Music Almanac: December 31

Donna Summer

Birthdays

• 1920 - Rex Allen (d. 1999)
• 1928 - Ross Barbour (Four Freshman) (d. 2011)
• 1930 - Odetta (born Odetta Holmes) (d. 2008)
• 1942 - Andy Summers (Police) (70)
• 1943 - John Denver (born Henry John Deutschendorf) (d. 1997)
• 1943 - Pete Quaife (Kinks) (d. 2010)
• 1947 - Burton Cummings (Guess Who) (65)
• 1948 - Donna Summer (d. 2012)
• 1951 - Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith) (61)
• 1951 - Fermin Goytisolo (K.C. & the Sunshine Band) (61)
• 1951 - Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets) (61)
• 1953 - Michael Hedges (d. 1997)
• 1959 - Paul Westerburg (Replacements) (53)
• 1959 - Jeff Johnson (Jason & the Scorchers) (53)
• 1963 - Scott Ian (Anthrax) (49)
• 1970 - Danny McNamara (Embrace) (42)
• 1971 - Marcus Adoro (Eraserheads) (41)
• 1972 - Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) (40)
• 1979 - Bob Bryar (My Chemical Romance) (33)
• 1993 - Jess Bonner (Girl Authority) (19)

Deaths

• 1985 - Rick Nelson - Plane crash (45)
• 1997 - Floyd Cramer - Lung cancer (64)
• 2000 - Eddy Shaver (member of father Billy Joe Shaver's band) - Heroin Overdose (38)
• 2002 - Kevin MacMichael (Cutting Crew) - Lung cancer (51)
• 2002 - Jim McReynolds (Jim & Jesse McReynolds) (75)

The Pendletones

On This Day

• 1940 - A dispute between the radio networks and ASCAP forced the removal of all music published through the society, shutting down much of the music programming for the next ten months.
• 1961 - The Beach Boys (formerly the Pendletones) performed for the first time under their new name in Long Beach, CA.
• 1961 - Janis Joplin sang in public for the first time in Beaumont, TX.
• 1963 - The Kinks performed live for the first time in London.
• 1965 - The Beatles opened a European tour in Paris.
• 1969 - Jimi Hendrix introduced his new group Band of Gypsies. The performance would later be released.
• 1970 - Paul McCartney filed a lawsuit to dissolve the Beatles.
• 1971 - David Clayton-Thomas made his last appearance (for now) with Blood, Sweat & Tears.
• 1971 - Stevie Ray Vaughan dropped out of high school and moved to Austin with his band.
• 1973 - AC/DC performed live for the first time in Sydney, Australia.
• 1973 - Journey made their live debut in San Francisco.
• 1975 - Elvis Presley set a record by making $800,000 for a concert before 60,000 at the Silverdome in Pontiac, MI.
• 1976 - The Cars played live for the first time in Portsmouth, NH.
• 1978 - Bauhaus played live for the first time in England.
• 1982 - Max's Kansas City in New York closed.
• 1984 - Rick Allen, guitarist for Def Leppard, was in a traffic accident that caused him to lose his left arm.
• 1991 - Ted Nugent coined his phrase “I kill it, you grill it” when he donated 200 pounds of venison to the Salvation Army in Detroit for their homeless shelters.
• 1993 - Barbra Streisand played live before a paying crowd for the first time in 22 years at the MGM in Las Vegas, NV.
• 1996 - Paul McCartney was named to the Queen's New Years Honours list, making him a “sir.”
• 1997 - Little Texas performed their final show in Cookville, TN.
• 1999 - The Manic Street Preachers set a record in Europe for the biggest indoor concert when they played for 57,000 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
• 1999 - John Fogerty sued his lawyer over what he says was incompetent handling of his 1985 copyright infringement lawsuit.
• 2000 - Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright performed their farewell show in Nashville.
• 2002 - 50 Cent and four others were arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
• 2003 - Alex Lifeson of Rush was hit with a stun gun while being arrested for disorderly conduct at a Naples, FL New Year's celebration.
• 2003 - Eric Clapton and Ray Davies of the Kinks were made CBE's by the Queen.
• 2004 - Roger Daltrey was awarded a CBE by the Queen.
• 2009 - Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi of Status Quo were awarded OBE's by the Queen.
• 2010 - The Discovery Channel indefinitely postponed a program that was to reenact Michael Jackson's autopsy.

Marriages

• 1947 - Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
• 1981 - Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
• 1982 - Steve Van Zandt (E-Street Band) and Maureen Santora
• 2000 - Chris Robinson (Black Crowes) and Kate Hudson
• 2003 - Natalie Imbruglia and Daniel Johns (Silverchair)

Broadcasts

• 1969 - Man of the Decade (BBC) - John Lennon
• 1979 - Old Grey Whistle Test (BBC 2) - Blondie
• 1979 - Kenny Everett New Year's Show (U.K.) - David Bowie
• 1981 - New Year's Rockin' Eve (MTV) (first program)
• 1995 - The White Room (C4-TV U.K.) - David Bowie, Oasis, Pulp, Stevie Wonder, PM Dawn
• 2003 - Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (ABC) - Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Kiss, Elton John

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Music Almanac: December 30

Michael Nesmith & Davy Jones

Birthdays

• 1927 - Bob Ferguson (songwriter, Wings of a Dove, The Carroll County Accident) (d. 2001)
• 1928 - Bo Diddley (d. 2008)
• 1930 - Red Rhodes (steel guitar, Michael Nesmith) (d. 1995)
• 1931 - Skeeter Davis (d. 2004)
• 1934 - Del Shannon (d. 1990)
• 1937 - Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul & Mary) (75)
• 1937 - John Hartford (d.2001)
• 1938 - Mike Auldridge (Seldom Scene) (74)
• 1940 - Kenny Pentifallo (Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes) (72)
• 1940 - Perry Ford (born Bryan Pugh) (Ivy League) (d. 1999)
• 1942 - Michael Nesmith (Monkees) (70)
• 1942 - Robert Quine (Voidoids) (d. 2004)
• 1945 - Davy Jones (Monkees) (d. 2012)
• 1946 - Patti Smith (66)
• 1946 - Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull) (66)
• 1947 - Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra, Traveling Wilburys) (65)
• 1956 - Suzy Bogus (56)
• 1959 - Tracy Ulman (53)
• 1964 - Duglas Stewart (BMX Bandits) (48)
• 1969 - Jay Kay (born Jason Cheetham) (Jamiroquai) (43)
• 1970 - Sister Bliss (born Ayalah Bentovim) (Faithless) (42)
• 1978 - Tyrese (born Tyrese Gibbons) (34)

