2000 – Motown legend Smokey Robinson joins the ranks of music stars-turned-radio stars when he dons his own on-air persona on Los Angeles station KCMG (Mega 92.3) with the show “Intimate With Smokey Robinson.”
1998 – It is announced that Aerosmith will postpone the first 13 dates of its 50-date U.S. tour following a freak gas station fire that leaves drummer Joey Krammer with second-degree burns. This marks the second setback to the Aerosmith tour; 18 earlier dates had to be postponed following Steven Tyler’s knee injury and surgery the preceding April.
1998 – The “Gift To The Nation” concert, a combination of two separate events in Johannesburg, and Durban, South Africa, begins. The concerts are to celebrate President Nelson Mandela’s 80th birthday. Artists who appear include Stevie Wonder, LL Cool J, Dru Hill, Skunk Anansie, Salif Keita, Ismael Lo, Najee, Chaka Khan, Kenny Lattimore, James Ingram, Shankar, Just Jinger, Springbok Nude Girls and Lucky Dube.
1998 – Country singer Tanya Tucker files a $300,000 lawsuit against Capitol Records Nashville, contending that the label has willfully neglected her career.
1995 – Public Enemy postpones its televised farewell concert in Great Britain after rap group member Flava Flav breaks his arms in a scooter accident.
1995 – A three-night celebration at Carnegie Hall saluting Frank Sinatra’s 80th birthday kicks off. Linda Ronstadt, Michael Feinstein, Joe Williams and Margaret Whiting are among those to pay homage to Ol’ Blue Eyes.
1993 – Reggae group UB40 scores its second No. 1 single, a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” from the film “Sliver.” It marks the first time that someone has covered one of Presley’s top 10 hits and bettered the peak position of the original song. Presley took the song to No. 2, but couldn’t get past Joey Dee & the Starliters’ “Peppermint Twist – Part 1.”
1993 – Phil Solem, a singer/songwriter with the group the Rembrandts, and his wife, Mia, have a son in Minneapolis. They name the child Nicholas Philip.
1988 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Roll with It,” Steve Winwood.
1977 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “I Just Want to Be Your Everything,” Andy Gibb. The song is written by Andy’s brother, Barry.
1967 – The Elvis Presley movie “Double Trouble” premieres.
1956 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You,” Elvis Presley.
1945 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe,” Johnny Mercer.