2005 – Southern rock vocalist Danny Joe Brown dies of complications from diabetes at his home in Florida. He is 53. A Jacksonville, Fla., native, Brown was best known for his work with Molly Hatchet, which he joined in 1975 along with guitarists Dave Hlubek, Steve Holland and Duane Roland; bassist Banner Thomas; and drummer Bruce Crump.
2005 – Pop-rock band Orange Range is named domestic artist of the year at the Recording Industry Assn. of Japan’s 19th annual Gold Disc Awards ceremony, held Thursday in Tokyo.
2004 – Dave Blood, bassist for Philadelphia rock act the Dead Milkmen, commits suicide. The suicide is reported via a post by Blood’s sister Kathy on the band’s official message board. In a subsequent post, Milkmen drummer Dean Clean confirms the news.
2004 – Randy Travis escapes a bus accident in Lakeville, Pa., without serious injury. The country act, his wife/manager Elizabeth Travis and tour manager Jeff Davis are traveling along Rt. 590 in the Pocono Mountains region when the highway gives out beneath their 25-ton tour bus, sending them into a ditch at the side of the road. Local residents dig mud away from the door to let the shaken and bruised, but not seriously injured, party escape.
2003 – An eclectic array of artists induct the new members into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani inducts the Police, while Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler inducts AC/DC. Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello introduces the surviving members of the Clash, Elton John inducts Elvis Costello, and Billy Joel salutes the Righteous Brothers.
2002 – Soul-jazz organist Shirley Scott dies of heart disease in Philadelphia. She is 67.
2002 – Wes Scantlin, lead singer of modern rock act Puddle Of Mudd, is arrested for allegedly fighting with his fiancee. Scantlin, 29, of Kansas City, Mo., and Michelle Rubin, 31, of Los Angeles, are both arrested for investigation of domestic violence and booked at the Venture country jail in Fillmore, Calif. They post $20,000 each and are released.
2000 – Korn drummer David Silveria gets a scare when he loses the use of his wrist during a show in Fargo, N.D. Former Ozzy Osbourne and Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin sits in for the remainder of the tour while Silveria undergoes tests and recuperates.
1999 – Teen pop sensation Backstreet Boys score a hat trick to lead winners at the National Association of Recording Merchandiser’s annual Best Seller Awards luncheon. The group’s self-titled debut is named best-selling recording of the year with sales of more than 7.5 million copies.
1998 – “Lucky Numbers,” a new Las Vegas-themed compilation of classic songs by Frank Sinatra, is released. For six months, the set is sold exclusively in the gift shops of Vegas hotel/casino New York-New York.
1998 – Scott Weiland, lead singer of Alt-Rock group Stone Temple Pilots, debuts his solo career with “12 Bar Blues” on Atlantic.
1998 – Eric Clapton’s “Pilgrim” is issued worldwide.
1997 – Lavern Baker, Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer known for such hits as “Tweedle-Dee” and “Jim Dandy,” dies from complications of diabetes at the age of 67.
1989 – Doc Green of the Drifters dies of cancer. Age 54.
1988 – Singer Andy Gibb dies of an inflammatory heart virus in Oxford, England. His first three singles, all million-sellers, topped Billboard’s Hot 100: “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” (four weeks), “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water” (two weeks) and “Shadow Dancing” (seven weeks).
1986 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Sara,” Starship.
1976 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” The Four Seasons.
1965 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Eight Days a Week,” The Beatles. The song is the first British single to go to No. 1 in the United States but not make the chart in its own country. (The single is not released in Great Britain.)
1952 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Wheel of Fortune,” Kay Starr.
1944 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Besame Mucho,” Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.
1940 – Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean is born in Los Angeles. The duo’s biggest hit is the No. 1 song “Surf City.”
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