Video: 'Headline News - on the Death of Rick Nelson, 1985'

(Tuesday, December 31, 1985, 5:14 p.m. CST, New Year’s Eve) — Ricky Nelson, who gained childhood fame on his parents’ radio and television programs and went on to became one of rock-and-roll’s earliest teen-age idols, was killed today along with his fiancee and five other people when his DC-3 plane crashed in flames near De Kalb, Texas. Continue reading Actor, musician Ricky Nelson killed in plane crash 30 years ago this hour (Dec 31 1985) →

(Saturday, December 31, 2005, New Year’s Eve) — “Don’t Forget About Us” by Mariah Carey was the #1 song on today’s Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (Dec. 31, 2005, Jan. 7, 2006). It was Carey’s 17th of 18 number one hits on the chart (1990-2008).

Video: 'The Beach Boys - Sloop John B Promo Film'

(Wednesday, December 29, 1965) — The Beach Boys completed “Sloop John B,” a traditional folk song from The Bahamas, today at Western Recorders studios in Hollywood, for release as a single on Mar. 21, 1966.

The track was ranked #271 on Rolling Stone‘s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Video: '1955 - You'll Never Know - Barbra Streisand'

(Thursday, December 29, 1955) — Barbra Streisand, 13, made her first recording today at Nola Recording Studios in New York City, “You’ll Never Know.”

(Saturday, December 28, 1985) — “Party All the Time” by Eddie Murphy peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks.

(Saturday, December 28, 1985) — “Small Town” by John Mellencamp peaked at #6 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for four weeks.