"American Pie" singer Don McLean — who is still performing
and touring — was born on this day in history, Oct. 2, 1945,
in New Rochelle, New York.
He is forever associated with his iconic hit "American Pie" —
named one of the Top 5 Songs of the 20th Century in a poll
by the Recording Industry Association of America and the
National Endowment for the Arts.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — John Amos, who starred as the family
patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom "Good Times" and earned
an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries
"Roots," died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Wednesday,
August 21. The death was not announced until October 1.
He played James Evans Sr. on "Good Times," which featured
one of television’s first Black two-parent families. Produced by
Norman Lear and co-created by actor Mike Evans, who co-
starred on "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," it ran
from 1974-79 on CBS.
Good Times sitcom aired for six seasons on CBS, from
February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979.
On October 1, 1962, Johnny Carson takes over from Jack Paar
as host of the late-night talk program The Tonight Show.
Carson went on to host The Tonight Show Starring Johnny
Carson for three decades, becoming one of the biggest
figures in entertainment in the 20th century.
The guests that night in NBC’s Studio 6B were Joan
Crawford (above), Mel Brooks, Tony Bennett and Rudy
Vallee.
Ed McMahon (left) and Johnny Carson.
