Births
1926: John Coltrane (Jazz Saxophonist)
1930: Ray Charles (Singer & Piano Legend)
1935: Les McCann (Jazz & R&B Singer)
1939: Roy Buchanan (Blues Guitarist)
1943: Steve Boone (Bass for The Lovin' Spoonful)
1943: Julio Iglesias (Singer)
1947: Neal Smith (Drummer for Alice Cooper)
1949: Bruce Springsteen (The Boss)
Events
1952: Hank Williams records "Take These Chains From My Heart," "Kaw-liga" and "Your Cheatin' Heart" in his final recording session, at the Castle Studio in Nashville's Tulane Hotel.
1967: The Strawberry Alarm Clock perform their one and only hit, "Incense and Peppermints," on ABC-TV's American Bandstand.
1969: It was reported by "The London Daily Mirror" that Paul McCartney was dead. It was the first time the rumor was printed.
1970: After his band's concert at the Olympia in Paris, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones meets heiress Bianca Pérez Morena De Macías for the first time, beginning a courtship that will end in their first marriage the next year. Naturally, there will be a bitter divorce in 1978, leading to some inspired "tribute" songs in the Stones catalog.
1974: Robbie McIntosh founder member of the Average White Band died of a heroin overdose at a Hollywood party, (after he inhaled a white powder thought to be cocaine but was actually pure heroin). He was 24.
1980: David Bowie makes a splash on Broadway when he takes over the title role in The Elephant Man from Philip Anglim.
1980: Having already collapsed in Central Park a few days earlier, a weak Bob Marley insists on continuing his US tour, and collapses again onstage during tonight's show at Pittsburgh's Stanley Theater. It will prove to be his last performance; the tour is canceled, and Marley heads to Germany for treatment where he will defy his original grim prognosis somewhat by staying alive until the following May.
1989: Milli Vanilli started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Girl I'm Gonna Miss You', the duo's second US No.1. Also today the duo went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Girl You Know It's True'.
1991: Izzy Stradlin left Guns N' Roses. Gilby Clarke replaced him.
1992: A scandal erupts when Jackson Browne is accused of physical assault by his girlfriend, actress Daryl Hannah.
1998: Elvis Presley, once rejected for the Grand Old Opry, is inducted into Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame.
1999: Coolio appeared on TV's "Judge Joe" to settle a financial dispute with his backing band the Wyld Bunch. The judge ruled the band was due $4,000 in unpaid earnings.
2004: Slipknot's Corey Taylor issued a statement denying he was dead. Rumours started after a shock jock in Des Moines broadcast the announcement that the singer had died of a drug overdose, which then became a fatal car crash.
2004: A bodyguard for rapper Lil' Kim was sentenced to 12 years in prison after admitting firing at least 20 times in a shoot-out with a rival gang. The judge sentencing Suif Jackson, said society needed protection from a gun-toting man with five convictions. The shooting took place when the entourages of Lil' Kim and Capone-N-Noreaga crossed at a New York radio station.
2005: Mindy McCready is checked into Nashville's St. Thomas Hospital after swallowing about 30 anti-depressant pills, her second overdose in two months. This one comes after a phone argument with boyfriend William McKnight over finances for their unborn child.
2007: Lionel Richie guest-stars as himself on tonight's "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs" season opener of Fox-TV's The Simpsons.
