On April fourth, 1960, “Ben Hur” won the best picture and best director Academy Awards. The film’s star, Charlton Heston, was named best actor.

In 1963, The Hollies auditioned for EMI Records at Abbey Road studios.

In 1964, The Beatles held the top five positions on Billboard’s Hot 100. “Can’t Buy Me Love” was number one, followed by “Twist and Shout,” ”She Loves You,” ”I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “Please Please Me.”

In 1977, The Clash’s first album, “The Clash,” was released in Britain. It wasn’t released in the U.S. until 1979, because some of the songs’ content was judged to be too violent for American ears.

In 1983, actress Gloria Swanson died in New York. She was 84.

In 1996, Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia’s widow, Deborah, scattered part of Garcia’s ashes in the Ganges River in India. He had died the previous August.

In 2000, Diana Ross announced a Supremes “reunion” tour, even though the other two Supremes, Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence, never performed with Ross. The tour was later canceled due to poor ticket sales.

In 2002, guitarist Aaron Kamin of The Calling suffered a severe electric shock during a sound check in Bangkok, Thailand. The band had to call off the rest of their international tour.

In 2004, musician Beck married actress-screenwriter Marissa Ribisi.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Elizabeth Wilson is 92. Author-poet Maya Angelou is 85. Recording executive Clive Davis is 81. Bandleader Hugh Masekela is 74. Actor Craig T. Nelson (“Coach”) is 69. Actress Christine Lahti (“Chicago Hope”) is 63. Singer Steve Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers is 62. Actress Mary-Margaret Humes (“Dawson’s Creek,” ”History of the World Part 1″) is 59. Writer-producer David E. Kelley (“Ally McBeal,” ”The Practice”) is 57. Actor Hugo Weaving (“The Matrix,” ”Lord of the Rings”) is 53. Bassist Craig Adams (The Cult) is 51. Comedian David Cross (“Arrested Development,” ”Mr. Show”) is 49. Actor Robert Downey Junior is 48. Actress Nancy McKeon is 47. Country singer Clay Davidson is 42. Singer Josh Todd of Buckcherry is 42. Singer Jill Scott is 41. Bassist Magnus Sveningsson of The Cardigans is 41. Magician David Blaine is 40. Singer Kelly Price is 40. Singer Andre Dalyrimple of Soul for Real is 39. Actor James Roday (“Psych”) is 37. Actress Natasha Lyonne (“Slums of Beverly Hills,” ”American Pie”) is 34. Actress Jamie Lynn Spears (“Zoey 101”) is 22. Pop singer Austin Mahone is 17.