Elvis Day

On Jan. 8, 1935, Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He died at his Graceland mansion in Memphis in 1977. In 1966, the last episode of ABC's "Shindig" music show was broadcast. The Kinks and The Who were the guest performers. Thirty-five years ago, in 1974, Kiss signed its first recording contract, with Casablanca Records.Thirty years ago, in 1979, the Canadian government named Rush its official "Ambassadors of Music." [Gawd!! Anne Murray would've been a better choice. — Ed.] Twenty years ago, in 1989, the musical "42nd Street" closed on Broadway after more than 3,400 performances. In 1990, a Los Angeles judge ruled that columnist Art Buchwald came up with the idea that inspired the Eddie Murphy movie "Coming To America." Buchwald had sued Paramount Pictures, claiming the studio stole the idea. In 1991, guitarist Steve Clark of Def Leppard was found dead in his London home. He was 30. A coroner ruled that Clark's death was the result of heavy drinking. Ten years ago, in 1993, at a minute after midnight, the Elvis Presley commemorative stamp went on sale at his Graceland mansion in Memphis. People in the rest of the country got to buy them at post offices starting at noon. In 1996, Robert Dewey Hoskins was found guilty of stalking Madonna. In 2005, Motley Crue singer Vince Neil married Lia Gerardini in Las Vegas. It was his fourth marriage, her second. Associated Press