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Today in Music History

December, 5

  • 2000 R&B star Sisqo takes home six trophies at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena, while Destiny’s Child, Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill and ‘N Sync corral four each.
  • 2000 A new song inspired by a soldier’s act of mercy in the Kosovo conflict is among 24 tracks included on ex-Pink Floyd principal Roger Waters’ new live album “In The Flesh.”
  • 1999 During Jamiroquai’s benefit concert for the homeless at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire, frontman Jay Kay urges attendees to “Dig deep into your pockets and give [pound] notes, not coins.”
  • 1999 Deana Carter is the grand marshal of the Nashville Gas Christmas Parade. More than 80,000 spectators turn out for the locally televised event, a holiday tradition.
  • 1997 Police in Nagoya, Japan, arrest Carl Edward Hunter, manager of Ray Charles, on suspicion of marijuana possession.
  • 1997 Multiple Billboard Music Award winner Toni Braxton files suit against LaFace Records and its distributor Arista Records, maintaining that her 1989 recording contracts are invalid.
  • 1993 Ex-Gin Blossoms lead guitarist Douglas Hopkins shoots and kills himself at his home in Tempe, Ariz. He is 32. Hopkins was fired from the band the previous year because of his drinking habit.
  • 1985 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Broken Wings,” Mr. Mister. The song is written in 20 minutes by band members Richard Page and Steve George and their friend John Lang.
  • 1975 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Fly, Robin, Fly,” Silver Convention. Producer Michael Kunze originally calls the song “Run, Rabbit, Run.”
  • 1965 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Turn! Turn! Turn!” The Byrds. Songwriter Pete Seeger adapted the lyrics from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
  • 1947 Jim Messina is born in Maywood, Calif.
  • 1938 Guitarist J.J. Cale is born in Oklahoma City. Eric Clapton made hits out of two of Cale’s songs – “After Midnight” and “Cocaine.”
  • 1935 Little Richard (Richard Wayne Penniman) is born in Macon, Ga., the son of a minister. He has 14 top 10 hits on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. His biggest pop hit is “Long Tall Sally,” a No. 6 song in 1956.