Entertainment History
On Feb. 25, 1950, the variety series "Your Show of Shows" made its
debut on NBC. In 1957, Buddy Holly and the Crickets recorded "That'll
Be The Day," their first and only No. 1 hit. In 1963, Vee Jay Records
released the first Beatles record in the U.S., "Please Please Me"
backed with "Ask Me Why. At the time, the single went unnoticed by the
record-buying public. In 1973, the Stephen Sondheim musical "A Little
Night Music" opened on Broadway. In 1981, singer Christopher Cross
became one of the few musicians to win the four major Grammy Awards.
His self-titled album won album of the year. His song "Sailing" was
named best song and best record. He also won best new artist. In 1983,
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tennessee Williams was found dead in
his New York hotel suite. He was 71. In 1992, Natalie Cole won seven
Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for "Unforgettable. Bonnie
Raitt and R.E.M. each won three. In 1993, Marshall Tucker Band founder
Toy Caldwell was found dead at his home in South Carolina. He was 45. A
coroner later ruled that Caldwell's death was cocaine-related. Also in
1993, actor Dick Van Dyke got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. At
the star's unveiling, Van Dyke was shocked to see that his last name
had been engraved as one word instead of two. In 1995, singer Lyle
Lovett broke his collarbone in a motorcycle accident while practicing
for a segment for "Moto World" on ESPN. In 1996, actor Dr. Haing (hang)
S. Ngor (nohr) was shot to death outside his home in Los Angeles. He
was 45. Ngor won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in "The
Killing Fields" and was a real-life survivor of the Khmer (kuh-MAYR')
Rouge death camps. In 1998, Bob Dylan won the album of the year Grammy
for "Time Out of Mind," his first win in that category on his 42nd
album. His performance was interrupted by a dancing man with "Soy Bomb"
written on his chest. At that same ceremony, singer Shawn Colvin's
acceptance speech was interrupted by rapper ODB, who upstaged her with
a rant about his clothes. In 2004, "The Passion of the Christ" opened
nationwide. In 2007, Martin Scorsese won his first Oscar, for directing
"The Departed. Today's Birthdays: Actor Tom Courtenay ("Dr. Zhivago")
is 80. CBS newsman Bob Schieffer is 80. Actress Diane Baker is 79.
Actress Karen Grassle ("Little House on the Prairie") is 75.
Singer-guitarist Mike Peters of The Alarm is 58. Actress Veronica Webb
is 52. Actor Alexis Denisof ("Angel," 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer") is
51. Actress Tea Leoni (TAY'-ah lee-OH'-nee) Leoni is 51. Comedian
Carrot Top is 50. Actress Lesley Boone ("Ed") is 49. Actor Sean Astin
is 46. Singer Daniel Powter is 46. Singer Justin Jeffre of 98 Degrees
is 44. Comedian Chelsea Handler is 42. Actress Rashida Jones ("The
Office," 'Parks and Recreation") is 41. Singer Shawna Thompson of
Thompson Square is 39. Actor Justin Berfield ("Malcolm in the Middle")
is 31. Actors James and Oliver Phelps ("Harry Potter" films) are 31.
Bassist Erik Haager of Carolina Liar is 30.
