On this day in 1963, singer Kenny Rogers, then a member of the Bobby Doyle Trio, married for the third time at the ripe old age of 24 to Margo Gladys Anderson.
The Beach Boys entered the charts with the hit single "Good Vibrations", a song that took six weeks to record. It would not hit #1 until December.
In 1986, Jane Dornacker (former leader of Leila & The Snakes and songwriter of the song "Don't Touch Me There, which was recorded by The Tubes) was killed in what was her second helicopter crash while employed as a traffic reporter for WNBC in New York City. The first crash had taken place in April of that same year.
In 1988, U2 hit #1 in the UK and US with their new album Rattle & Hum.
On this day in 1990, Pearl Jam plays their first live show ever at the Off Ramp in Seattle, WA.
Oasis signs a six-album deal with Creation Records on this date in 1993.
On this day in 2000, George Michael outbids Robbie Williams and the Gallagher brothers from Oasis for the Steinway piano on which John Lennon wrote the song "Imagine".
Elliot Smith is found dead on this day in 2003, his death is initially ruled a suicide, but the coroner later amends their decision, leaving open the possibility of foul play. He and girlfriend Jennifer Chiba had been arguing. According to her, she went to take a shower and came out to find Smith with a knife in his chest. She pulled it out before calling 911. The police have shown no interest whatsoever in investigating her story.
BORN ON THIS DAY
Stiv Bator, singer for The Dead Boys and Lords of the New Church, 1958.