According to the AP, on January second:
- In 1971, George Harrison became the first former Beatle to hit number one on the U.S. album chart, with "All Things Must Pass."
- In 1974, singer Tex Ritter died of a heart attack in Nashville at the age of 68.
- In 1979, former Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious went on trial for the murder of his girlfriend. He didn't live to hear the verdict. He died a month later.
- In 1983, the musical play "Annie," based on the "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip, closed on Broadway after 2,377 performances.
- In 1990, actor Alan Hale, best known as the skipper on "Gilligan's Island," died of cancer. His ashes were scattered at sea.
- In 1997, guitarist Randy California of Spirit disappeared after being caught in a current off the coast of Hawaii.
Today's Birthdays:
- TV host Jack Hanna ("Jack Hanna's Into the Wild") is 66.
- Actress Wendy Phillips is 61.
- Actress Gabrielle Carteris ("Beverly Hills, 90210") is 52.
- Actress Tia Carrere is 46.
- Actor Cuba Gooding Junior is 45.
- Model Christy Turlington is 44.
- Actor Taye Diggs ("The Best Man," ''How Stella Got Her Groove Back") is 42.
- Drummer Scott Underwood of Train is 42.
- Singer Doug Robb of Hoobastank is 38.
- Actor Dax Shepard ("Employee of the Month") is 38.
- Sax player-guitarist Jerry DePizzo Junior of O.A.R. is 34.
- Actress Kate Bosworth is 30.
