1922
Kay Starr is born in Dougherty, Okla. She begins her musical career with Joe Venuti’s orchestra at age 15. She sings briefly with Glenn Miller, Charlie Barnet, and Bob Crosby before launching a solo career in 1945. Her biggest hits are the No. 1 songs "Wheel of Fortune" and "Rock & Roll Waltz."

1947
Cat Stevens (Steven Georgiou) is born in London. He later changes his name to Yusuf Islam after converting to the Muslim faith. Has anyone checked with him lately? He should be due for another name change any day now.

1956
Billboard calls Elvis Presley "the most controversial entertainer since Liberace." The article also notes that Ed Sullivan, who once said Presley would never appear on his show, just signed the singer for three appearances.

1970
No. 1 Hit: "(They Long to Be) Close to You," Carpenters.

1971
Carole King receives a gold album for Tapestry. The album yields several hits, including "I Feel the Earth Move" and "It's Too Late."

1972
Rod Stewart releases Never a Dull Moment. The album peaks at number two and has two top 40 hits, "You Wear it Well" and a re-make of Jimi Hendrix's "Angel."

1975
No. 1 Hit: "The Hustle," Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony.

1979
Genesis' first album in over two years, Duke, goes gold. The LP makes it up to #11 and gives the group their first major hit, "Turn It On Again."

1979
Robert Palmer's "Bad Case Of Loving You" is released.

1980
The Grateful Dead's Keith Godchaux is injured in a car accident. He dies two days later.

1985
No. 1 Hit: "Everytime You Go Away," Paul Young.

1987
Guns 'n Roses release their debut album, Appetite For Destruction.

1989
Weird Al Yankovic's first movie, UHF opens.

1990
Roger Waters performs The Wall at Potsdamer Platz, Germany - the site of the former Berlin Wall. Other artists making guest appearances included Cyndi Lauper, Joni Mitchell, Bryan Adams, and Phil Collins. At the end of the concert, a mock wall made of plastic foam falls. Proceeds from ticket sales go to an international fund for disaster relief.

1990
BBC's Radio One apologizes to listeners after Madonna repeatedly curses during a live concert broadcast.

1995
Rap star Hammer and his wife welcome a baby boy, their third child, in San Jose, Calif.

1997
C. Delores Tucker, lobbyist against gangsta rap lyrics, files suit against the estate of late rapper Tupac Shakur. The suit alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress, slander, and invasion of privacy due to derogatory lyrics about Tucker on Shakur’s last album, All Eyez On Me.

1998
Eagle-Eye Cherry, son of jazz artist Don Cherry and brother of singer Neneh Cherry, releases his debut set Desireless.

1998
Gospel singer O'Landa Draper dies at Meharry General Hospital in Nashville following a brief episode of renal failure. He is 34.

1998
Scott Weiland is arrested again on a felony warrant in Los Angeles. Weiland posts the $250,000 bail and is released the next morning. Weiland’s court appearances stem from a September ‘97 arrest, which alleged two charges of felony possession of heroin and misdemeanor possession of a hypodermic needle.

1998
The Beastie Boys begin touring in support of their fifth release, "Hello Nasty," at Seattle's Key Arena. It is their first headlining tour since 1995's "Quadrophonic Joystick" tour.

2005
British R&B artist "Long John" Baldry dies in Vancouver after battling a chest infection for four months. He is 64. Having begun his career playing folk and jazz in the late 1950s, Baldry was one of the founding fathers of British rock’n'roll in the ’60s.

July 21 Birthdays

• Ernest Hemingway 1899
• Marshall McLuhan 1911
• Isaac Stern 1920
• Kay Starr 1922
• Don Knotts 1924
• Paul Burke 1926
• Norman Jewison 1926
• Janet Reno 1938
• Kim Fowley 1942
• David Downing 1943
• Edward Herrmann 1943
• Leigh Lawson 1945
• Cat Stevens 1947
• Robin Williams 1952
• Jon Lovitz 1957
• Henry Priestman 1958
• Lance Guest 1960
• Matt Mulhern 1960
• Jim Martion (Faith No More) 1961
• Emerson Hart (Tonic) 1969
• Paul Brandt 1972
• Josh Hartnett 1978

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