R&B singer/songwriter Lloyd Price is born in Kenner, LA.

Crickets guitarist Sonny Curtis is born in Meadow, TX. Curtis was also a prolific songwriter composing songs recorded by numerous stars, among them the Everly Brothers, Hank Williams, Jr., and even Bing Crosby.

David Prater, of the 60's soul duo Sam and Dave, is born in Ocilla, Georgia. Prater and Sam Moore were one of the top acts for the Stax-Volt labels in Memphis with such hits as "Hold On, I'm Coming" and "Soul Man."

Nokie Edwards, lead guitarist with the Ventures, is born in Washington.

Peter Birrell, bass player with the '60s group Freddie and the Dreamers, is born in Manchester, England.

Sixties bubblegum singer Tommy Roe is born in Atlanta, GA.

Steve Katz, vocalist, guitarist and harmonica player with such bands as the Blues Project, Blood, Sweat and Tears and American Flyer, is born in Brooklyn, NY.

Billy Joel is born in Long Island, New York.

Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson is born in Rockford, IL.

Paul Heaton, singer/guitarist with the bands the Housemartins and the Beautiful South, is born in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England.

Singer Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode is born in Epping, Essex, England

Country singer Keith Whitley dies of alcohol abuse at age 33. He is found dead in bed at his Nashville-area home. The coroner says he had a blood-alcohol content five times the legal limit. At the time of his death, Whitley had just had three straight number one singles — "Don't Close Your Eyes," "When You Say Nothing At All" and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain."

Jazz trumpeter Woody Shaw dies at the age of 45 as a result of injuries sustained when his left arm was severed by a subway train after a gig.

One day after Alan Freed is indicted for inciting unlawful destruction of property in Boston, he quits his job at WINS, New York citing what he sees the station's failure to "stand behind my policies and principles."

Sixteen-year-old Wayne Newton makes his Las Vegas debut at the Freemont Hotel. That first booking, scheduled to last two weeks, stretches into three years. Newton will go on to become king of the Vegas showrooms.

George Martin signs the Beatles to the band's first recording contract — with EMI.

Louis Armstrong hits the top of the pop charts for the first time in his career with "Hello Dolly!".

Bob Dylan plays the first of two nights at London's Royal Albert Hall, concluding his tour of Europe. He is being treated more like a pop icon than just a songwriter who likes to perfom his songs. In the audience are the Beatles and Donovan who spend the evening with Dylan after the show.

The Blues Images "Ride Captain Ride" is released.

Mick Jagger adds $150,000 of his own money to the $350,000 raised by the Rolling Stones' January benefit concert for victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake.

Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Melanie and other concerned musicians participate in a "Friends of Chile" benefit at New York's Felt Forum. The show's purpose is to raise legal aid funds for Chilean refugees and political prisoners. The concert brings in $30,000.

Bruce Springsteen delivers a concert at Boston's Harvard Square Theater which inspires Rolling Stone editor/critic John Landau to write, "I have seen rock & roll's future and his name is Bruce Springsteen." He will eventually becomes Bruce's manager/producer.

Fee Waybill, lead singer of the Tubes, falls off the stage during a show in England and breaks his leg.

Several Minnesota Department stores refuse to stock the newly released Prince album, Lovesexy because of its cover photo, which features a nude photo of him.

Irish singer Sinead O'Connor refuses to perform on "Saturday Night Live" after Andrew Dice Clay is named as host.

Los Angeles prosecutors refile spousal battery charges against Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen after the one-armed rocker failed to complete a substance abuse counseling program. The charges stemmed from his alleged attack on his wife in a bathroom at Los Angeles International Airport in July 1995.