After playing a show in Norfolk, Virginia on March 21, 1956, the
Perkins Brothers Band headed to New York City for a March 24
appearance on NBC-TV’s Perry Como Show when shortly before
sunrise on March 22  their car hit the back of a pickup truck and
went into a ditch with water about a foot deep, and Perkins was
lying face down in the water. Drummer Holland rolled Perkins over,
saving him from drowning.

Perkins had suffered three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a severe
concussion, a broken collar bone, and lacerations all over his body
in the crash. Perkins remained unconscious for an entire day. The
driver of the pickup truck, Thomas Phillips, a 40-year old farmer,
died. Carl’s brother Jay had a fractured neck along with severe
internal injuries, later dying from these complications.

Carl Perkins finally appeared on The Perry Como Show on Saturday
May 26th 1956

Actor, comedian, director, and producer Carl Reiner has won nine Emmy
Awards and one Grammy during his career. He partnered with Mel Brooks
as a writer and comedian starting in 1950 with Sid Caesar’s Your Show of
Shows on NBC. Before fame, Reiner worked as a machinist  fixing sewing
machines before his older brother encouraged him to switch careers. Carl
is the father of director Rob Reiner.

NBC Television Theatre was the home of Sid Caesar’s Your Show of
Shows.

Patrick Duffy is best known for playing the role of J.R.’s brother, Bobby 
Ewing on both the CBS series Dallas (1978-1991). He was born in 
Townsend, Montana, the son of tavern owners Marie and Terence 
Duffy. During high school, Duffy was living in Everett, Washington, 
attending Cascade High School. Before fame he taught mime and 
and movement classes while working as an interpreter for ballet,
opera and orchestra companies.

The Bee Gees made their US television debut when they appeared on The 
Ed Sullivan Show. They performed "To Love Somebody" and "Words."

Barry Alan Crompton Gibb is 67 and the last surviving
member of the Bee Gees.

Ross Simpson

Jerry Lewis (Joseph Levitch) is 88 today