Music Almanac: December 11

Brenda Lee

Birthdays

• 1916 - Perez Prado (d. 1989)
• 1926 - Big Mama Thronton (d. 1984)
• 1931 - Benny Spellman (d. 2011)
• 1938 - McCoy Tyner (74)
• 1940 - David Gates (Bread) (72)
• 1941 - J. Frank Wilson (d. 1991)
• 1944 - Brenda Lee (born Brenda Mae Tarpley) (68)
• 1946 - Tony Brown (musican, producer) (66)
• 1951 - Philip 'Spike' Edney (Queen) (61)
• 1954 - Jermaine Jackson (58)
• 1957 - Mike Mesaros (Smithereens) (55)
• 1958 - Nikki Sixx (Motley Crew) (54)
• 1961 - Darryl Jones (Rolling Stones, session bassist) (51)
• 1962 - Curtis Williams (Kool & the Gang) (50)
• 1963 - Jon Brion (instrumentalist, songwriter, producer) (49)
• 1964 - Dave Schools (Widespread Panic) (48)
• 1964 - Justin Currie (Del Amitri) (48)
• 1967 - DJ Yella (born Antoine Carraby) (World Class Wreckin' Cru) (45)
• 1972 - Easther Bennett (Eternal) (40)
• 1973 - Mos Def (39)
• 1981 - Zacky Vengeance (Avenged Sevenfold) (31)
• 1993 - Gina Miele (Girl Authority) (19)

Deaths

• 1964 - Sam Cook - Shot (Justifiable homicide) (33)
• 1998 - Lynn Strait (Snot) - Car accident (30)
• 2007 - Christie Hennessy - Lung cancer (62)

On This Day

• 1960 - Aretha Franklin made her New York debut.
• 1966 - Brian Epstein tried to sign Little Richard but was unable.
• 1967 - The new Beatles company, Apple, signed Grapefruit as their first artist.
• 1967 - Jethro Tull was formed.
• 1968 - Production started on the Rolling Stones' Rock & Roll Circus. Guests include John Lennon & Yoko Ono, the Who, Eric Clapton and Jethro Tull.
• 1968 - Tex Ritter was on a plane that was hijacked to Cuba.
• 1969 - The Magic Christian with Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr premiers in London.
• 1972 - James Brown was arrested for inciting a riot at his show in Knoxville, Tennessee.
• 1972 - Genesis played live for the first time in the U.S. at Brandeis University in Massachusetts.
• 1973 - Ace Frehley of Kiss was electrocuted during a show when he touched an improperly grounded light. He came back on stage ten minutes later.
• 1982 - The Jam played their final show in Brighton, England.
• 1988 - Don Henley, Tom Petty and Graham Nash performed a concert in Los Angeles in honor of Roy Orbison who had passed away earlier in the week.
• 1996 - Former Smiths members Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce won a legal case over unpaid royalties against Morrissey and Johnny Marr.
• 1998 - Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes was hit by a bottle while performing in Tuscon, AZ. While trying to arrest the perpetrator, a guard was stabbed.
• 2000 - Richard Ashcroft fell on stage in Birmingham, England, breaking two rips, and had to cancel the balance of his U.K. tour.
• 2001 - Brian Harvey of East 17 underwent brain surgery after being attacked at a club.
• 2001 - David Soul won a lawsuit against a London Theater critic who criticized the singer's acting in a West End play without seeing the production.
• 2002 - David Lee Roth sued Van Halen saying he was not included in the renegotiation of the band's contract with Warner Brothers.
• 2002 - The balance of Guns N' Roses tour dates were canceled by Clear Channel Entertainment after a number of incidents when Axl Rose and/or the entire band didn't show up.
• 2002 - Moby was attacked after a club show in Boston.
• 2003 - Legendary guitarist Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley) underwent brain surgery for a subdural hematoma.

Marriages

• 1957 - Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown (13-year-old cousin)

Recorded

• 1935 - The Carter Family recorded their last sides for Victor.
• 1946 - Hank Williams' first recording session for the Stirling label in Nashville
• 1958 - Charley Brown - Coasters

Released

• 1971 - Anticipation - Carly Simon
• 1976 - Night Moves - Bob Seger
• 1985 - Superbowl Shuffle - Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew (single)

Broadcasts

• 1963 - Juke Box Jury (BBC) - Beatles
• 1967 - Movin' With Nancy (NBC) - Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Lee Hazelwood, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr.
• 1996 - MTV Unplugged - George Michael
• 2001 - Today (NBC) - Gene Simmons
• 2001 - Larry King (CNN) - Lionel Richie
• 2003 - The Osbourne Family Christmas Special (MTV) - Jessica Simpson, Dave Navarro