Deaths

• 1967 - Bert Berns (songwriter, Piece of My Heart, Twist & Shout) (38)
• 1995 - Clarence Satchell (Ohio Players) - Brain aneurysm (55)
• 1998 - Johnny Moore (Drifters) - Respiratory failure (64)
• 2009 - Rowland S. Howard (Birthday Party) - Liver cancer (50)
• 2010 - Bobby Farrell (Boney M) - Heart failure (61)

On This Day

• 1944 - Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1962 - Brenda Lee was injured trying to save her poodle from her burning house.
• 1969 - Peter Tork bought himself out of his contract with the Monkees.
• 1978 - Emerson, Lake and Palmer announced they were breaking up.
• 1978 - XTC played live for the first time in the U.S. in Philadelphia.
• 1999 - George and Olivia Harrison were attacked by an intruder in their Henley-on-Themes, England home. George suffered a collapsed lung from stab wounds while Olivia was treated for wounds and bruises.
• 1999 - It was announced that Noddy Holder of Slade would receive an MBE and Mark Knopfler an OBE from the Queen.
• 1999 - One of the victims of the night club shooting where Sean Puffy Combs was in attendance sued the rapper for $100 million.
• 2002 - Diana Ross was arrested for a DUI in Arizona.
• 2002 - Clash singer Joe Strummer's funeral was held in London.
• 2003 - Chris Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets was shot in the back during a struggle with a post office security guard in Phoenix. He was also arrested for the incident.
• 2005 - DMX was released from prison after serving a month of a 70-day parole violation sentence.
• 2006 - Brandy was in a four-car crash that left one woman dead.
• 2006 - It was announced that Rod Stewart would receive a CBE from the Queen.

Marriages

• 1989 - Chris Novoselic (Nirvana) and Shelli Dilly

Recorded

• 1950 - 60 Minute Man - Billy Ward & the Dominos

Broadcasts

• 1965 - Shindig! - Kinks, Who, Manfred Mann, Hollies, Gerry & the Pacemakers

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Music Almanac: December 29

Birthdays

• 1935 - Virgil Johnson (Velvets) (77)
• 1939 - Ed Bruce (73)
• 1941 - Ray Thomas (Moody Blues) (71)
• 1942 - Jerry Summers (Dovells) (70)
• 1942 - Rick Danko (Band) (d. 1999)
• 1946 - Marianne Faithfull (66)
• 1947 - Cozy Powell (Rainbow, Whitesnake, Emerson Lake & Palmer) (d. 1998)
• 1948 - Charlie Spinosa (John Fred & the Playboy Band) (64)
• 1951 - Yvonne Elliman (61)
• 1951 - Laurel Massé (Manhattan Transfer) (61)
• 1954 - Roger Voudouris (d. 2003)
• 1955 - Neil Giraldo (57)
• 1961 - Jim Reid (Jesus and Mary Chain) (51)
• 1961 - Mark Day (Happy Mondays) (51)
• 1963 - Alex Gifford (Propellerheads) (49)
• 1965 - Dexter Holland (Offspring) (47)
• 1966 - Chris Barnes (Cannibal Corpse) (46)
• 1967 - Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard) (45)
• 1970 - Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) (42)
• 1970 - Aled Jones (42)
• 1973 - Pimp C (born Chad Butler) (Underground Kingz (UGK)) (d. 2007)
• 1983 - Jessica Andrews (29)

Deaths

• 1967 - Paul Whiteman (77)
• 1980 - Tim Hardin - Heroin overdose (39)
• 1994 - Eugene Tanner, Jr. (5 Royales) (58)

On This Day

• 1956 - Elvis Presley set a record at the time by having ten songs in the Top 100.
• 1963 - WMCA in New York is the first American station to play I Want to Hold Your Hand.
• 1963 - The Weavers played a farewell concert at Chicago's Orchestra Hall.
• 1967 - Dave Mason quit the group Traffic.
• 1982 - Jamaica issued commemorative stamps for Bob Marley.
• 1994 - Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes plead guilty for setting fire to her boyfriend's $1 million Atlanta mansion which was destroyed.
• 2000 - John Michael Montgomery falls while hunting and suffers a compound fracture of his right leg.
• 2000 - Bryan Ferry was on a jet that was overtaken by a man who wanted to fly the plane into the ground. He was overtaken by the crew.
• 2000 - Janet Jackson's former husband, Rene Elizondo, Jr., sues her for more than $10 million saying they had an agreement to split her assets.
• 2001 - Aretha Franklin filed a suit against the U.S. newspaper The Star for claiming she was having trouble with alcohol.

Marriages

• 1957 - Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme

Divorces

• 1975 - Grace Slick and Paul Kantner (both Jefferson Airplane)
• 2006 - Marilyn Manson and Dita Von Teese (filed by Von Teese)

Recorded

• 1966 - Penny Lane - Beatles

Broadcasts

• 1966 - Top of the Pops (U.K. BBC) - Jimi Hendrix Experience

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Music Almanac: December 28

Birthdays

• 1903 - Earl Fatha Hines (d. 1983)
• 1910 - Billy Williams (d. 1972)
• 1914 - Roebuck “Pops” Staples (Staple Singers) (d. 2000)
• 1921 - Johnny Otis (d. 2012)
• 1932 - Dorsey Burnette (d. 1979)
• 1938 - Charles Neville (Neville Brothers) (74)
• 1940 - Lonnie Liston Smith (72)
• 1943 - Chas Hodges (Chas and Dave) (69)
• 1943 - Bobby Comstock (69)
• 1945 - Dwight Bement (Gary Puckett & the Union Gap) (67)
• 1946 - Edgar Winter (66)
• 1947 - Dick Diamonde (Easybeats) (65)
• 1948 - Ziggy Modeliste (Meters) (64)
• 1950 - Alex Chilton (Box Tops, Big Star) (d. 2010)
• 1953 - Richard Clayderman (59)
• 1956 - Kenneth Gant (Midnight Star) (56)
• 1958 - Joe Diffie (54)
• 1958 - Mike McGuire (Shenandoah) (54)
• 1960 - Marty Roe (Diamond Rio) (52)
• 1960 - Marcus Hummon (songwriter, Bless This Broken Road, Cowboy Take Me Away) (52)
• 1964 - Paul Wagstaff (Black Grape) (48)
• 1971 - Amita Doth (2 Unlimited) (41)
• 1978 - John Legend (34)
• 1990 - David Archuleta (22)

