February 15, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Arlene Carlstrom!

220 years ago
1797

Born on this date
Henry E. Steinway. German-born American businessman. Mr. Steinway, born Henirich Steinweg, was a carpenter who became a church organist and then began building musical instruments, specializing in pianos. He and five of his sons moved to New York in 1850 and founded Steinway & Sons in 1853, which remains the world's leading manufacturer of pianos. Mr. Steinway died on February 7, 1871, eight days before his 74th birthday.

125 years ago
1892

Born on this date
James Forrestal. U.S. politician. Mr. Forrestal was United States Secretary of the Navy from 1944-1947 and Secretary of Defense from 1947-1949 in the administrations of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman. He had differences with President Truman that led Mr. Truman to force his resignation on March 31, 1949. Mr. Forrestal then entered psychiatric treatment at National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in Bethesda, Maryland, but his body, clad in half a pair of pajamas, was found on May 22, 1949 on a third-floor roof, 13 floors below his room. The official report mentioned no cause of death besides a fall, and that Mr. Forrestal's behaviour was indicative of depression, but conspiracy theories abound. Mr. Forrestal was 57 at the time of his death.

120 years ago
1897

Died on this date
Dimitrie Ghica, 80. Prime Minister of Romania, 1868-1870. Mr. Ghica was a member of the Conservative Party.

110 years ago
1907

Born on this date
Jean Langlais. French musician and composer. Mr. Langlais was the organist at the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris (1945-1988), and toured across Europe and the United States. He composed more than 250 pieces, mainly organ works and masses. Mr. Langlais died on May 8, 1991 at the age of 84.

75 years ago
1942

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Dark Tragedy of the Circus

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sherry Jackson!

A child actress who blossomed into a beautiful young woman, Miss Jackson was born in Wendell, Idaho.

War
British forces on Singapore commanded by General Arthur Percival surrendered unconditionally to Japanese forces, seven days after the Japanese had invaded the island.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons--The King Cole Trio

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Será, Será)--Doris Day (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Garden of Eden--Frankie Vaughan (4th week at #1)

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones (4th week at #1)
2 Snoopy vs. the Red Baron--The Royal Guardsmen
3 When Will I Be Loved?/Kiss Me Now--Johnny Young
4 I'm a Believer--The Monkees
5 Knight in Rusty Armour--Peter and Gordon
6 Communication Breakdown--Roy Orbison
7 Coalman--Ronnie Burns
8 It's Not Easy--Normie Rowe
9 Single Girl--Sandy Posey
10 Georgy Girl--The Seekers

Singles entering the chart were Ruby Tuesday/Let's Spend the Night Together by the Rolling Stones (#25); What Would I Be? by Val Doonican (#35); East West by Herman's Hermits (#38); and I've Passed this Way Before by Jimmy Ruffin (#39).

Space
Diadem II, France's fourth satellite, was launched from the Sahara Desert in Algeria.

Diplomacy
Organization of American States foreign ministers began an 11-day conference in Buenos Aires.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Daddy Cool--Boney M. (12th week at #1)

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: A Safe House

Died on this date
Diomedes Olivo, 58. Dominican baseball pitcher. Mr. Olivo spent many years playing in his native Dominican Republic before going to North America at the age of 36, compiling a record of 0-1 in 7 games with the Havana Sugar Kings of the International League in 1955 and then moving to the Mexican League with the Mexico City Diablos Rojos (1955-1958) and Poza Rica Petroleras (1959), compiling a record of 55-29. He joined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 1960, pitching for the Columbus Jets of the IL (1960-1961), with a record of 18-16, and making his major league debut with the Pirates at the age of 41 in September 1960, going 0-0 with a 2.79 earned run average in 4 games. He was a regular relief pitcher with the Pirates in 1962 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963, finishing his career with 12 games for the Atlanta Crackers of the IL in 1963. Mr. Olivo compiled a record of 5-6 in 85 major league games with an ERA of 3.10 and 7 saves. He was a scout with the Cardinals after the end of his playing career, and worked with the Ministry of Sports in his native country before his death from a heart attack. Mr. Olivo's brother Chi-Chi pitched with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in 1961 and 1964-1966.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance began a six-day visit to Israel and five Arab nations in an effort to reconvene the Geneva peace talks.

