AM Prep-Entertainment History: SUN JUNE 15th

MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP

! ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY !

On June 15th, 1963, "Sukiyaki" became a hit on the American pop chart. It was the first Japanese song ever to go to number one in the US.

In 1964, Peter and Gordon arrived for their first US tour.

In 1965, Bob Dylan recorded the song "Like A Rolling Stone" at Columbia Records' studios in New York.

In 1966, The Beatles released "Yesterday and Today" with its controversial "butcher" sleeve: a photo of The Beatles surrounded by bloody baby doll parts. The cover was changed to a more conventional photo, and the butcher version became a collector's item.

In 1967, guitarist Peter Green left John Mayall's Bluesbreakers to form Fleetwood Mac. Green abruptly left the band in 1970.

In 1982, bassist Pete Farndon quit The Pretenders, one day before guitarist James Honeyman-Scott died.

In 1989, actor Victor French died of lung cancer at a hospital in Sherman Oaks, California. His TV credits included "Little House On The Prairie" and "Highway To Heaven." In 1992, Bruce Springsteen kicked off a summer tour in Stockholm. It was his first tour without the E Street Band.

In 1995, Jewish leaders demanded an apology from Michael Jackson over his song "They Don't Care About Us," which contained anti-semitic slang words.

In 1996, jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald died at her home in Beverly Hills, California. She was 78.

Today's Birthdays: Bassist Lee Dorman of Iron Butterfly is 66.

Singer Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply is 59. Singer Steve Walsh of Kansas is 57. Country singer Terri Gibbs is 54. Actor Jim Belushi is 54. Actress Julie Hagerty ("Airplane") is 53. Drummer Scott Rockenfield of Queensryche is 45. Actress Helen Hunt is 45. Actress Courteney Cox ("Friends") is 44. Guitarist Tony Ardoin of River Road is 44. Guitarist Michael Britt of Lonestar is 42. Drummer Rob Mitchell (Sixpence None The Richer) is 42. Rapper-actor Ice Cube is 39. Actress Leah Remini ("King of Queens") is 38. Trombone player T-Bone Willy of Save Ferris is 36. Actor Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother," "Doogie Howser, M.D.") is 35. Singer Dryden Mitchell of Alien Ant Farm is 32. Guitarist Billy Martin of Good Charlotte is 27.

(Above for release Sunday, June 15th) Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-09-08 0957CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list