Deaths

• 1976 - Freddie King - Stomach ulcers and acute pancreatitis (42)
• 1983 - Dennis Wilson (Beach Boys) - Drowned (39)
• 2009 - The Rev (born James Sullivan) (Avenged Sevenfold) - Drug/alcohol overdose (28)

On This Day

• 1963 - The Beatles get their first major press in the U.S. when Brian Epstein is interviewed in the New Yorker.
• 1968 - The Miami Pop Festival kicked off. Over the next three days, performers would include Chuck Berry, The McCoys, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, The Turtles, The Box Tops, Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Pacific Gas and Electric, Procol Harum, Canned Heat, Iron Butterfly and The Grateful Dead.
• 1968 - Led Zeppelin played their first show in Canada in Vancouver.
• 1973 - Tex Ritter made his last appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1975 - While appearing at a gun show, a patron pulled a gun on Ted Nugent.
• 1998 - Ronnie Hammond of the Atlanta Rhythm Section is shot in Macon by police after trying to attack an officer with a hammer.
• 1998 - Usher sued Tommy Hilfinger for infringement of publicity rights and false endorsement.
• 1999 - N'Sync announce they have settled their dispute with former manager Lou Pearlman and can now release their second album.
• 2000 - Waylon Jennings started a three-day estate sale at his Illinois home after deciding to move to Arizona. Among the items are a motorcycle once belonging to Buddy Holly.
• 2002 - Gary Glitter was deported from Cambodia after suspected sex offenses.

Marriages

• 1993 - Shania Twain and Mutt Lange
• 1993 - Billy Ray Cyrus and Leticia Finley
• 2001 - Brian Prout (Diamond Rio) and Stephanie Bentley

Recorded

• 1963 - Hank Williams, Jr. recorded his first sides for MGM

Broadcasts

• 2003 - 60 Minutes (CBS) - Michael Jackson (denying child abuse allegations) 

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Music Almanac: December 27

Hayley Williams of Paramour

Birthdays

• 1931 - Scotty Moore (81)
• 1933 - John Hughey (Conway Twitty, Vince Gill) (d. 2007)
• 1941 - Mike Pinder (Moody Blues) (71)
• 1941 - Les Maguire (Gerry & the Pacemakers) (71)
• 1943 - Peter Sinfield (King Crimson) (69)
• 1944 - Mick Jones (Foreigner) (68)
• 1944 - Tracy Nelson (68)
• 1948 - Larry Byrom (Steppenwolf) (64)
• 1948 - Les Taylor (Exile) (64)
• 1950 - Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons, Frank Zappa) (62)
• 1951 - Karla Bonoff (61)
• 1952 - David Knopfler (Dire Straits) (60)
• 1953 - David Conley (Surface, Mandrell) (59)
• 1960 - Martin Glover (aka Youth) (Killing Joke, Firemen) (52)
• 1962 - Jeff Bryant (Ricochet) (50)
• 1972 - Matt Slocum (Sixpence None the Richer) (40)
• 1981 - Javine Hylton (31)
• 1984 - Pleasure P (born Marcus Cooper) (Pretty Ricky) (28)
• 1988 - Hayley Williams (Paramour) (24)

Deaths

• 1978 - Chris Bell (Big Star) - Car accident (27)
• 1978 - Bob Luman - Pneumonia (41)
• 1981 - Hoagy Carmichael - Heart failure (82)
• 1983 - Walter Scott (Bob Kuban & the In-Men) - Murdered (40)
• 1997 - Ewart Abner (founder of Chance Records) - Respiratory illness (74)
• 2004 - Hank Garland (Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison) - Staph infection (74)
• 2006 - Gene McFadden (McFadden and Whitehead) - Liver and lung cancer (57)
• 2008 - Delaney Bramlett - Complications of gall bladder surgery (69)

On This Day

• 1963 - John Lennon and Paul McCartney were named the Outstanding Composers of 1963 by the London Times.
• 1975 - The split of the Faces became official.
• 1989 - A lawsuit was filed by a former chef at Chuck Berry's restaurant alleging that he had installed secret cameras in the ladies rooms.
• 1992 - Harry Connick, Jr. was arrested at Kennedy Airport in New York after it was discovered he had a pistol in his luggage.
• 1998 - Busta Rhymes is arrested for criminal possession of an unregistered pistol.
• 1999 - Sean Combs and Jennifer Lopez were arrested after a gun was discovered in his car while the police were investigating a club shooting.
• 2001 - The Steps announced they were breaking up.
• 2004 - A man is killed outside a nightclub where there is a party for Ja Rule.
• 2008 - Gregg Allman's home in Georgia was robbed of a coin collection, knives and unreleased concert recordings.

Marriages

• 1985 - Simon Le Bon and Yasmin Parvanah

Recorded

• 1985 - Master of Puppets - Metallica (final session)

Released

• 1967 - John Wesley Harding - Bob Dylan
• 1975 - December 1963 (Oh What a Night) - Four Seasons (single)

Broadcasts

• 1964 - Ed Sullivan Show - Supremes (first appearance on show)
• 1967 - Jonathan Winters Show (CBS) - Doors
• 1971 - Sonny & Cher Show (CBS) (premier)
• 1984 - Brighton Rock (U.K. Granada TV) - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Madness, Nik Kershaw, Gloria Gaynor, Spandau Ballet, The Flying Pickets, Helen Terry  

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Music Almanac: December 26

Phil Spector

Birthdays

• 1922 - Harry Choates (d. 1951)
• 1935 - Abdul “Duke” Fakir (Four Tops) (76)
• 1939 - Phil Spector (73)
• 1942 - Earl Cate (Cate Brothers) (70)
• 1942 - Ernie Cate (Cate Brothers) (70)
• 1946 - Bob Carpenter (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) (66)
• 1950 - Michael Jones (B.T. Express) (62)
• 1951 - Paul Quinn (Saxon) (61)
• 1953 - Henning Schmitz (Kraftwerk) (59)
• 1954 - Peter Woods (Romeo Void) (58)
• 1962 - James Kottak (Scorpions) (50)
• 1963 - Lars Ulrich (Metallica) (49)
• 1963 - Dana Baldinger (Popinjays) (49)
• 1966 - Jay Yuenger (White Zombie) (46)
• 1969 - Peter Klett (Candlebox) (43)
• 1970 - James Mercer (Shins) (42)
• 1971 - Jared Leto (30 Seconds to Mars) (41)
• 1979 - Chris Daughtry (Daughtry) (33)

