On February 14th, 1972, “Grease” opened off-Broadway. Original cast members included Barry Bostwick and Adrienne Barbeau. The show moved to Broadway later in the year. It closed in 1980.
Also in 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono began a week as co-hosts of the Mike Douglas television talk show.
In 1973, David Bowie collapsed from exhaustion at the end of an elaborate Valentine’s Day show at Radio City MusicĀ Hall.
In 1977, singer-songwriter Janis Ian received nearly 500 Valentine’s Day cards from fans. She sang about never getting Valentine’s Day cards as a teenager in her ballad, “At Seventeen.”
Also in 1977, The B-52’s played their first concert at a party in Athens, Georgia.
In 1980, CBS announced that Dan Rather would succeed Walter Cronkite as anchorman and managing editor on “The CBS Evening News” the following year.
In 1984, Elton John married studio engineer Renate Blauel. The marriage lasted four years.
In 1992, Weezer had their first practice as a band, in Los Angeles. They played their first show a few weeks later.
In 1996, the Artist Formerly Known As Prince married dancer Mayte in Minneapolis.
In 1999, singer Buddy Knox died after a brief battle with cancer in Bremerton, Washington. He was 65. He’s probably best known for the 1957 hit “Party Doll.”
Today’s Birthdays: TV personality Hugh Downs (“20/20”) is 92. Actress Florence Henderson is 79. Country singer Razzy Bailey is 74. Jazz saxophonist Maceo Parker is 70. TV personality Pat O’Brien (“The Insider,” ”Access Hollywood”) is 65. Magician Teller of Penn and Teller is 65. Actor Ken Wahl (“Wiseguy”) is 56. Actress Meg Tilly is 53. Singer Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Tone! is 52. Actor Enrico Colantoni (“Just Shoot Me”) is 50. Actor Valente Rodriguez (“George Lopez”) is 49. Bassist Ricky Wolking of The Nixons is 47. Bassist Kevin Baldes of Lit is 41. Singer Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty is 41. Actor Freddie Highmore (“August Rush,” ”Finding Neverland”) is 21.