11th December

Although the atmospheric lighting phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis had been known for centuries, one of the best-documented early sightings was made on this day in New England, USA. The phenomenon has inspired songwriters for centuries, one early example being The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen, widely considered a traditional Scottish folk song but actually written in 1952 by Mel and Mary Webb, an English couple who had never even visited Aberdeen, far less seen the lights. A Flock of Seagulls describe the Aurora in one verse of their 1982 hit song, I Ran [So Far Away]. British folk rock band Renaissance released a single, Northern Lights, in 1978, and The Meat Puppets released Aurora Borealis in 1984 on their album Meat Puppets II. One of the most recent successful songs inspired by the Aurora is 1997's UK hit single Northern Lites by Super Furry Animals.

The "scintillating musical comedy" Sally In Our Alley is presented at The Broadway Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 100 performances.

Musical comedy The Girl From Kay's is playing at The Apollo Theatre, London, England, UK, Europe, during a lengthy run.

The musical Fad And Folly is presented at Mrs. Osborn's Playhouse, New York City, USA, during a run of 34 performances.

The Dixieland Jug Blowers record Hen Party Blues, Memphis Shake, House Rent Rag and Carpet Alley Breakdown, for Victor Records in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Art Gillham, aka The Whispering Pianist, records If I Had To Do Without You and Tonight, for Columbia Records in New York City, USA.

Norridge Mayhams And The Blue Chips record If I Had My Way in New York City, USA, for Oriole Records.

Lester Flatt And Earl Scruggs And The Foggy Mountain Boys record Foggy Mountain Breakdown, at WBBO Radio Recording Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

The musical revue New Faces Of 1952, is presented at The Royale Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 365 performances. The revue is perhaps best remembered because it features Eartha Kitt making her Broadway debut with the spectacular song, Monotonous, based on real events in her life.

Ronnie Aldrich And The Squadronaires, featuring Cliff Townshend And His Swinging Saxophone, appear on Pan-European radio station Radio Luxembourg. Cliff Townshend's son will find fame as Pete Townshend, leader of rock band The Who.

Frank Carlton Serafino is born in San Jose, California, USA. He will grow up to become Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.

The Coasters record Charlie Brown in Atlantic Studios, New York City, USA.

R'n'b pianist Bill Doggett records After Hours for King Records in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Solomon Burke releases a new single, It's All Right, in the USA on Singular Records [owned by Artie Singer].

Trini Lopez plays the third night of a week at Ye Little Club, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Ray Peterson plays the eleventh night of a six week run at The Dunes, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Jan Kalousek is born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Europe. he will find success as a singer, songwriter, guitarist and politician. He will also found the band Navi Papaya in 1980 with Ivan Hlas.

Duke Ellington And His Orchestra are playing during a 17-night engagement at Basin Street East, New York City, USA. Also on the bill is Gloria Lynne, with her trio led by Earl May.

Black Nativity, subtitled 'A gospel song-play' opens at The 41st Street Theater, New York City, USA, starring gospel vocalists Professor Alex Bradford, Marion Williams and The Stars Of Faith. The show is is a retelling of the classic Nativity story with an entirely black cast, traditional Christmas carols sung in gospel style, plus a few songs created specifically for the show.

Bobby Rydell, Helen Shapiro, The Spotnicks, The Chants, The Harlems and The Trebletones play at The Gaumont, Wolverhampton, England, UK, Europe.

Peter And Gordon play in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

FBI agents pay a $240,000 ransom for the release of the recently kidnapped Frank Sinatra Jr, leaving the money between two parked school busses in Sepulveda, California, USA. Sinatra Jr. is found later wandering the streets of Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Leon McAuliffe and His Swingin‘ Western Band play at The Cimarron Ballroom, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

Ray Peterson records Let There Be Love, Hawaiian Wedding Song, On The Street Where You Live and I'll Get By in Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

The Big Three play at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, England, UK, Europe.

Jazz organist and pianist Earl Grant records Willow Weep For Me, Georgia On My Mind, Satin Doll, Stardust and other tracks for Decca Records in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Frank Sinatra plays at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Rick Nelson releases a new single, A Happy Guy, on Brunswick Records in the UK.

The musical Anya closes at The Ziegfield Theatre on Broadway, New York City, USA, after just two weeks.

Rafael Hernández Marín dies aged 73 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA. As a songwriter, he was the author of hundreds of popular songs in the Latin American repertoire.

Composer and musical arranger Lew Davies dies in New York City, USA. Davies is perhaps best-remembered for his arrangements on the Command Records' Persuasive Percussion series of releases.

Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney visit author and journalist Hunter Davies and his family in their rented house, Quinta das Redes, in Praia da Luz, Portugal, Europe.

Blood, Sweat And Tears release their second album, Blood, Sweat And Tears, in the USA on Columbia Records.

Freddie And The Dreamers appear in their own British childrens' tv series Little Big Time.

The Allman Brothers Band plays the last of three nights at Ungano's, New York City, USA.

Blue Oyster Cult play at the Pritchard Gymnasium, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York State, USA, with The Byrds and The Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Vocalist Lee Wiley dies aged 67 of colon cancer in New York City, USA. She sang and recorded with orchestras led by The Dorsey Brothers, Paul Whiteman, Leo Reisman, Eddie Condon and others.

P. Paul Fenech, guitarist with The Meteors, gets a nine month suspended prison sentence and a £2000 fine, for causing an affray and carrying an offensive weapon at a concert in Walsall, England, UK, Europe.

Bruno Mars releases his second album, Unorthodox Jukebox in the USA. On the same day he does a live appearance at the iHeartRadio Theater in New York City.

Ben Howard plays the second of two sold-out gigs at Brixton Academy, London, UK.

Run The Jewels play at Gorilla, Manchester, UK.

Coco Rosie release their sixth LP, Heartache City, on Lost Girl Records in the UK.

On the Second European leg of their Decades World Tour, Nightwish play at Manchester Arena, Manchester, England, UK, Europe, supported by Beast In Black.