Deaths

• 1999 - Curtis Mayfield - Complications from paralysis (57)
• 2007 - Joe Dolan - Brain hemorrhage (68)
• 2010 - Teena Marie (born Mary Brockert) (54)

On This Day

• 1926 - The WSM Bard Dance began regular Saturday night broadcasts. It would become the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1965 - Paul McCartney crashed on a moped suffering a five-inch cut to his mouth.
• 1966 - Jimi Hendrix wrote the lyrics to Purple Haze while playing a club in London.
• 1967 - The BBC broadcast the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. The film was almost universally banned with the result being U.S. networks dropping their plans to air the feature.
• 1967 - Paul Desmond left the Dave Brubeck Quartet, causing the group to split up.
• 1968 - Led Zeppelin opened their first U.S. tour in support of Vanilla Fudge and Spirit in Denver, CO.
• 1979 - The concerts for the people of Kampuchea began in London with performances by Queen, the Clash, Elvis Costello, the Pretenders, the Who, Wings and others.
• 1987 - Jam Master Jay of Run-D.M.C. was hospitalized after his jeep was hit by a car going the wrong way on a one-way street.
• 1988 - Shane McGowan of the Pogues was arrested for breaking the front glass of a store while drunk.
• 1997 - The Spice Girls' film, Spice World, opened in the U.K.
• 2003 - Stuart Beckerman, Michael Jackson's spokesman, quits after the singer appears on CBS about his child abuse charges.
• 2003 - Cris Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets was shot during an altercation with a post office security guard in Phoenix, AZ.
• 2005 - Gary Glitter got lucky when Vietnamese police can't get enough evidence to charge him with child rape.
• 2006 - Michael Jackson sued his former accountants for supposedly taking $2.5 million per year from his accounts but not paying his bills.

Recorded

• 1939 - St. Louis Blues - W.C. Handy
• 1961 - She Cried - Jay & the Americans
• 1976 - God Save the Queen - Sex Pistols

Released

• 1955 - See You Later Alligator - Bill Haley & the Comets
• 1963 - I Want to Hold Your Hand / I Saw Her Standing There - Beatles (single)

Broadcasts

• 1967 - Magical Mystery Tour (BBC) - Beatles

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Music Almanac: December 24

Dave Bartholomew

Birthdays

• 1913 - Lulu Belle (born Myrtle Cooper) (Lulu Belle & Scotty) (d. 1999)
• 1920 - Dave Bartholomew (92)
• 1924 - Lee Dorsey (d. 1986)
• 1944 - Mike Curb (68)
• 1945 - Lemmy (Ian Kilmister) (Motorhead, Hawkwind) (67)
• 1946 - Jan Akkerman (66)
• 1957 - Ian Burden (Human League) (55)
• 1963 - Mary Ramsey (John & Mary, 10,000 Maniacs) (49)
• 1965 - Millard Powers (Counting Crows) (47)
• 1968 - Doyle Bramhall III (44)
• 1970 - Bonnie “Prince” Billy (born Will Oldham) (42)
• 1971 - Ricky Martin (41)
• 1975 - Joe Washbourne (Toploader) (37)

Deaths

• 1999 - Zeke Carey (Flamingos) (66)
• 2000 - Nick Massi (Four Seasons) - Cancer (73)
• 2009 - Tim Hart (Steeleye Span) - Lung cancer (61)

On This Day

• 1960 - Even though he had a number 1 record, Chubby Checker was still a ward of the court as an orphan and had his allowance raised form $150 to $200 per week.
• 1963 - The Beatles held their first annual Christmas concert with guests Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, Tommy Quickly, Cilla Black, the Fourmost, and the Barron Knights with the Duke D’Mond.
• 1964 - The Beatles held their second annual Christmas concert with the Yardbirds, Freddie and the Dreamers, Jimmy Saville, Elkie Brooks, Mike Haslam, and the Mike Cotton Sound.
• 1972 - A crowd at a Miami, FL concert by Manfred Mann's Earth Band rioted after police stopped their concert saying that they had received noise complaints.
• 1973 - Tom Johnson of the Doobie Brothers was arrested for marijuana possession.
• 1977 - The Sex Pistols played their last show in the U.K. for 19 years.
• 2005 - Iggy & the Stooges were fined by the city of Lucerne, Switzerland for playing music too loud. They were clocked at 102.5 decibals.

Marriages

• 1971 - Little Jimmy Dickens and Mona Evans

Divorces

• 1978 - Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Faltskog (ABBA) (announced separation)

Recorded

• 1966 - I Think We're Alone Now - Tommy James & the Shondells
• 1988 - Nirvana began recording their first album.

Broadcasts

• 1967 - Bee Gees Live Christmas Special (U.K.)

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Music Almanac: December 23

Eddie Vedder

Birthdays

• 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)

Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)

On This Day

• 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

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Music Almanac: December 22

Robin Gibb

Birthdays

• 1899 - Hoagy Carmichael (d. 1981)
• 1919 - Lil Green (d. 1954)
• 1921 - Hawkshaw Hawkins (d. 1963)
• 1938 - Red Steagall (74)
• 1939 - James Gurley (Big Brother & the Holding Company) (d. 2009)
• 1942 - Dick Parry (Pink Floyd, Bloodstone) (70)
• 1944 - Barry Jenkins (Animals) (68)
• 1946 - Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick) (66)
• 1946 - Mary McCaslin (66)
• 1949 - Robin Gibb (Bee Gees) (d. 2012)
• 1949 - Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees) (d. 2003)
• 1950 - Alan Gene Williams (Rubettes) (62)
• 1957 - Ricky Ross (Deacon Blue) (55)
• 1960 - Luther Campbell (2 Live Crew) (52)
• 1960 - Chuck Mead (BR5-49) (52)
• 1966 - Danny Saber (Black Grape) (46)
• 1967 - Richey Edwards (Manic Street Preachers) (disappeared 1995)
• 1984 - Jonas Erik Altberg (Basshunter) (28)
• 1989 - Jordin Sparks (23)

Deaths

• 1939 - Ma Rainey - Heart attack (53)
• 1985 - D. Boon (Minutemen) - Van accident (27)
• 2002 - Joe Strummer (Clash) - Congenital heart defect (50)
• 2003 - Dave Dudley - Heart attack (75)
• 2006 - Dennis Linde (songwriter, Burning Love, Goodbye Earl) - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (63)

