On April 23rd, 1956, Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut, opening for comedian Shecky Greene. Presley’s engagement was canceled after a week because of poor ticket sales, and he didn’t return to Vegas for 13 years.

In 1969, the Los Angeles club the Ash Grove was destroyed by fire. Many artists, like Canned Heat and the Chambers Brothers, got their starts there.

In 1975, Peter Ham of Badfinger hanged himself. He was reported to be depressed about the band’s financial problems. He was 27.

In 1987, singer Carole King sued record company owner Lou Adler for breach of contract. She claimed she was owed more than $400,000 in royalties and demanded the rights to her old recordings.

In 1991, guitarist Johnny Thunders of The New York Dolls died of a drug overdose in New Orleans. He was 40.

In 1996, actress Margot Kidder was found dazed and disheveled, hiding in bushes in a stranger’s yard in Los Angeles after disappearing for three days.

In 2002, Jerry Lee Lewis announced he and his sixth wife, Kerrie, were divorcing after 17 years of marriage.