On July 23, 1969, James Brown walked out of Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty's office when the mayor failed to show up on time to present the singer with a proclamation for "James Brown Day."
In 1980, former Grateful Dead keyboardist Keith Godchaux was killed in a car accident in Marin County, California. He was 32.
In 1982, actor Vic Morrow and two children were killed during the filming of "Twilight Zone: The Movie" when a helicopter crashed. Director John Landis and four others were acquitted of charges in the deaths.
In 1984, Vanessa Williams became the first Miss America to resign her title, after nude photographs of her were published in Penthouse magazine.
In 1990, production began on the film "Falling From Grace," which marked John Mellencamp's acting and directing debut.
Also in 1992, Chicago got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 1999, Woodstock '99 began in Rome, New York. The three-day festival started off peacefully but ended in fires, lootings and accusations of rape.
Also in 1999, musician Phil Collins married Orianne Cevey in a private civil ceremony in Switzerland. He was 48, she was 27. They have since split up.
In 2010, Kings of Leon cut short a concert near St. Louis after pigeons in the rafters defecated on the stage.
In 2011, singer Amy Winehouse was found dead at her home in London. She was 27. Her death was attributed to accidental alcohol poisoning.
Today's Birthdays: Actress Gloria DeHaven is 87. Radio personality Don Imus is 72. Country singer Tony Joe White is 69. Actor Larry Manetti ("Magnum, P.I.") is 65. Singer David Essex is 65. Singer and former Congressman John Hall (Orleans) is 64. Guitarist Blair Thornton of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is 62. Actress Belinda Montgomery ("Doogie Howser, MD") is 62. Actress Edie McClurg ("Ferris Bueller's Day Off") is 61. Actress Lydia Cornell ("Too Close For Comfort") is 59. Actor Woody Harrelson is 51. Guitarist Martin Gore of Depeche Mode is 51. Actor Eriq Lasalle ("ER") is 50. Drummer Yuval Gabay (Soul Coughing) is 49. Guitarist Slash of Velvet Revolver (and Guns N' Roses) is 47. Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman is 45. Model Stephanie Seymour is 44. Singer Sam Watters of Color Me Badd is 42. Actress Charisma Carpenter is 42. Singer Dalvin DeGrate of Jodeci is 41. Country singer Alison Krauss is 41. Drummer Chad Gracey of Live is 41. Actor-comedian Marlon Wayans ("The Wayans Brothers") is 40. Country singer Shannon Brown is 39. Singer Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child) is 32. Actor Paul Wesley ("The Vampire Diaries") is 30. Actor Daniel Radcliffe ("Harry Potter" movies) is 23. Drummer Neil Perry of The Band Perry is 22.
Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.