On This Day

• 1955 - Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Holiday Jubilee opened in New York with Count Basie, LaVern Baker, the Cadillacs, the Valentines, the Wrens and the Chuckles.
• 1971 - Yoko Ono loses custody of her daughter Kyoko to the girl's father, Tony Cox. She can only visit if she posts a $20,000 bond against her kidnapping the child.
• 1975 - Ike and Tina Turner had a suitcase stolen that contained $86,000 in concert receipts.
• 1976 - Isaac Hayes filed for bankruptcy.
• 1978 - Todd Rundgren sued the British musicians union after they filed a grievance and stopped a radio concert he was supposed to perform.
• 1978 - The Who announced Kenny Jones as Keith Moon's replacement.
• 1978 - In London, the stage version of Harry Nilsson's The Point opened with Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz.
• 1979 - The first of three concerts for Kampuchea are held in London with Paul McCartney, the Clash, Elvis Costello, the Who and Rockpile.
• 1980 - Punk label Stiff Records released the LP The Wit and Wisdom of Ronald Reagan which contained 40 minutes of silence.
• 1987 - Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue was pronounced dead after his heart stopped for two minutes. He was revived with shots of adrenaline to the heart.
• 1988 - The Smiths played their final show but without Johnny Marr.
• 1991 - James Brown sued the makers of the movie The Commitments, saying a character was too close to him. He lost the suit.
• 1991 - The movie Rush opens with music by Eric Clapton and the film debut of Gregg Allman.
• 2000 - LL Cool J was sued by members of the Furious Five who allege that his song 4, 3, 2, 1 sampled their song Superappin' without their permission.
• 2003 - Jack White is officially charged with assault for a previous fight with Jason Stollsteimer of the Von Bondies
• 2009 - The FBI released 333 pages of investigations about Michael Jackson they made between 1992 and 2005.
• 2010 - The Abbey Road crossing from the Beatles album of the same name was given historical protection.

Marriages

• 2000 - Madonna and Guy Ritchie

Recorded

• 1948 - Lovesick Blues - Hank Williams

Released

• 1962 - He's Sure the Boy I Love - Crystals

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Music Almanac: December 21

Birthdays

• 1902 - Peetie Wheatstraw (d. 1941)
• 1926 - Freddie Hart (86)
• 1934 - Hank Crawford (Ike Turner's band) (d. 2009)
• 1940 - Ray Hildebrand (Paul & Paula) (72)
• 1940 - Frank Zappa (d. 1993)
• 1942 - Carla Thomas (70)
• 1943 - Albert Lee (69)
• 1943 - Gwen McCrae (69)
• 1946 - Carl Wilson (Beach Boys) (d. 1998)
• 1953 - Betty Wright (59)
• 1956 - Lee Roy Parnell (56)
• 1962 - Christy Forester (50)
• 1963 - Russell Moore (IIIrd Tyme Out, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver) (49)
• 1964 - Murph (born Emmett Murphey III) (Lemonheads, Dinosaur, Jr.) (48)
• 1965 - Gabrielle Glasser (Luscious Jackson) (47)
• 1971 - Brett Scallions (Tool) (41)

Deaths

• 1971 - Charlie Fuqua (Ink Spots) (61)
• 1972 - Ray Jackson (songwriter, Who's Makin' Love, (If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Wanna Be Right) - House fire (31)
• 1987 - John Spence (No Doubt) - Suicide
• 1988 - Paul Jeffreys (Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Be-Bop Deluxe) - Killed when terrorist bomb blew up his plane over Lockerbie, Scotland (36)
• 1992 - Albert King - Heart attack (69)
• 1998 - Karl Denver - Brain tumor (67)

On This Day

• 1957 - Paramount Pictures requested that the U.S. Government defer Elvis Presley's induction by two months so they could finish the film King Creole.
• 1967 - The Beatles had a party in London to preview their new film Magical Mystery Tour.
• 1967 - Jack Greene joined the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1968 - Crosby, Stills and Nash performed in public for the first time.
• 1968 - Janis Joplin gave her first solo performance in Memphis, TN.
• 1970 - Elvis Presley met with President Richard Nixon who gave the singer a Narcotics Bureau badge.
• 1971 - Martha & the Vandellas broke up.
• 1976 - Barry Manilow on Broadway opened for a two week run on Broadway.
• 1979 - The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and Chicago perform at a fundraiser for Jerry Brown.
• 1979 - The movie The Electric Horseman, costarring Willie Nelson, premiered.
• 1995 - Tony McCarrol, former drummer for Oasis, sued the band over royalties.
• 1996 - Tony Bennett had emergency hernia surgery.
• 2002 - Keane was discovered by Simon Williams of Fierce Panda Records while playing in London.
• 2005 - Elton John and David Furnish registered their relationship as a civil partnership, the first celebrities to do so.

Recorded

• 1950 - Cold, Cold Heart - Hank Williams
• 1955 - Jim Dandy - Laverne Baker

Released

• 1967 - Their Satanic Majesties Request - Rolling Stones

Broadcasts

• 1969 - Ed Sullivan Show - Supremes (last TV appearance with Diana Ross)
• 1992 - Roseanne (ABC) - David Crosby
• 2001 - Up Close and Personal With Natalie Merchant (Oxygen)

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Music Almanac: December 20

Alan Parsons

Birthdays

• 1930 - Pat Hare (Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters) (d. 1980)
• 1939 - Courtney Johnson (New Grass Revival) (73)
• 1939 - Kim Weston (73)
• 1941 - Michael Hurley (71)
• 1944 - Bobby Colomby (Blood, Sweat & Tears) (68)
• 1945 - Peter Criss (Kiss) (67)
• 1948 - Alan Parsons (64)
• 1948 - Stevie Wright (Easybeats) (64)
• 1956 - Anita Ward (56)
• 1956 - Guy Babylon (Elton John band) (d. 2009)
• 1957 - Billy Bragg (55)
• 1957 - Mike Watt (Minutemen, Firehose, Stooges) (55)
• 1966 - Chris Robinson (Black Crowes) (46)
• 1975 - Graham Hopkins (Swell Season, Therapy?) (37)
• 1980 - Chris Edwards (Kasabian) (32)
• 1982 - David Cook (30)
• 1990 - JoJo (born Joanna Levesque) (22)

Deaths

• 1973 - Bobby Darin - Complications from heart surgery (37)
• 1999 - Hank Snow (85)
• 2004 - Son Seals - Diabetes (62)

On This Day

• 1950 - Lefty Frizzell debuted on the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1967 - Joan Baez was sentenced to 45 days in jail for her participation in an anti-war protest.
• 1967 - Ian Anderson and Glenn Cornick formed Jethro Tull.
• 1974 - Joe Walsh replaced Bernie Leadon in the Eagles.
• 1980 - Phil Taylor of Motorhead accidentally broke a bone in his neck at an after-party.
• 1986 - Randy Travis joined the Grand Ole Opry.
• 2001 - Tommy Lee of Motley Crue filed papers saying that his ex-wife Pamela Anderson was an unfit mother.
• 2006 - Matthew Fischer won a court decision that he should share in the profits from Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale. Fischer was the organist who wrote the famous rift in the song.

