Music Almanac: December 15
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| Paul Simonon of the Clash |
- 1910 - John Hammond (producer) (d. 1987)
- 1911 - Stan Kenton (d. 1979)
- 1919 - Max Yasgur (farmer of Woodstock fame) (d. 1973)
- 1921 - Alan Freed (d. 1965)
- 1928 - Ernest Ashworth (d. 2009)
- 1928 - Jerry Wallace (d. 2008)
- 1932 - Jesse Belvin (d. 1960)
- 1939 - Cindy Birdsong (Supremes) (73)
- 1940 - Doug Phelps (Kentucky Headhunters) (72)
- 1942 - Dave Clark (Dave Clark Five) (70)
- 1946 - Carmine Appice (Vanila Fudge, Beck, Bogert & Appice) (66)
- 1946 - Harry Ray (Moments, Ray, Goodman & Brown) (d. 1992)
- 1949 - Don Johnson (63)
- 1951 - Ken Knox (Chairman of the Board) (61)
- 1955 - Paul Simonon (Clash) (57)
- 1957 - Tim Reynolds (55)
- 1961 - Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo) (51)
- 1978 - Edele Lynch (B*Witched) (34)
- 1978 - Keavy Lynch (B*Witched) (34)
- 1980 - Sergio Pizzorno (Kasabian) (32)
Deaths
- 1943 - Thomas W "Fats" Waller - Pneumonia (39)
- 1944 - Glenn Miller - Presumed airplane crash (40)
- 2001 - Rufus Thomas - Heart Failure (84)
- 1956 - Elvis Presley sang for the last time on the Louisiana Hayride.
- 1967 - The Beach Boys first met Maharishi Yogi in Paris and began learning transcendental meditation.
- 1969 - John Lennon played his final show in the U.K. at London's Lycium Ballroom for a UNICEF benefit.
- 1977 - The U.S. government refused to allow any of the Sex Pistols into the country for a TV appearance citing drug convictions (Johnny Rotten), moral turpatude (Paul Cook & Sid Vicious) and criminal record (Steve Jones).
- 1988 - James Brown was sent to prison for six years on gun possession and resisting arrest charges.
- 1997 - Spice World: The Movie with the Spice Girls premiered in London.
- 1999 - Boy George was knocked out during a show when a mirror ball fell on his head.
- 1999 - Malcolm McLaren, former manager of the Sex Pistols, announced he was running for mayor of London.
- 2001 - Joe Walsh was given a doctorate of music from Kent State University in Ohio.
- 2003 - Courtney Love received 18 months of drug rehabilitation after telling the court that she used cocaine and opiates.
- 2006 - Trey Anastasio of Phish was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and with a suspended license.
- 2008 - Madonna agreed to pay Guy Ritchie approximately £50 million ($75 million) in their divorce settlement.
Marriages
- 1944 - Hank Williams and Audrey Guy
- 1973 - Jermaine Jackson and Hazel Gordy
- 1990 - Rod Stewart and Rachel Hunter
- 1990 - Agnetha Faltskog (ABBA) and Tomas Sonnenfeld
- 1994 - Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) and Heather Locklear
Recorded
- 1959 - Let it Be Me - Everly Brothers
Broadcasts
- 1968 - Smothers Brothers - Jefferson Airplane
