1980: I think most of us remember where we were and what we were doing when we first heard that John Lennon had been murdered on this day outside New York City’s Dakota Hotel.

1964: On a flight from L.A. to Houston, the Beach Boys’ leader, Brian Wilson suffers a nervus breakdown. He will stop touring with the band shortly thereafter.

In the studio today:

1965: The Rolling Stones are recording “19^th Nervous Breakdown” and “Mother’s Little Helper”
1966: The Beatles lay down tracks for “When I’m Sixty-Four”

Rock Birthdays today:

1932: Little Richard

1938: J.J. Cale

1943: Mike Smith (Dave Clark Five)

1946: Andy Kim

1947: Jim Messina

1956: Elvis Presley, along with his companion Marilyn Evans, drops in to the Sun Studios. He interrupts a session featuring Carl Perkins with Jerry Lee Lewis backing him on piano. That trio is then joined by Johnny Cash, who also drops by unannounced.

The four begin an impromptu jam session, mostly featuring Gospel music they all know. Fortunately for us all, Sun Records founder, Sam Phillips has the foresight to turn on a tape recorder.

The tape sits unreleased (!) in the vaults until the 1980’s when it’s finally released as “The Million Dollar Quartet.”

This event in rock ‘n’ roll history has also inspired a Broadway show of the same name, centered around a fictional version of this legendary recording session.

1966: As you sit down to watch the Grammys this year, remember this. On this day in 1966 a novelty record called “Winchester Cathedral” was released by the New Vaudeville Band. Not only did that record top the charts, it would go on to win the Grammy as “Best Contemporary Recording.” Grammys voters thought it was a better selection than the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” and the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations,” which were nominated, but lost.

1969: Cindy Birdsong of the Supremes is kidnapped at knifepoint by the custodian of her apartment in Hollywood.

The kidnapper forces her into a car and begins driving to Long Beach. En route, Cindy jumps from the car and makes good her escape.

The custodian is arrested in Las Vegas four days later

Happy Rockin’ Birthday to:

1944: Eric Bloom (Blue Öyster Cult)

1944: John Densmore (Doors)

1945: Bette Midler

1977: David Bowie appears on what turns out to be Bing Crosby’s last televised Christmas special. The two do a duet that blends “Little Drummer Boy” with “Peace on Earth.” “Little Drummer Boy” was written in 1941. “Peace on Earth” was written especially for the TV show when Bowie balked at singing “Drummer Boy.” The duet was forgotten until radio stations started playing a copy ripped from a video recording in the early 80’s. Today, it has become a holiday favorite.

2001: We lost George Harrison, the “Quiet Beatle,” on this day. George succumbed to lung cancer while resting peacefully at a friend’s home in Los Angeles. He was staying in property owned by Paul McCartney and was surrounded by his wife Olivia, his son Dhani and his closest friend, Ravi Shankar. He was 58.