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! ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY !

On December eleventh, 1946, country singer Hank Williams made his first recordings.

In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis secretly married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Gale Brown, in Hernando, Tennessee.

In 1964, singer Sam Cooke was shot and killed at a Los Angeles motel.

In 1972, Genesis performed its first U.S. concert at a university in Massachusetts.

Also in 1972, police in Knoxville, Tennessee, arrested singer James Brown for disorderly conduct. The charge was dropped after Brown threatened to sue the city.

In 1992, former talk show host Johnny Carson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Today's birthdays: Actress Rita Moreno is 77. Singer David Gates of Bread is 68. Actress Donna Mills ("Knots Landing") is 66.

Singer Brenda Lee is 64. Actress Linda Day George is 64. Actress Teri Garr is 60. Actress Bess Armstrong is 55. Singer Jermaine Jackson is 54. Bassist Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue is 50.

Singer-bassist Justin Currie of Del Amitri is 44. Bassist David Schools of Widespread Panic is 44. Actor Gary Dourdan (DOOR'-dan) ("C.S.I.") is 42. Actress-comedian Mo'Nique ("The Parkers") is 40. Rapper-actor Mos Def is 35. Actor Rider Strong ("Boy Meets World") is 29.

(Above for release Thursday, December eleventh) Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-01-08 1354CST | save this article / add to your favorites list