Today in Entertainment History: Prince was born

By The Associated Press
Posted 6/7/24

On June 7, 1954, Bill Haley and his Comets recorded the single “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” Big Joe Turner’s version was just about to hit number one on the R&B chart.

In 1958, Prince …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already a member? Log in to continue.   Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Today in Entertainment History: Prince was born

Posted

On June 7, 1954, Bill Haley and his Comets recorded the single “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” Big Joe Turner’s version was just about to hit number one on the R&B chart.

In 1958, Prince Rogers Nelson, who became the musician Prince, was born in Minneapolis.

In 1963, the Rolling Stones made their debut on British television on the show “Thank Your Lucky Stars.” They also released their first single, “Come On.”

In 1966, Roy Orbison’s first wife, Claudette, was killed in a motorcycle accident near Bristol, Tennessee, that Orbison witnessed.

In 1969, the two-record rock opera “Tommy” hit the U.S. album chart. It would become the first Who album to make it into the U.S. top 10.

Also in 1969, the band Blind Faith made its debut at a free concert in London’s Hyde Park.

In 1972, the musical “Grease” opened on Broadway. It had played at a small New York theater for four months.

In 1979, Chuck Berry was charged with three counts of income tax evasion.

In 1982, Graceland, Elvis Presley’s estate in Memphis, Tennessee, opened for public tours.

In 1993, a New York judge handed down a ruling in the Woody Allen-Mia Farrow custody case. Farrow won custody of a biological son, Satchel (now known as Ronan Farrow), and two adopted children, Dylan and Moses.

Also in 1993, ground was broken for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, seven years after the city won the right to build it. Pete Townshend and Chuck Berry were among those on hand for the ceremony.

Also in 1993, Prince changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol.

In 1996, Wal-Mart discontinued sales of the Goo Goo Dolls album “A Boy Named Goo” because of complaints that the little boy on the cover appeared to be abused. The band said what appeared to be blood on the boy’s face was really blackberry juice.

In 2009, singer Bret Michaels of Poison fractured his nose and cut his lip when a piece of scenery hit him in the face at the Tony Awards.

Today’s Birthdays: Director James Ivory ("A Room With A View," “Howard's End”) is 96. Actor Virginia McKenna (“Born Free”) is 93. Singer Tom Jones is 84. Talk show host Jenny Jones is 78. Actor Liam Neeson is 72. Actor Colleen Camp (“Die Hard: With A Vengeance”) is 71. Actor William Forsythe is 69. Record producer L.A. Reid is 68. Latin pop singer Juan Luis Guerra is 67. Singer-guitarist Gordon Gano (GAY’-noh) of Violent Femmes is 61. Drummer Eric Kretz of Stone Temple Pilots is 58. Guitarist Dave Navarro is 57. Actor Helen Baxendale (“Friends”) is 54. Actor Karl Urban (2009′s “Star Trek”) is 52. TV personality Bear Grylls (“Man Vs. Wild”) is 50. Guitarist-keyboardist Eric Johnson of The Shins is 48. Actor Adrienne Frantz (“The Bold and the Beautiful,” “The Young and the Restless”) is 46. Comedian Bill Hader (HAY’-der) (“The Mindy Project,” ″Saturday Night Live”) is 46. Actor Anna Torv (“Fringe”) is 45. Actor Larisa Oleynik (o-LAY’-nihk) (“3rd Rock From The Sun,” ″Boy Meets World) is 43. Actor Michael Cera (SEER’-ruh) (“Juno,” ″Arrested Development”) is 36. Actor Shelley Buckner (“Summerland”) is 35. Rapper Iggy Azalea is 34. Model-actress Emily Ratajkowski (rat-ah-KOW’-skee) (“Gone Girl”) is 34. Rapper Fetty Wap (wahp) is 34.

Members and subscribers make this story possible.
You can help support non-partisan, community journalism.

x
X