Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for December 19th

Death by pills -- Death by booze -- Death from surgery -- Merry Christmas to all!!!

12/19/1979 (39 years ago today) - Elvis Presley's personal physician, George Nichopoulos, was charged with "illegally and indiscriminately" prescribing over 12,000 tablets(!!!) to The King, an obviously insane amount of uppers, downers, and painkillers that Elvis took during the 20 months preceding his untimely death -- Although he was acquitted this-go-round, the infamous "Dr. Nick" was charged again in 1980, again in 1992, and was finally stripped of his medical license in July, 1995. He passed away February 24th, 2016, at age 88. The cause was not disclosed.

12/19/1993 (25 years ago today) - Musician Michael Clarke, best known as the drummer for The Byrds from 1964 to 1967, died from liver failure at the way-too-young age of 47; he also sat at the kit for country-rock pioneers The Flying Burrito Brothers and legendary songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker -- As his death approached, Michael was determined to alert children to the dangers of alcoholism and, following his wishes, girlfriend Susan Paul started a foundation in Clarke's name, called The Campaign For Alcohol-Free Kids.

12/19/1944 - Born on this day, Alvin Lee, the amazingly talented guitarist-singer-songwriter and leader of the ridiculously under-appreciated Ten Years After -- One of the most stunning and celebrated performers at the original Woodstock festival, Alvin passed away unexpectedly on March 6, 2013, from "unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure"; he was 68. Everybody should have at least one Ten Years After album in their collection, really, so take your pick here, we (equally) love "Ssssh" (1969), "Cricklewood Green" (1970), and "A Space In Time" (1971, featuring the classic single "I'd Love To Change The World"). Alvin and Ten Years After were more than just all right, let's give 'em some long overdue credit, c'mon now...

Share your holiday biscuits with the Calendar here on our web site and on the WBLM Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #TommysCoffeeBreak.

"Tax the rich/Feed the poor/'Til there are no rich no more...", xoxo!