Divorces

• 2006 - Eminem (Marshall Mathers) and Kim Mathers (2nd time the couple divorced)

Released

• 1968 - The Beatles' 1968 Christmas Record - Beatles
• 1969 - He Ain't Heavy (He's My Brother) - Hollies (single)

Broadcasts

• 1962 - Andy Williams Show - Osmond Brothers (first appearance)

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Music Almanac: December 19

Little Jimmy Dickens

Birthdays

• 1908 - Bill Carlisle (d. 2003)
• 1915 - Charlie Ryan (d. 2008)
• 1918 - Professor Longhair (born Henry Byrd) (d. 1980)
• 1920 - Little Jimmy Dickens (92)
• 1940 - Phil Ochs (d. 1976)
• 1941 - Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire) (71)
• 1944 - Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) (68)
• 1944 - Zal Yanovsky (Lovin' Spoonful) (d. 2002)
• 1945 - John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) (67)
• 1947 - Janie Frickie (65)
• 1949 - Lenny White (Return to Forever) (63)
• 1957 - Doug Johnson (Loverboy) (55)
• 1958 - Limahl (born Christopher Hamill) (Kajagoogoo) (54)
• 1965 - Chuckii Booker (47)
• 1968 - Kevin Shepard (Tonic) (44)
• 1975 - Casual (born Jon Owens) (37)
• 1982 - Vincent Accardi (Brand New) (30)
• 1985 - Lady Sovereign (born Louise Harman) (27)

Deaths

• 1991 - Joe Cole (roadie for Black Flag & Rollins Band, writer) - Murdered (40)
• 1993 - Michael Clarke (Byrds) - Liver disease (47)
• 1997 - Jimmy Rogers (Muddy Waters' band) - Colon cancer (73)
• 2000 - Pop Staples (Staple Singers) - Concussion from fall (85)
• 2000 - Rob Buck (10,000 Maniacs) - Liver disease (42)

On This Day

• 1957 - Elvis Presley received his draft notice.
• 1969 - Mick Jagger was fined in Marlborough, U.K. for possession of marijuana.
• 1970 - President Nixon complimented Mike Curb of MGM Records after he dropped a number of artists for supposedly advocating drug use. Among those dropped was Connie Francis.
• 1979 - George Nichopoulos, physician for Elvis Presley, was officially charged with illegally and indiscriminately prescribing over 12,000 pills in a period of 1-2/3 years.
• 1980 - The film 9-to-5 opened with Dolly Parton.
• 1985 - Johnny Paycheck shot a man in a Hillsboro, OH bar. He eventually served two years in prison.
• 1987 - Two girls are crushed to death in the rush in Nashville before a Public Enemy concert.
• 1997 - Marty Raybon of Shenandoah performs for the last time with the group.
• 2001 - Waylon Jennings had his left foot amputated due to diabetes.
• 2001 - Dick Clark sued the Recording Academy charging that they were trying to block artists from appearing on the American Music Awards by saying if they did, they would not be able to appear on the Grammys.
• 2001 - Scott Weiland of the Stone Temple Pilots pled guilty to domestic battery.
• 2005 - Britney Spears sued US Weekly after they writing that there was a sex tape with her and Kevin Federline.

Recorded

• 1960 - Calendar Girl - Neil Sedaka
• 1960 - Ring-a-Ding Ding, Let's Fall in Love - Frank Sinatra (his first recording session for his own Reprise Records)
• 1998 - Live in Chicago 12-19-98 - Dave Matthews Band

Released

• 1969 - The Beatles' Seventh Christmas Record - Beatles (fan club only release)

Broadcasts

• 1987 - Saturday Night Live - Paul Simon
• 1992 - Christmas in Washington - Neil Diamond
• 2001 - Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story (VH1)
• 2001 - Dateline (NBC) - Madonna

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Music Almanac: December 17

Paul Rodgers

Birthdays

• 1894 - Arthur Fiedler (d. 1979)
• 1903 - Ray Noble (d. 1978)
• 1910 - Spade Cooley (d. 1969)
• 1931 - Frankie Miller (81)
• 1933 - Nat Stuckey (d. 1988)
• 1936 - Tommy Steele (76)
• 1937 - Art Neville (Neville Brothers) (75)
• 1937 - Tom Tall (75)
• 1938 - Carlo Little (Rolling Stones, Scraming Lord Sutch's Savages) (d. 2005)
• 1939 - Eddie Kendricks (Temptations) (d. 1992)
• 1939 - James Booker (d. 1983)
• 1941 - Mickey Jones (Bob Dylan) (71)
• 1942 - Paul Butterfield (d. 1987)
• 1943 - Dave Dee (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich) (d. 2009)
• 1943 - Ron Geesin (Pink Floyd) (69)
• 1948 - Jim Bonfanti (Raspberries) (64)
• 1949 - Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, Firm, Queen) (63)
• 1950 - Carlton Barrett (Bob Marley & the Wailers) (d. 1987)
• 1951 - Wanda Hutchinson (Emotions) (61)
• 1953 - Mark Gane (Martha & the Muffins) (59)
• 1953 - Sharon White (Whites) (59)
• 1958 - Mike Mills (R.E.M.) (54)
• 1959 - Bob Stinson (Replacements) (d. 1995)
• 1961 - Sara Dallin (Bananarama) (51)
• 1966 - Tracy Byrd (46)
• 1966 - Duane Propes (Little Texas) (46)
• 1969 - Mike Quinn (Supergrass) (43)
• 1970 - DJ Homicide (born Craig Bullock) (Sugar Ray) (42)
• 1978 - Neil Sanderson (Three Days Grace) (34)
• 1979 - Flo Rida (born Tramar Dillard) (33)
• 1979 - Ryan Key (Yellowcard) (33)
• 1989 - Taylor York (Paramour) (23)

