ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY: 12.23.20

1964 - During a U.S. tour, Beach Boy Brian Wilson had a nervous breakdown on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston. Wilson left the band to concentrate on writing and producing. Glen Campbell replaced Wilson for the band's live shows.

1969 - Elton John meets for the first time with what would become his classic team - songwriter Bernie Taupin, arranger Paul Buckmaster, and producer Gus Dudgeon - to begin work on his first solo album. They would go on to work together on: Tumbleweed Connection, Madman Across The Water, and Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player.

1977 - Singer-songwriter Cat Stevens formally changed his name to Yusuf Islam. Stevens converted to Islam and left his music career to devote himself to educational and philanthropic causes in the Muslim community. In 2006, he returned to pop music - releasing his first album of new pop songs in 28 years, titled An Other Cup.

1999 - George Harrison's home in Maui was broken into by a person who cooked a frozen pizza, drank root beer from the fridge, started some laundry and phoned her mother in New Jersey. Cristin Keleher, was arrested and charged with burglary and theft. She serves four months. "I thought I had a psychic connection with George," she says.

Birthdays:

Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen is 80.

Mott The Hoople guitarist Ariel Bender is 74.

Eddie Vedder is 56. Born Edward Louis Severson III, the surname Vedder comes from his mom's maiden name. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts, Allmusic, and Wikipedia.


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