Events in 1942
- The film “Holiday Inn” had its world premiere at the Paramount Theatre in New York. The film introduced the famous song “White Christmas.”
- Countryový a popový zpěvák B.J. Thomas se narodil v Hugu v Oklahomě. Proslavil se hity „Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head“, „Don’t Worry Baby“, „Hooked on a Feeling“ a „(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song“, které v USA dosáhly prvního místa.
- British bassist and singer Johnny Gustafson was born in Liverpool, England. He performed with groups including The Big Three, The Merseybeats, Roxy Music, Quatermass and Ian Gillan Band.
- Guy Villari of The Regents, the original performers of “Barbara Ann,” was born in The Bronx, New York.
- Drummer and founding member of Manfred Mann Mike Hugg was born in Gosport, Hampshire, England. Manfred Mann had the UK and US No. 1 hit “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” in 1964. Hugg later became a member of Manfred Mann Chapter Three.
- British rock drummer Pete York, a founding member of The Spencer Davis Group, was born.
- R&B singer and songwriter Barbara George, known for the 1961 hit "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)", was born in Smithridge, Louisiana.
- Robert "Squirrel" Lester, founding member and second tenor of the vocal group The Chi-Lites, was born in McComb, Mississippi.
- American singer, songwriter, composer and actor Isaac Hayes was born in Covington, Tennessee. He became known, among other things, for the songs “Soul Man” and “Theme from Shaft”, which reached No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the UK in 1971. In 1998, as Chef, he reached No. 2 on the British chart with “Chocolate Salty Balls”. He died on August 10, 2008, aged 65.
- Doo-wop singer Tony “Spaghetti” Micale, frontman of The Reflections, was born in the Bronx, New York. He became known for the 1964 hit “(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet”.
- Carl Mann, known for his rockabilly versions of songs including Nat King Cole's „Mona Lisa“ and The Platters' „Twilight Time“, was born in Huntingdon, Tennessee.
- Jimmy Soul, whose real name was James Louis McCleese, was born in Weldon, North Carolina. He became famous for the 1963 hit „If You Wanna Be Happy“, which reached No. 1 on the chart.
- Marshall Thompson, American singer, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of The Chi-Lites, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
- American musician and songwriter Keith Allison was born. He became best known as a member of Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1968 to 1975. He also played guitar and harmonica on the Sonny & Cher song “The Beat Goes On”.
- American singer and dancer Samuel Mendola, known as Vic Dana, was born in Buffalo, New York. He became known for 1960s hits such as “Little Altar Boy”, “I Will” and the popular cover version of “Red Roses for a Blue Lady”.
- Singer B.J. Thomas was born.
- Musician, songwriter and producer Daryl Dragon, known as “Captain” from the husband-and-wife duo Captain & Tennille, was born in Los Angeles. His father was conductor Carmen Dragon. Captain & Tennille had several hits on the US chart, including “Love Will Keep Us Together”, “Do That to Me One More Time” and “Muskrat Love”. Dragon also worked with The Beach Boys. He died on January 2, 2019, from kidney failure.
- American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Douglas Hatlelid, known as Chip Douglas, was born in San Francisco. He became known as a member of The Turtles and as a producer of The Monkees, for whom he produced hits including “Daydream Believer” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday”. The Turtles had the US No. 1 hit “Happy Together” in 1967.
- Ken Andrew, the original drummer of the Scottish pop group Middle of the Road, was born in Bearsden, Glasgow, Scotland. In 1971, the group had the UK No. 1 single “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep”; the song was among the few singles to sell more than 10 million physical copies.
- American guitarist Sterling Morrison, one of the founding members of the rock group Velvet Underground, was born. The group’s debut album “The Velvet Underground & Nico” was released in 1967.
- Sterling Morrison, guitarist and founding member of the rock group The Velvet Underground, was born as Holmes Sterling Morrison Jr. in East Meadow, New York.