Musician Birthdays: Peter Criss (drummer for Kiss, born in 1947), Alan Parsons (famous producer from the UK, born in 1948), Billy Bragg (UK Singer/songwriter, born in 1957), Chris Robinson (singer for the Black Crowes, born in 1966)

– In 1967: Folk singer Joan Baez was sentenced to 45 days in prison after being arrested during an anti-war demonstration.

– In 1968: The Beatles sixth Christmas record ‘The Beatles’ 1968 Christmas Record’, was sent to fan club members in the UK and the US. It included the song ‘Nowhere Man’ sung by Tiny Tim.

– In 1969: Peter Paul and Mary went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Leavin’ On A Jet Plane’.

– In 1973: American singer Bobby Darin died aged 37. One of the first teen idols, he had the 1959 No.1 with ‘Dream Lover’ plus 20 other US Top 40 hits during the 60’s including ‘Mack the Knife’, (Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1960). Darin traveled with Robert Kennedy and worked on the latter’s 1968 presidential campaign. He was with Kennedy the day he traveled to Los Angeles on June 4, 1968 for the California Primary. Darin was at the Ambassador Hotel later that night when Kennedy was assassinated.

– In 1980: Twelve days after John Lennon was shot dead in New York City, (Just Like) Starting Over gave the former Beatle his first ever UK solo No.1 single. Taken from his Double Fantasy album.

– In 1986: The Bangles started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’.

– In 1992: American blues singer and guitarist, Albert King died from a heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded dozens of influential songs, such as ‘Crosscut Saw’ and ‘As The Years Go Passing By’, and the 1967 album, ‘Born Under a Bad Sign.’

– In 2001: Tommy Lee branded his ex-wife Pam Anderson an unfit mother. The drummer filed papers with the Los Angeles Superior Court alleging his son’s tell him ‘We hate Mommy’ and his son Brandon had been using the F-word he learned from his mommy.

– In 2006: Ian Halperin claimed that Michael Jackson was close to death. The Rolling Stone magazine writer said Jackson was suffering from a rare lung condition and needed a lung transplant. He also claimed that the singer had lost 95% vision in one eye and was so ill he could barley speak.

– In 2008: Britney Spears went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Circus’, the singer’s sixth studio album.

– In 1957: Elvis Presley had his draft notice served on him for the US Army. He went on to join the 32nd Tank Battalion third Armor Corps based in Germany.

– In 1964: The Beatles fourth album ‘Beatles For Sale’ started a seven-week run at No.1 on the UK album charts.

– In 1964: The Supremes scored their third US No.1 single of the year when ‘Come See About Me’, went to the top of the charts. It made No.27 on the UK chart.

– In 1969: The Beatles’ seventh Christmas record, “The Beatles’ Seventh Christmas Record” was released to members of their fan club in the UK and the US.

– In 1970: Elton John’s first US hit, ‘Your Song’ entered the Billboard Hot 100, where it went on to reach number eight. The Hollies had been offered the song and Three Dog Night had already recorded a version which was included on their ‘It Ain’t Easy’ album.

– In 1979: Elvis Presley’s personal physician, George Nichopoulos, was charged with ‘illegally and indiscriminately’ prescribing over 12,000 tablets of uppers, downers, and painkillers for the star during the 20 months preceding his untimely death. Although he was acquitted this time, he was charged again in 1980 and again in 1992 and was stripped of his medical license in July 1995.

– In 1993: Michael Clarke drummer with The Byrds died of liver failure aged 47. Also worked with the Flying Burrito Brothers and Jerry Jeff Walker. Before his death Clarke had expressed a wish of alerting children to the dangers of alcoholism. Following his wishes, Clarke’s girlfriend Susan Paul started a foundation in Clarke’s name, called the Campaign for Alcohol-free Kids.

– In 2000: 10,000 Maniacs guitarist Robert Buck died of liver failure aged 42. Best know for ‘Hey Jack Kerouac’, ‘What’s The Matter Here’ and ‘Candy Everybody Wants’.

– In 2005: Sir Elton John turned down £5.7m for the exclusive rights to his civil union to his partner David Furnish. The couple had considered the offer from a US television channel, putting the money in the Elton John Aids Foundation, but they told Attitude magazine they had decided to keep the day private.

– In 2006: Two giant eyeballs donated by Pink Floyd raised £16,500 for the homeless charity Crisis. The 6ft-high props, made to promote the Pulse DVD, were on the auction site eBay for a week and attracted 46 bids. Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, a vice-president of Crisis, said extra help was needed in the winter months.