2001 – U2 frontman Bono, R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, and electronica maven Moby make unannounced appearances in New York, at the second of two anti-violence benefit concerts organized by the Beastie Boys.
2000 – John Lennon’s views on everything from the breakup of the Beatles to his attitude toward revolution and drugs, deemed too controversial to print 30 years before, are revealed in a the book “Lennon Remembers, The Complete Rolling Stone Interviews.”
2000 – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band reunites at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for a performance of their signature song, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Longtime member John McEuen joins Jimmie Fadden, Jeff Hanna, Jimmy Ibbotson and Bob Carpenter for the filming of an IMAX movie, that traces the roots and branches of country music.
2000 – On what would have been Beatles frontman John Lennon’s 60th birthday, the John Lennon Museum opens to the public. Braving heavy rains, about 1,200 people line up around the museum, located about 30 kilometers north of Tokyo, between 7-11 a.m., when the museum opens its doors.
2000 – Conductor Sir Simon Rattle is the big winner at the 23rd annual Gramophone Awards for classical music, presented at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Rattle takes home awards for orchestral album, opera album, and record of the year (Mahler/Cooke’s “Symphony No. 10” by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra).
1999 – Milt Jackson, who was for more than 50 years the premier vibraharpist in jazz and a founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet, dies in Manhattan of liver cancer. He is 76.
1997 – Bernhard Mikulski, founder of German independent dance label ZYX, dies. He is 68. ZYX, based in Frankfurt, had earlier found international success with Italo-French dance act Gala.
1996 – A concert by Maxwell, originally booked for Atlanta’s 600-seat Cotton Club is moved to the 1,500 capacity Roxy Theater to accommodate overwhelming response. Maxwell sells out at the Roxy.
1984 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” Stevie Wonder. The song from the Gene Wilder film “The Woman in Red” wins an Academy Award.
1979 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” Michael Jackson.
1978 – Composer Jacques Brel dies at the age of 49.
1948 – Jackson Browne is born in Heidelberg, West Germany.
1944 – John Entwistle of the Who is born in London.
1944 – Reggae star Peter Tosh is born.
1940 – John Lennon is born in Liverpool, England. One of the founding members of the Beatles, Lennon is shot to death by Mark David Chapman in New York City on Dec. 8, 1980. “(Just Like) Starting Over” goes on to become Lennon’s biggest hit, starting its five-week run at No. 1 on Dec. 27, 1980.
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