1998 Elton John receives a knighthood in British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s first New Year’s Eve Honours List.
1998 Magistrates in Derby, England, issue a warrant for the arrest of U.K. R&B star Mark Morrison for his failure to appear in court on charges of affray and obstructing a police officer.
1995 Boyz II Men nail three awards at the 22nd annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Ace of Base, Michael Bolton and Reba McEntire each score two victories.
1995 Led Zeppelin receives the International Artists Award at the American Music Awards. Michael Jackson and Rod Stewart are the only others to have previously received the honor.
1985 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “I Want to Know What Love Is,” Foreigner. Although Foreigner had its first top five single in 1977, this is the group’s first No. 1 song.
1982 Bluesman Sam “Lightnin’” Hopkins dies. Age 69.
1974 Bob Dylan makes his first New York concert performance in eight years, playing Madison Square Garden.
1973 Kiss gives its debut performance at the Coventry Club in Queens, N.Y.
1969 The Beatles, with Billy Preston on organ, perform four songs on a London rooftop for the film “Let It Be.”
1951 Phil Collins is born in London. He will start his artistic career as a child actor, including a role as the Artful Dodger in an English production of “Oliver.” He is the drummer and following the departure of Peter Gabriel becomes lead singer of the group Genesis.
1942 Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Starship is born in Cincinnati.