Politics and government
The governing coalition led by Prime Minister Anker Jorgensen retained power and gained seats in the Danish general election. Mr. Jorgensen's Social Democratic Party captured 65 seats in the 175-seat Folketing, an increase of 12 seats from the most recent election in 1975. The Progress Party was second with 26 seats.

Boxing
Marvin Hagler (31-2-1) scored a technical knockout of Willie Monroe (35-5-1) at 1:20 of the 12th and final round at Hynes Auditorium in Boston to win the vacant North American middleweight title. Mr. Monroe had won a decision over Mr. Hagler a year earlier.

Ronnie Harris (22-0) won a 10-round split decision over James Parks (18-8-1) in a middleweight bout at Sunnyside Gardens, Queens, New York. On the undercard, Gerry Cooney (1-0) knocked out Bill Jackson (0-8) at 1:32 of the first round of their heavyweight bout.

Hockey
WHA
Calgary 2 @ Winnipeg 2

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Good Times--Jimmy Barnes featuring INXS (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: T'en va pas--Elsa (7th week at #1)

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Let's Talk About Sex--Salt-n-Pepa (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kanashimi hayuki no yoni--Shogo Hamada (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Puta Madre--Terra Wan

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Qui a le droit...--Patrick Bruel (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Goodnight Girl--Wet Wet Wet (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'm Too Sexy--Right Said Fred (2nd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Diamonds and Pearls--Prince and the New Power Generation (2nd week at #1)
2 I Love Your Smile--Shanice
3 Mysterious Ways--U2
4 The Way I Feel About You--Karyn White
5 Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana
6 To Be with You--Mr. Big
7 I Can't Make You Love Me--Bonnie Raitt
8 There Will Never Be Another Tonight--Bryan Adams
9 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John
10 I'll Get By--Eddie Money

Singles entering the chart were You Showed Me by Salt-N-Pepa (#84); Helluva by Brotherhood Creed (#86); Everlasting Love by Tony Terry (#91); and Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) by Mint Condition (#93).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me-George Michael/Elton John
2 Mysterious Ways--U2
3 There Will Never Be Another Tonight--Bryan Adams
4 No Regrets--Tom Cochrane
5 Diamonds and Pearls--Prince and the New Power Generation
6 I'm Too Sexy--Right Said Fred
7 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
8 Rescued (By the Arms of Love)--Glass Tiger
9 Go Back to Your Woods--Robbie Robertson
10 Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana

Singles entering the chart were Justified & Ancient by the KLF (featuring Tammy Wynette) (#63); Your Song by Rod Stewart (#73); Church of Your Heart by Roxette (#75); Too Much Passion by the Smithereens (#80); Love Monkey #9 by Bootsauce (#86); Until Your Love Comes Back Around by RTZ (#89); Mama, I'm Coming Home by Ozzy Osbourne (#91); Live and Let Die by Guns N' Roses (#93); Save the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams (#94); Thinkin' Back by Color Me Badd (#95); and Keep it Comin' by Keith Sweat (#96).

Crime
U.S. serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced in Milwaukee to life in prison for 15 murders.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Let a Boy Cry--Gala (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Barrel of a Gun--Depeche Mode

#1 single in France (SNEP): Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Madonna (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Don't Speak--No Doubt

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Discothèque--U2 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Discothèque--U2

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton (11th week at #1)

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Ray Evans, 92. U.S. songwriter. Mr. Evans, a lyricist, partnered with Jay Livingston, a composer, to write several hundred songs, the best known of which were for movies and television programs. The pair won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Buttons and Bows (The Paleface, 1948); Mona Lisa (Captain Carey, U.S.A., 1950); and Que Sera Sera (The Man Who Knew Too Much, 1956). Other notable movie songs of theirs included Tammy (Tammy and the Bachelor, 1957); Almost in Your Arms (Houseboat, 1958); and Dear Heart (Dear Heart, 1964). Messrs. Livingston and Evans also wrote the theme songs for the televison series Bonanza (1959) and Mr. Ed (1961). Mr. Evans died 11 days after his 92nd birthday.

Walker Edmiston, 82. U.S. actor. Mr. Edmiston was a character and voice actor in numerous television programs, commercials, and cartoons. He died nine days after his 82nd birthday.