More has happened in rock music on Christmas than one might think.

The number one single today in 1971 is not about a Christmas gift:

The number three British single today in 1982 (though recorded in 1977) at least has a Christmas theme:

Birthdays begin with O’Kelly Isley of the Isley Brothers:

Phil Spector:

Henry Vestine of Canned Heat:

Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience:

Jimmy Buffett:

Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics:

Robin Campbell of UB40:

Alannah Myles:

Three  deaths of note today: Dean Martin in 1995 …

… James Brown in 2006 …

… and Eartha Kitt in 2008: