On September 27th, 1954, "The Tonight Show" made its debut on NBC with host Steve Allen.

In 1964, the Beach Boys made their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1972, singer Rory Storme of Rory Storme and the Hurricanes killed himself in an apparent suicide pact with his mother. He reportedly couldn't accept that his band didn't enjoy the same success as other bands from the Liverpool scene.

In 1980, the Stray Cats were signed to Arista Records in Britain.

In 1986, bassist Cliff Burton of Metallica was killed when the band's tour bus skidded off an icy road in Sweden. He was 24.

Also in 1986, The Beatles song "Twist and Shout" re-entered the pop charts after it was featured in the movies "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Back to School." It eventually rose to number 23.

In 1987, the variety show "Dolly," starring Dolly Parton, premiered on ABC. It was canceled after one season.

In 1998, Phil Hartman's voice was featured for the last time on "The Simpsons" as Troy McClure. Hartman was killed by his wife in a murder-suicide the previous May.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Jayne Meadows is 92. Actress Kathleen Nolan is 79. Actor Wilford Brimley is 78. Singer-guitarist Randy Bachman of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is 69. Singer-actor Meat Loaf is 65. Actress Liz Torres is 65. Actor A Martinez ("LA Law," "Santa Barbara") is 64. Singer-actor-director Shaun Cassidy is 54. Singer-guitarist Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind is 48. Actor Patrick Muldoon ("Melrose Place") is 44. Singer Mark Calderon of Color Me Badd is 42. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is 40. Singer Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down is 34. Bassist Grant Brandell of Underoath is 31. Rapper Lil' Wayne is 30. Singer Avril Lavigne is 28.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.