According to the AP, on March 12th:
- In 1955, saxophone player Charlie "Bird" Parker died in New York of heart failure. He was 34. He's known as the inventor of bebop.
- In 1958, singer Billie Holiday was given a year's probation on a narcotics possession charge. She died the next year of alcohol and drug abuse.
- In 1969, Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman were married in a civil ceremony in London.
- Also in 1969, "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon and Garfunkel was named Song and Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards, beating out "Hey Jude" by The Beatles.
- In 1974, John Lennon got into a fight with a photographer outside a club in Los Angeles. Lennon and Harry Nilsson had been heckling comedian Tommy Smothers and had been thrown out of the club.
- In 1998, Cathay Pacific airline banned Liam Gallagher of Oasis from its flights after he threatened to stab a pilot.
Today's birthdays:
- Actress Barbara Feldon ("Get Smart") is 80.
- Singer Al Jarreau is 73.
- Singer-actress Liza Minnelli is 67.
- Singer James Taylor is 65.
- Keyboardist Bill Payne of Little Feat is 64.
- Actor Jon Provost ("Lassie") is 63.
- Bassist Steve Harris of Iron Maiden is 57.
- Singer Marlon Jackson of The Jacksons is 56.
- Actor Jerry Levine is 56.
- Actor Courtney B. Vance is 53.
- Actor Titus Welliver ("Deadwood," ''Brooklyn South") is 52.
- Actress Julia Campbell is 50.
- Guitarist Graham Coxon of Blur is 44.
- Actor Samm Levine ("Freaks and Geeks") is 31.
- Actress Kendall Applegate ("Desperate Housewives") is 14.
