1963 - Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped at gunpoint from a hotel in Lake Tahoe. He was released two days later after his father paid out the $240,000 ransom demanded by the kidnappers, who were later captured, and sentenced to long prison terms. In order to communicate with the kidnappers via a payphone the senior Sinatra carried a roll of dimes with him throughout this ordeal, which became a lifelong habit. He is said to have been buried with a roll of dimes.
1968 - Singer and guitarist Graham Nash left The Hollies and started work with David Crosby and Stephen Stills who went on to form Crosby Stills and Nash.
1976 - The Eagles released Hotel California. Henley said of the themes of the songs in the album:
They're the same themes that run through all of our work: loss of innocence, the cost of naiveté, the perils of fame, of excess; exploration of the dark underbelly of the American dream, idealism realized and idealism thwarted, illusion versus reality, the difficulties of balancing loving relationships and work, trying to square the conflicting relationship between business and art; the corruption in politics, the fading away of the Sixties dream of "peace, love and understanding."
1980 - John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City. Lennon is one of the most famous and iconic musicians of all time, best-known as one of the members of the Beatles, for his subsequent solo career and for his political activism and pacifism. John would have been 80 had his life not been taken 40 years ago. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Things you might not have known about John Lennon:
John was a Monopoly enthusiast.
Lennon often said he’d rather have been a member of Monty Python than the Beatles.
John Lennon bought an island off the coast of Ireland. He established a commune there which went well for two years before their supplies were burned in a fire.
John Lennon, was a member of the 3rd Allerton Boy Scout troop.
Lennon first experienced LSD when his dentist, John Riley, furtively slipped some into his coffee at a dinner party.
Lennon referred to Rubber Soul as “the pot album” and Revolver as “the acid album.”
While living in America, the FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, studied all of Lennon’s lyrics and analyzed every one of his television appearances to find a legal reason to deport him.
Lennon has said the song “Help!” was a true cry for help.
John Lennon's Death Was Announced On Monday Night Football.
1995 - Four months after the death of founding member Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead announce their breakup, stating, "The 'long strange trip' of the uniquely wonderful beast known as the Grateful Dead is over."
Birthdays:
Sammy Davis Jr. was born on this day in 1925.
The Impressions singer Jerry Butler is 81.
The Hollies drummer Bobby Elliott is 79.
Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals was born on this day in 1942.
The Doors singer Jim Morrison was born today in 1943.
The Allman Brothers Band keyboard player Gregg Allman was born today in 1947.
Def Leppard guitar player Phil Collen is 63.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood singer Paul Rutherford is 61.
Megadeth's Marty Friedman is 58.
Sinead O'Connor is 54.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitar player Nick Zinner is 46.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts,
Flavorwire, and Wikipedia.