Entertainment History
On March 16, 1970, singer Tammi Terrell died of a brain tumor in
Philadelphia at age 24. The tumor was diagnosed three years earlier
when she collapsed during a concert. In 1971, Simon and Garfunkel were
the first winners of the so-called "Triple Crown" of the Grammys.
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" was named song and record of the year, and
the album by the same name won album of the year. It was also the first
year the Grammys were televised live. In 1974, the Grand Ole Opry moved
from the Ryman Auditorium to a new facility at the Opryland complex. In
1969, "1776," a musical about the Declaration of Independence, opened
on Broadway. In 1991, seven members of Reba McEntire's band and her
road manager were killed when their plane crashed after taking off from
an airport in San Diego. In 1993, the long-awaited collaboration
between former Whitesnake singer David Coverdale and guitarist Jimmy
Page was released by Geffen Records. In 2005, actor Robert Blake was
acquitted of murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley (BAYK'-lee). He was
later found liable in a civil court and ordered to pay her children $30
million. In 2006, Michael Jackson paid hundreds of thousands of dollars
to employees at his Neverland Ranch in California, then shut down the
ranch. He paid them back wages to avoid a lawsuit threatened by
California officials. Today's Birthdays: Comedian Jerry Lewis is 91.
Movie director Bernardo Bertolucci is 76. Game show host Chuck Woolery
is 76. Singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker is 75. Actor Victor Garber
("Alias") is 68. Actor Erik Estrada is 68. Actress Kate Nelligan is 66.
Country singer Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel is 66.
Guitarist-singer Nancy Wilson of Heart is 63. Actress Isabelle Huppert
is 62. Actor Clifton Powell ("Ray," 'Norbit") is 61. Rapper Flavor Flav
(FLAYV) of Public Enemy is 58. Actor Jerome Flynn ("Game of Thrones")
is 54. Folk singer Patty Griffin is 53. Singer Tracy Bonham is 50.
Actress Lauren Graham ("Parenthood," 'Gilmore Girls") is 50. Actor
Judah Friedlander (FREED'-lan-duhr) ("30 Rock") is 48. Actor Tim Kang
("The Mentalist") is 44. Singer Blu Cantrell is 41. Actor Brett Davern
("Awkward") is 34. Singer Jhene Aiko (juh-NAY' AY'-koh) is 29.
