BIRTHDAYS
Andy Summers [born Andrew Somers] (1942) The Police guitarist/composer/songwriter/co-founder and solo guitarist/bassist/singer/composer/songwriter
Pete Quaife [born Peter Kinnes] (1943) The Kinks bassist/co-founder (died 2010) age 66 – kidney failure
John Denver [born Henry Deutschendorf Jr.] (1943) singer/songwriter/guitarist/fiddler (died 1997) age 53 – plane crash
Burton Cummings (1947) The Guess Who lead singer/keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter
Donna Summer [born LaDonna Gaines] (1948) singer/songwriter, also actress (died 2012) age 63 – lung cancer
Fermin Goytisolo (1951) KC and the Sunshine Band percussionist/co-founder [current]
Tom Hamilton (1951) Aerosmith bassist/songwriter/co-founder [current]
Paul Westerberg (1959) The Replacements lead singer/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter
Dunstan Bruce (1961) Chumbawamba co-lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [“Tubthumping”]
Scott Ian [born Scott Rosenfeld] (1963) Anthrax co-lead singer/guitarist/bassist/songwriter/co-founder [current]
Nash Kato (1965) Urge Overkill co-lead singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder [“Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon”/”Sister Havana”]
Joey McIntyre (1972) New Kids on the Block singer/songwriter/co-founder [current], also actor
Psy [born Park Jae-sang] (1977) singer/rapper/songwriter [“Gangnam Style”]
Bob Bryar (1979) My Chemical Romance drummer
DEATHS
Eric “Ricky” Nelson (1985) singer/songwriter/guitarist, also actor (born 1940) age 45 – plane crash
Floyd Cramer (1997) pianist/organist/harpsichordist [“Last Date”/”San Antonio Rose”] (born 1933) age 64 – lung cancer
Kevin MacMichael (2002) Cutting Crew guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“(I Just) Died in Your Arms “] (born 1951) age 51 – lung cancer
Natalie Cole (2015) singer/songwriter, also actress (born 1950) age 65 – congestive heart failure
Ray “Eye Patch” Sawyer (2018) Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show singer/guitarist/percussionist/co-founder [“The Cover of the Rolling Stone”] (born 1937) age 81 – brief illness
Anita Pointer (2022) The Pointer Sisters singer/songwriter/co-founder (born 1948) age 74 – cancer
Jeremiah Green (2022) Modest Mouse drummer/songwriter/co-founder (born 1977) age 45 – cancer
CHARTS
In 1966, “I’m a Believer” [B-side: “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone”] by The Monkees hits No. 1 – 7 weeks (second of three No. 1 singles)
In 2005, “Don’t Forget About Us” by Mariah Carey hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (17 of 19 No. 1 singles)
COMINGS/GOINGS
In 1961, the Beach Boys perform live for the second time – the first time using the name Beach Boys for the first time – at a concert at the Long Beach Civic Auditorium in Long Beach, California.
In 1961, Janis Joplin performs live for the first time at a concert at the Halfway House in Beaumont, Texas.
In 1963, The Kinks perform live for the first time at the Lotus House Restaurant in London.
In 1969, Band of Gypsys performs live for the first time at a concert at the Fillmore East in New York City.
In 1972, MC5 plays live for the final time at a concert at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit.
In 1973, AC/DC performs live for the first time at a concert at Chequers Bar in Sydney.
In 1973, Journey performs live for the first time at a concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.
In 1974, singer Stevie Nicks and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham are invited to join Fleetwood Mac.
In 1976, The Cars perform live for the first at a concert at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
In 1978, Bauhaus performs live for the first time at a concert at the Cromwell Public House in Wellingborough, England.
In 1978, The Runaways play live for the final time at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. The band formally disbands four months later.
NOTEWORTHY
In 1929, Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians play “Auld Lang Syne” as part of their New Year’s Eve program for the first time.
In 1970, Paul McCartney sues the other three members of The Beatles and Apple Corps. in order to dissolve the partnership and gain control of his interests in the band. The official dissolution of The Beatles does not take place until more than four years later.
In 1984, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen is involved in an auto accident in Sheffield, England, that causes him to lose his left arm. He continues as the band’s drummer using computer aids and special drum kits.
In 2015, Mötley Crüe performs live for the final time at a concert in Los Angeles.
The Journalism Gypsy 