an article by tie makers asking the Rolling Stones to start wearing ties with their suits, a fashion which had recently gone out of style among the youth. Mick Jagger responds, diplomatically, that ties would only give screaming female fans something else to grab onto in a crowd.

1966: Lesley Gore guest stars as herself on the final "By Line -- Jeffrey Stone" episode of ABC-TV's The Donna Reed Show.

1970: David Bowie marries model Mary Angela Barnett, his first wife and the eventual subject of the Rolling Stones' 1974 hit, "Angie," in Kent, England.

1974: Jefferson Airplane reform with the core of their original members, rechristening themselves Jefferson Starship. The new line-up included Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, drummer Johnny Barbata, David Freiberg, Peter Kaukonen, Cragi Chaquico and Papa John Creach.

1976: Guitarist Paul Kossoff of Free dies from drug-related heart problems on a flight from Los Angeles to New York.

1978: Billy Joel plays his first live gig in the UK, performing at London's Drury Lane Theatre.

1980: Elvis Presley's autopsy is entered into proceedings held by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners against Dr. George Nichopoulos, better known to his clients -- including Elvis -- as "Dr. Nick." The doctor will eventually be found guilty of overprescribing the drugs that led to The King's death and will have his license revoked, even though he repeatedly took measures to cure Presley of his addiction.

1982: Ozzy Osbourne's rhythm guitarist and former Quiet Riot member Randy Rhoads was killed when the plane he was riding in crashed.

1985:  "Spin Magazine" began publishing.

1988: Michael Jackson begins construction on his 2,800-acre ranch and private amusement park in Santa Barbara, CA, which he will name "Neverland" after a fantasy location in his favorite book, Peter Pan, a place where children never grow up.

1993 - Drummer Jeff Ward (Nine Inch Nails) was found dead in his home in Chicago. It was believed he had committed suicide.

1999:  George Jones left the hospital after being severely injured in a car accident on March 6, 1999.

2001: Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell's London home was broken into. The intruder left obscene notes on the walls, stole the singer's computer and stereo and had thrown milk and Ribena fruit drink on the walls. They also stole a necklace that used to belong to actress Liz Taylor.

2004: After she has an allergic reaction to antibiotics, Aretha Franklin is admitted to Detroit's Sinai-Grace Hospital.

2005: 50 Cent became the first solo artist to have three singles in the US Top 5. ‘Candy Shop’ was at No.1 with ‘How We Do’ by The Game, (a member of his G-Unit group) at No.4 and ‘Disco Inferno’ at No.5.

2007: R&B Singer Luther Ingram dies of heart failure.