12 OCTOBER
In Music History
1942 Louis Armstrong gets married for the fourth time, to Lucille Wilson. This one takes: they're together until his death in 1971.
1935 Sam Moore is born Samuel Hicks in Miami, Florida. He takes the last name of his stepfather, Charlie Moore, and forms the duo Sam & Dave with Dave Prater. Their big hits are "Soul Man," "I Thank You" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'."
1935 Operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti (of The Three Tenors) is born near Modena in Northern Italy.
1927 Guitarist Joe Olivier (of Bill Haley And His Comets) is born in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands.
Holiday Music Gets an Upgrade with A Very Special Christmas
1987Christmas songs get a modern makeover with the all-star compilation A Very Special Christmas, featuring Whitney Houston's "Do You Hear What I Hear?," Madonna's "Santa Baby" and an original song from Run-D.M.C., "Christmas in Hollis." Proceeds from the album go to the Special Olympics.
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Featured Events
2013 Lorde, 16, becomes the youngest solo artist to write and record a Hot 100 #1 hit when "Royals" claims the top spot.
1997 John Denver, an avid amateur pilot who loves flying experimental aircraft, dies at 53 when the plane he is flying crashes into the Pacific Ocean.More
1996 One of these things is not like the other. Here's what the US albums chart looks like: #1 Celine Dion - Falling Into You #2 Kenny G - The Moment #3 Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar
1991 Mariah Carey hits #1 in America with "Emotions," the title track to her second album. Her first four singles also hit the top spot, making Carey the first artist to hit #1 with their first five singles (overtaking The Jackson 5).
1979 Fleetwood Mac release Tusk, their first album since the wildly successful Rumours in 1977. A double album with less commercial appeal, Mick Fleetwood credits it with keeping the band together, as the band members were free to experiment.
1970 Jesus Christ Superstar opens on Broadway, telling the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus.More
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