The 4 Tops: L to R: Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton (photo Michael Ochs Archives)
1904: Anton Chekhov’s “Cherry Orchard” opens at Moscow Aft Theater.
Singer Eartha Kitt.
1927: Singer/Actress Eartha Kitt born in South Carolina.
1943: Singer/guitarist Chris Montez (“Let’s Dance”) born in Los Angeles.
1948: Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor appears on the planet.
1955: Country singer Steve Earle born in San Antonio.
1964: Rolling Stones release their first EP (“You Better Move On”, “Poison Ivy”, “Bye Bye Johnny” and “Money”).
1966: Jamaican dancehall musician and deejay Shabba Ranks born in St. Ann.
Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis.
1967: Dave Mason records piccolo trumpet sole for Beatles “Penny Lane” at Abbey Road Studios, London.
1970: R&B singer and pianist Billy Stewart (“Summertime”) and three band members pass on in North Carolina car crash.
1972: A section of Bellevue Blvd. in Memphis renamed “Elvis Presley Boulevard”.
1990: The 4 tops, The Platters, Hank Ballard, The Who, Simon & Garfunkle, 4 Seasons and The Kinks inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
2000: Will Smith and Shania Twain win at 27th American Music Awards.
2012: R&B musician, producer and “godfather of rhythm and blues” Johnny Otis (“Willie and the Hand Jive”) passes on.
Band leader, producer and musician, Johnny Otis (the godfather of R&B).