On January second, 1971, George Harrison became the first former Beatle to hit number one on the U.S. album chart, with “All Things Must Pass.”

In 1974, singer Tex Ritter died of a heart attack in Nashville at the age of 68.

In 1979, former Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious went on trial for the murder of his girlfriend. He didn’t live to hear the verdict. He died a month later.

In 1983, the musical  play “Annie,” based on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip, closed on Broadway after 2,377 performances.

In 1990, actor Alan Hale, best known as the skipper on “Gilligan’s Island,” died of cancer. His ashes were scattered at sea.

In 1997, guitarist Randy California of Spirit disappeared after being caught in a current off the coast of Hawaii.

Today’s Birthdays: TV host Jack Hanna (“Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild”) is 66. Actress Wendy Phillips is 61. Actress Gabrielle Carteris (“Beverly Hills, 90210”) is 52. Actress Tia Carrere is 46. Actor Cuba Gooding Junior is 45. Model Christy Turlington is 44. Actor Taye Diggs (“The Best Man,” ”How Stella Got Her Groove Back”) is 42. Drummer Scott Underwood of Train is 42. Singer Doug Robb of Hoobastank is 38. Actor Dax Shepard (“Employee of the Month”) is 38. Sax player-guitarist Jerry DePizzo (dih-PEE’-zoh) Junior of O.A.R. is 34. Actress Kate Bosworth is 30.