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Today in Music

May, 16

  • 2000 The Artist Formerly Known As Prince announces that he will start using his name again. The singer says the reason for switching back is because his publishing contract with Warner/Chappell, made under the name Prince, expired at the end of 1999. “I will now go back to using my name instead of the symbol I adopted as a means to free myself from all undesirable relationships,” he says.
  • 1999 Jean Davis, co-founder of the Glastonbury Festival dies of cancer. He is 60. The festival, first staged in 1970, grew into one of the leading outdoor events in Britain.
  • 1999 Paul Brandt and Claudia Church answer the call of their country when they head to Bosnia to entertain U.S. troops there. The trip is the first USO junket for both artists.
  • 1998 Chess Records co-founders Phil Chess and his late brother Leonard, Leonard’s son Marshall, and the late harmonica player Junior Wells are inducted into the Association for Independent Music (AFIM) Independent Music Hall of Fame.
  • 1990 Sammy Davis Jr. dies in his Beverly Hills, Calif., home after a long battle with throat cancer. His biggest hit is “The Candy Man,” a No. 1 featured in the film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
  • 1986 Caitlin O’Riordan of the Pogues marries Elvis Costello in Dublin, Ireland.
  • 1976 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Silly Love Songs,” Wings. The song is written in reaction to critics who say McCartney’s music is fluff.
  • 1968 Ralph Tresvant of New Edition is born.
  • 1966 Janet Jackson is born in Gary, Ind., the youngest of the Jackson family. She is married briefly in 1984 to James DeBarge of DeBarge. She signs a $32 million contract with Virgin Records in 1991.
  • 1963 Ray Charles’ “I Can’t Stop Loving You” wins Grammy as best R&B recording.
  • 1959 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Kansas City,” Wilbert Harrison. The song debuts at No. 100 on the Hot 100.