Deaths

• 1982 - Big Joe Williams (79)
• 1996 - Ruby Murray - Liver cancer (61)
• 1999 - Rex Allen - Heart attack (78)
• 1999 - Grover Washington, Jr. - Heart attack (56)
• 2006 - Denis Payton (Dave Clark Five) - Cancer (63)
• 2010 - Captain Beefheart (born Don Van Vliet) - Multiple sclerosis (69)

Elvis Costello on SNL (1977)

On This Day

• 1955 - Carl Perkins wrote Blue Suede Shoes.
• 1963 - WWDC in Washington, DC was the first station in the U.S. to broadcast a Beatles record. DJ James Carroll played I Want to Hold Your Hand.
• 1965 - The Astrodome opened in Houston, TX with performances by Judy Garland and the Supremes.
• 1970 - The Beach Boys played a royal demand performance in London.
• 1977 - Elvis Costello was brought in at the last minute to replace the Sex Pistols on Saturday Night Live after the group was refused entry to the country due to their criminal records. Costello would be banned for years from the show after he stopped playing the song Less Than Zero, which had been requested by the NBC producers, in the middle and launched into Radio Radio.
• 1982 - Karen Carpenter played live for the last time in Sherman, California.
• 1982 - The Who play their first farewell concert in Toronto.
• 1986 - The Doobie Brothers reunited for a benefit in Palo Alto, CA. The show inspired them to reform.
• 1986 - Wayne Newton won a $19.2 million suit against NBC news because of a false report that he was tied to mob figures.
• 1987 - Robert Plant played with his former group, Band of Joy, in Folkestone, England and, for the first time, played Led Zeppelin songs as a solo artist.
• 1995 - A statue of Frank Zappa was erected in Vilnius, Lithuania.
• 1996 - Celine Dion announced she was taking a break to start a family.
• 2000 - Eminem was the victim of an early internet rumor/hoax after it was reported he had been killed in a car accident.
• 2003 - Remy Zero split up.
• 2003 - Nas was charged with assault after hitting a patron of a club over the head with a bottle.
• 2004 - Lisa Marie Presley sold 85% of her holdings in her father's estate to Robert Sillerman for about $100 million.
• 2004 - The Libertines played their last show in Paris as opening act for P.J. Harvey. Harvey went on to say that this was also the last show she would ever play.

Marriages

• 1969 - Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki Budinger
• 1994 - Celine Dion and Rene Angelil

Recorded

• 1961 - She's Got You - Patsy Cline

Released

• 1968 - Point Met at the Sky - Pink Floyd (U.K. single)

Broadcasts

• 1969 - Tonight Show (NBC) - Tiny Tim & Miss Vicki's wedding
• 1977 - Saturday Night Live (NBC) - Elvis Costello
• 1983 - Saturday Superstore (U.K.) - Culture Club, Duran Duran, Police
• 1984 - Razzmatazz Solid Gold Christmas Special (U.K.) - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Big Country, Duran Duran, Ultravox, Paul Young, Wham
• 1990 - A Mom For Christmas - Oliva Newton-John
• 2002 - According to Jim (ABC) - Brad Paisley

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Music Almanac: December 16

Billy Gibbons

Birthdays

• 1922 - Cy Leslie (founder of Pickwick Records) (d. 2008)
• 1931 - Shelby Singleton (d. 2009)
• 1931 - Karl Denver (born Angus Murdo McKenzie) (d. 1998)
• 1937 - Jim Glaser (Glaser Brothers) (75)
• 1945 - Tony Hicks (Hollies) (67)
• 1946 - Benny Andersson (ABBA) (66)
• 1949 - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) (63)
• 1951 - Robben Ford (61)
• 1963 - Jeff Carson (49)
• 1968 - Christopher Thorn (Blind Melon) (44)
• 1971 - Michael McCary (Boyz II Men) (41)
• 1971 - Paul van Dyk (41)
• 1975 - Benjamin Kowalewicz (Billy Talent) (37)
• 1978 - Kaine (born Eric Jackson) (Ying Yang Twins) (34)

Deaths

• 1978 - Jenny Lou Carson (first woman to write a number 1 country record) (63)
• 1988 - Sylvester (born Sylvester James) - AIDS (41)
• 1990 - Jackie Mittoo (Skatalites) - Cancer (42)
• 1997 - Nicolette Larson - Liver failure (45)
• 2001 - Stuart Adamson (Skids, Big Country) - Suicide (43)
• 2003 - Gary Stewart - Suicide (59)
• 2004 - Freddie Perren (songwriter, Boogie Fever, I Will Survive) (61)
• 2007 - Dan Fogelberg - Prostate cancer (56)

On This Day

• 1967 - Marianne Faithfull became the first act signed to the Rolling Stones' Mother Earth label.
• 1971 - 200 Motels, the Frank Zappa film, opened in London.
• 1974 - Mick Taylor announced he was leaving the Rolling Stones.
• 1974 - Mott the Hoople broke up.
• 1983 - The Who announced they were splitting.
• 1991 - Chubby Checker sued McDonald's in Canada over their use of an imitation of his voice for a commercial.
• 1999 - A worker was killed when he fell 80 feet while disassembling a set for the Spice Girls.
• 2000 - Brad Paisley was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry.
• 2003 - Michael Jackson was released from jail on $3 million bail after being arrested for child abuse.
• 2005 - Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison sued EMI for royalties estimated at £30m ($45 million).
• 2006 - Paul McCartney left EMI after objecting to how they were handling his music.
• 2010 - Mariah Carey's husband, Nick Cannon, announced that they were expecting twins.

Released

• 1966 - Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix Experience (U.K. single)
• 1967 - Green Tambourine - Lemon Pipers (single)
• 1971 - American Pie - Don McLean (single)
• 1972 - Hi Hi Hi - Paul McCartney (single)

Broadcasts

• 1965 - The Music of Lennon-McCartney (U.K.) - Beatles, Marianne Faithfull, Cilla Black, Peter & Gordon, Lulu, Billy J. Kramer, Esther Phillips
• 1993 - MTV Unplugged - Nirvana

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Music Almanac: December 15

Paul Simonon of the Clash

Birthdays

• 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)

On This Day

• 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

Read more...

