According to the AP, on Dec. 10:
- In 1959, the four male members of The Platters were acquitted of charges of aiding and abetting prostitution. They had been arrested four months earlier.
- In 1962, "Lawrence of Arabia" had its royal premiere in London. Peter O'Toole starred as English officer T.E. Lawrence.
- In 1967, singer Otis Redding and four members of The Bar-Kays died in the crash of his private plane in Wisconsin. Redding was 26.
- Also in 1967, singer Steve Miller signed a precedent-setting contract with Capitol Records. He received a large advance on his band's first album and a sizable royalty rate.
- In 1971, Frank Zappa broke a leg and ankle and fractured his skull when he was pushed from a London stage by the jealous boyfriend of a Zappa fan. Zappa spent months in a wheelchair recovering.
- In 1972, singer Roberta Flack and two members of her backup band were injured in a car accident while driving into New York.
- In 1995, rapper Darren Robinson of the Fat Boys died while working on a comeback album. He was 28.
- In 1996, country singer Faron Young died in a hospital in Nashville, a day after he shot himself in the head. He was 64.
- In 1997, bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue were arrested for allegedly knocking over a security guard at a concert in Phoenix.
- Also in 1997, bass singer Jacob Carey of The Flamingos died of a heart attack in his home in Lanham, Maryland. He was 74. The Flamingos were best known for their hit "I Only Have Eyes For You."
- In 1999, bassist Rick Danko of The Band died in Woodstock, New York. He was 56.
- In 2005, comedian Richard Pryor died of a heart attack at a hospital outside Los Angeles. He was 65.
- Also in 2005, Garth Brooks married Trisha Yearwood in a private ceremony at their home in Oklahoma.
- In 2007, Led Zeppelin reunited for the first time in 30 years, for a tribute concert in London for Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun.
Today's birthdays:
- Actor Tommy Kirk is 71.
- Actress Fionnula Flanagan is 71.
- Singer Chad Stuart of Chad and Jeremy is 71.
- Actress-singer Gloria Loring is 66.
- Drummer Walter "Clyde" Orange of The Commodores is 66.
- Singer Ralph Tavares of Tavares is 64.
- Singer Jessica Cleaves of Friends of Distinction is 64.
- Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is 61.
- Actress Susan Dey is 60.
- Musician Paul Hardcastle is 55.
- Actor-director Kenneth Branagh is 52.
- Actress Nia Peeples is 51.
- TV chef Bobby Flay is 48.
- Singer-guitarist J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. is 47.
- Country singer Kevin Sharp is 42.
- Bassist Scot Alexander of Dishwalla is 41.
- Drummer Meg White of The White Stripes is 38.
- Bassist Noah Harmon of Airborne Toxic Event is 31.
- Actress Raven-Symone ("That's So Raven," ''The Cosby Show") is 27.
