JANUARY 17: The Daily Flashback

1806: James Madison Randolph, grandson of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, was the first child born in the White House.
1912: English explorer Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole. Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him there by one month. Scott and his party died during the return trip.
1916: The Professional Golfers Association was formed in New York City.
1946: The United Nations Security Council held its first meeting.
1959: Senegal and the French Sudan joined to form the Federal State of Mali.
1969: Charlie Watts’ book, “Ode to a High Flying Bird,” was published. The book was a tribute to Charlie Parker.
1972: Highway 51 South in Memphis was renamed Elvis Presley Blvd.
1976: Barry Manilow’s “I Write the Songs,” written by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys, hit No. 1. The tune later won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
1977: Double murderer Gary Gilmore became the first prisoner to be executed in the U.S. in a decade. The firing squad took place at Utah State Prison.
1990: Hank Ballard, Bobby Darin, the Four Seasons, the Four Tops, The Kinks, The Platters, Simon & Garfunkel and The Who are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fifth annual ceremonies in New York City.

1993: Aretha Franklin, Michael Bolton, Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan and Diana Ross perform at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration ceremonies.
1994: Donny Osmond fought the Partridge Family’s Danny Bonaduce in a charity boxing match in Chicago. Bonaduce won a split decision.
1996: David Bowie, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jefferson Airplane, Little Willie John, Pink Floyd, The Shirelles and the Velvet Underground were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2000: Garth Brooks was named the 1990s’ Artist of the Decade at the American Music Awards, having sold more than 95 million albums.
2012: Kelly Clarkson’s single “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” was released.

BIRTHDAYS
1706: Benjamin Franklin
1884: Mack Sennett
1922: Betty White
1927: Eartha Kitt
1934: Shari Lewis
1942: Muhammad Ali
1943: Chris Montez
1944: Françoise Hardy
1948: Mick Taylor
1949: Andy Kaufman
1955: Steve Earle
1956: Paul Young
1957: Susanna Hoffs
1962: Jim Carrey
1964: Michelle Obama
1966: Shabba Ranks
1971: Kid Rock

DEATHS
1970: Billy Stewart
2011: Don Kirshner
2012: Johnny Otis