Entertainment History
On Sept. 4, 1959, a New York radio station banned the song "Mack The
Knife" in response to a wave of stabbings. In 1964, The Animals made
their American debut in Brooklyn, New York. Also in 1964, "Gilligan's
Island" premiered on CBS. In 1965, The Who had their equipment van
stolen in England while they were inside an animal shelter buying a
guard dog. In 1968, radio stations in several U.S. cities banned the
Rolling Stones song "Street Fighting Man" because of fears it might
incite violence. In 1977, the rock musical "Godspell" closed on
Broadway. In 1986, musician Gregg Allman was arrested for drunk driving
in Florida. He had just gotten his driver's license back after a
five-year suspension. In 1991, singer Dottie West died during surgery
in Nashville. She had been injured in a car accident a few days
earlier. West was 58. In 1993, actor Herve Villechaize died at the age
of 50. He's probably best known for playing Tattoo on "Fantasy Island.
In 1996, Yusaf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, emerged from
retirement in London to sign copies of his first album in 18 years.
Music fans were disappointed, because the album "Life of the Last
Prophet" was 80 percent talk. In 2002, Kelly Clarkson was named the
winner on "American Idol," beating out Justin Guarini and winning a
recording contract. Nearly 22.5 million people tuned in to watch. In
2006, Steve Irwin of the TV show "Crocodile Hunter" was killed when a
stingray's barb hit him in the heart while Irwin was filming an
underwater documentary. Irwin was 44. In 2014, comedian Joan Rivers
died of complications from a minor throat procedure in New York. She
was 81. Today's Birthdays: Actress Mitzi Gaynor is 85. Actor Kenneth
Kimmins ("Coach") is 75. Singer Merald "Bubba" Knight of Gladys Knight
and the Pips is 74. TV personality Dr. Jan (YAHN) Pol ("The Incredible
Dr. Pol") is 74. Actress Jennifer Salt ("Soap") is 72. Bassist Ronald
LaPread (The Commodores) is 66. Actress Judith Ivey is 65. Drummer
Martin Chambers of The Pretenders is 65. Actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
("Welcome Back, Kotter") is 63. Actress Khandi Alexander ("ER,"
'NewsRadio") is 59. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans is 56. Guitarist Kim
Thayil of Soundgarden is 56. Actress Ione (eye-OH'-nee) Skye is 46.
DJ/music producer Mark Ronson is 41. Singer Richard Wingo of Jagged
Edge is 41. Bassist Ian Grushka of New Found Glory is 39. Actor Wes
Bentley ("American Beauty") is 38. Actor Max Greenfield ("New Girl") is
37. Singer Dan Miller of O-Town is 36. Singer Beyonce' (bee-YON'-say)
Knowles (Destiny's Child) is 35. Singer-guitarist Tom Gossin of
Gloriana is 35. Actress Whitney Cummings ("Whitney") is 34. Comedian
Kyle Mooney ("Saturday Night Live") is 32. Multi-instrumentalist Neyla
Pekarek (NEE'-lah peh-KAYR'-ehk) of The Lumineers is 30. Singer James
Bay is 26. Actor Trevor Gagnon ("The New Adventures of Old Christine")
is 21.