Music Almanac: December 13

Birthdays

• 1930 - Buck White (Whites) (82)
• 1931 - Wayne Bennett (d. 1992)
• 1933 - Lou Adler (79)
• 1938 - Tony Gomez (Foundations) (74)
• 1945 - Robert Martinez (? & the Mysterians) (67)
• 1948 - Ted Nugent (64)
• 1948 - Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers) (64)
• 1948 - Ron Getman (Tractors) (64)
• 1948 - Davy O'List (Nice, Roxy Music) (64)
• 1949 - Randy Owen (Alabama) (63)
• 1949 - Tom Verlaine (Television) (63)
• 1953 - Berton Averre (Knack) (59)
• 1954 - John Anderson (58)
• 1954 - Steve Forbert (58)
• 1957 - Morris Day (The Time) (55)
• 1958 - Dana Strum (Slaughter) (54)
• 1967 - Jamie Foxx (45)
• 1974 - Nick McCarthy (Franz Ferdinand) (38)
• 1975 - Tom DeLonge (Blink-182) (37)
• 1981 - Amy Lee (Evanescence) (31)
• 1983 - Matt Deis (CKY, All That Remains) (30)
• 1989 - Taylor Swift (23)

Deaths

• 2002 - Zal Yanovsky (Lovin' Spoonful) - Heart attack (57)
• 2005 - Timothy Jordan II (All-American Rejects) - Suicide (24)

On This Day

• 1963 - Bob Dylan was given the Tom Paine Award by the Emergency Civil Liberties Committee.
• 1969 - Diana Ross sued the Latin Casino in Philadelphia after her two dogs died by ingesting cyanide left at the venue by exterminators.
• 1974 - George Harrison went to the White House at the invitation of Gerald Ford's son, Jack.
• 1983 - Robert Plant was joined during a solo show in London by Jimmy Page. They played a version of Roy Head's Treat Her Right.
• 1993 - Faith Hill made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry.
• 1999 - Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays was ordered to pay £160,000 to an ex-manager in a contract dispute.
• 1999 - BMI announced that You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling is the most performed song of the century (at least most performed song licensed through BMI).
• 2000 - It was announced that the U.K. music magazine Melody Maker was to stop publication after 74 years.
• 2000 - Paul McCartney did his first-ever book signing in London for his book of paintings.
• 2000 - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced that Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Aerosmith, Queen, Steely Dan, Solomon Burke, Richie Valens and the Flamingos would be inducted in 2001.
• 2003 - During an appearance at the Vatican City Christmas show, Lauryn Hill went into a harsh attack on the Catholic church including the sexual abuse scandal.
• 2003 - Jack White and Jason Stollsteimer of the Von Bondies get into a fight in Detroit.
• 2008 - Dizzee Rascal was arrested in London for a road rage incident where he threatened another driver with a baseball bat.

Marriages

• 1982 - David Allan Coe and Debbie Pardue

Divorces

• 1988 - Bruce Springsteen and Julianne Phillips

Released

• 1947 - Write Me a Letter - Ravens (first R&B record to make Pop top 25)
• 1975 - Golden Years - David Bowie (single)
• 1975 - Slow Ride - Foghat (single)

Read more...

Music Almanac: December 12

Dionne Warwick

Birthdays

• 1915 - Frank Sinatra (d. 1998)
• 1918 - Joe Williams (d. 1999)
• 1928 - Lonesome Sundown (born Cornelius Green) (d. 1995)
• 1938 - Connie Francis (74)
• 1939 - Terry Kirkman (Association) (73)
• 1940 - Dionne Warwick (72)
• 1941 - Tim Hauser (Manhattan Transfer) (71)
• 1943 - Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers) (69)
• 1943 - Peter Sarstedt (69)
• 1943 - Grover Washington, Jr. (d. 1999)
• 1944 - Rob Tyner (MC5) (d. 1991)
• 1945 - Alan Ward (Honeycombs) (67)
• 1946 - Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull) (66)
• 1947 - Ralph Scala (Blues Magoos) (65)
• 1948 - Ray Jackson (Lindisfarne) (64)
• 1953 - Bruce Kulick (KISS) (59)
• 1953 - Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites) (59)
• 1957 - Cy Curnin (Fixx) (55)
• 1957 - Sheila E. (born Sheila Escovedo) (55)
• 1959 - Belouis Some (53)
• 1961 - Daniel O'Donnell (51)
• 1963 - Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors) (49)
• 1967 - Nick Dimichino (Nine Days) (45)
• 1968 - Danny Boy (born Daniel O'Connor) (House of Pain) (44)
• 1972 - Hank Williams III (40)
• 1976 - Daniel Hawkins (Darkness) (36)

Deaths

• 1985 - Ian Stewart (Rolling Stones) - Heart attack (47)
• 1987 - Clifton Chenier - Diabetes-related kidney disease (62)
• 2007 - Ike Turner - Cocaine overdose (76)

On This Day

• 1957 - A DJ in Portland, OR was fired for playing Elvis Presley's version of White Christmas.
• 1967 - Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones was sentenced to 3 years probation and £1,000 for drug offences.
• 1970 - The Doors played their last show with Jim Morrison at the Warehouse in New Orleans.
• 1971 - Filming began on Lady Sings the Blues with Diana Ross.
• 1974 - Mick Taylor announced he was leaving the Rolling Stones.
• 1985 - Dionne Warwick received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• 1996 - Clint Black received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• 2000 - Tony Bennett commemorated the birthday of the late-Frank Sinatra by announcing the September 2001 opening of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts.
• 2001 - Arthur Lee of Love was released from prison after serving six years of an eleven-year sentence for possession of a firearm and firing it in the air in a dispute with his neighbor.
• 2001 - Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic countersue Courtney Love who had previously sued Universal Music Group saying all of Nirvanna's rights reverted to her after the death of Kurt Cobain.
• 2002 - Les Paul announced he would be donating 2,000 records and pieces of sheet music along with other memorabilia for an exhibit in his hometown of Waukesha, WI.
• 2003 - Mick Jagger was knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
• 2003 - Dave Matthews opened his first solo tour.
• 2008 - Dartford, Kent announced it was naming streets in a new estate after hometown boys Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' hits with the Rolling Stones including Ruby Tuesday Drive, Angie Mews, Babylon Close, Sympathy Street, Little Red Walk and Satisfaction Street.

Recorded

• 1955 - See You Later, Alligator - Bill Haley & the Comets

Released

• 1963 - Pretty Paper - Roy Orbison (single)
• 1964 - You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - Righteous Brothers (single)
• 1969 - Live Peace in Toronto 1969 - John Lennon, Yoko Ono & the Plastic Ono Band
• 1970 - Love the One You're With - Steven Stills (single)
• 1992 - Incesticide - Nirvana

Broadcasts

• 1980 - Marie Osmond (debut of solo show)

Read more...

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

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