Music Almanac: December 23
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| Eddie Vedder |
- 1935 - Johnny Kidd (born Frederick Heath) (Johnny Kidd & the Pirates) (d. 1966)
- 1935 - Esther Phillips (d. 1984)
- 1940 - Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) (72)
- 1940 - Eugene Record (Chi-Lites) (d. 2005)
- 1941 - Tim Hardin (d. 1980)
- 1943 - Harry Shearer (Spinal Tap) (69)
- 1943 - Merrell Fankhauser (69)
- 1945 - Ron Bushy (Iron Butterfly) (67)
- 1946 - Luther Grosvenor (Spooky Tooth, Mott the Hoople) (66)
- 1949 - Adrian Belew (King Crimson) (63)
- 1951 - Anthony Phillips (Genesis) (61)
- 1951 - Johnny Contardo (Sha Na Na) (61)
- 1956 - Dave Murray (Iron Maiden) (56)
- 1958 - Victoria Williams (54)
- 1960 - Will Sinnott (Shamen) (d. 1991)
- 1964 - Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) (48)
- 1974 - Montsho Eshe (Arrested Development) (38)
- 1985 - Harry Judd (McFly) (27)
Deaths
- 1992 - Eddie Hazel (Parliament-Funkadelic) - Internal bleeding and liver failure (42)
- 2000 - Victor Borge (91)
- 2003 - Curley Money (Rockabilly Hall of Fame Member) (78)
- 2007 - Oscar Peterson - Kidney failure (82)
- 2008 - Clint Ballard, Jr. (songwriter, Game of Love, You're No Good) (77)
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| Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) |
- 1959 - Chuck Berry was arrested for taking a 14-year-old girl over state lines.
- 1964 - Pirate radio station Radio London started broadcasting.
- 1964 - Brian Wilson had a nervous breakdown on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston.
- 1969 - Elton John and Bernie Taupen wrote together for the first time.
- 1972 - Terry Knight, former manager of Grand Funk Railroad showed up at a concert by the group with a court order to seize $1 million in assets.
- 1977 - Cat Stevens became Yusuf Islam
- 1985 - During an LL Cool J show in Baltimore, a fight broke out where one person was trampled and two were shot.
- 1985 - Two Judas Priest fans shot themselves after listening to the album Stained Class.
- 1987 - Roger Waters and David Gilmour settled their differences allowing Waters to perform as Pink Floyd and Gilmour to receive royalties.
- 1999 - George Harrison's Maui home was broken into with the perpetrator cooking a pizza, making phone calls and doing laundry.
- 2000 - Mick Hucknall of Simply Red was cautioned by the courts for possession of marijuana and cocaine.
- 2003 - Pink signed an endorsement contract with Pepsi.
- 2006 - Bono was given an honorary knighthood for his contributions to music and humanitarian work.
Marriages
- 1996 - Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) and Donna Deruico
Recorded
- 1959 - This Magic Moment - Drifters
- 1969 - Fighting Side of Me - Merle Haggard
Released
- 1967 - Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix Experience (single)
- 1974 - Ding Dong Ding Dong - George Harrison (single)
- 1978 - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart (single)
Broadcasts
- 1964 - Shindig - Beach Boys
- 1966 - Ready Steady Go (U.K. ITV) (Final broadcast) - Mick Jagger, Who, Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis Group, Donovan, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
