The late Paul Desmond (born Paul Emil Breitenfeld – sax with The Dave Brubeck Quartet – ‘Take Five’ … which he wrote) was born in 1924

Bob Lind (‘Elusive Butterfly’) is 72

Percy Sledge (‘When A Man Loves A Woman’) is 74

Lord Rockingham’s XI were at #1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Hoots Mon’, (based on the traditional Scottish folk song ‘One Hundred Pipers’). The novelty song was helped up the charts due to the exposure Lord Rockingham’s XI received as the house band on the Jack Good TV show Oh Boy!—1958

Jack Scott recorded ‘What In The World’s Come Over You’—1959

The Everly Brothers joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve—1961

In an unprecedented move, Harrods of London opened their store after hours for the exclusive use of The Beatles, enabling the Fab Four to do their Christmas shopping—1965

The Jimi Hendrix Experience made its London debut at the Bag O’Nails Club—1966

John Lennon returned his Member of the British Empire medal to protest Britain’s involvement in Biafra and Vietnam—1969
Rock Factoid: He also said he was upset his single (‘Cold Turkey’) was slipping down the charts.

Albert Ayler (avant-garde jazz saxophonist – ‘The Wizard’) died (committed suicide by jumping off the Statue of Liberty ferry)—1970

Nick Drake (‘River Man’) died (Acute amitriptyline poisoning – self-administered when suffering from a depressive illness)—1974

At the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, The Band played their last concert, which was filmed by Martin Scorsese and released as the classic concert movie The Last Waltz. Guest performers included Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Van Morrison, and Neil Young—1976

Playing The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler was forced to leave the stage after being hit in the face with a bottle thrown from the audience—1978

Thirty-six legendary British rock musicians set aside their egos and grouped together to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. Calling themselves Band Aid, they recorded ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’—1984

The original lineup of The Zombies played onstage together for the first time in 30 years—1997

Fenton Robinson (blues singer/guitarist – ‘Somebody Loan Me A Dime’) died (brain cancer)—1997

Spin magazine editor Craig Marks told police that shock rocker Marilyn Manson’s bodyguards pinned him against a wall and hauled him up into the air. Marks claimed he was invited backstage to talk with Manson after the artist performed at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Manson allegedly threatened Marks. According to Marks, Manson said, “You know I can kill you, your family and everyone you know.”—1998

A burglar broke into Alice Cooper’s home in Paradise Valley, CA and stole $6,000 worth of clothes and electronics belonging to his daughter along with four of Alice’s gold records—2000

Don DeVito (producer for Bob Dylan, The Byrds and Billy Joel) died (prostate cancer)—2011

Earl ‘Speedo’ Carroll (lead singer with The Cadillacs – ‘Speedoo’ and later a member of The Coasters – ‘Love Potion No. 9’) died (stroke and complications of diabetes)—2012

Bob Day (born Bernard Colin Day – The Allisons – ‘Are You Sure?’) died (prolonged illness)—2013

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