On May 20th, 1954, Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” was released. It didn’t catch on until it appeared on the soundtrack of “Blackboard Jungle” the following year.
In 1966, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who started a concert in Windsor, England, without bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. When they finally showed up, Townshend hit Moon over the head with his guitar. Moon quit the band, but was back a week later.
In 1967, Jimi Hendrix signed his first U.S. recording contract, with Reprise (rih-PREEZ’) Records.
In 1971, Peter Cetera of the band Chicago was beaten by several men at a baseball game, apparently because they didn’t like the length of his hair.
In 1985, Daryl Hall and John Oates headlined a concert for the reopening of the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. The show benefited the United Negro College Fund.
In 1989, actress-comedian Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer in Los Angeles. She was 42.
In 1993, the final episode of “Cheers” was broadcast on NBC.
In 1995, Connie Chung was fired as co-anchor on the “CBS Evening News.”
Also in 1995, singer Don Henley married Sharon Summerall.
In 1998, actor Charlie Sheen was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital for a drug overdose.
