TODAY IN HISTORY: A Partridge beats up an Osmond

In 1970, soul singer/pianist Billy Stewart and three members of his band died in a car accident in North Carolina. He was 32. His biggest hit, “Summertime” hit No. 10 on the pop charts in 1966.

In 1985, scientists announced researchers had identified the genetic blueprint governing activities of the suspected AIDS virus.

In 1994, two former child stars — Donny Osmond and Danny Bonaduce of “The Partridge Family” — slugged it out in a three-round charity boxing match in Chicago. The winner was Bonaduce, who bloodied Osmond’s nose in the 2-1 decision.

In 1995, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake devastated Kobe, Japan. It killed 5,291 people and injured hundreds more. More than 88,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Osaka was also badly hit.

In 1996, San Francisco astronomers said they had discovered two new planets, 35 light years from Earth. They said the planets were bigger than Jupiter with conditions that would support living organisms.

In 2002, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell announced sweeping cuts to the province’s public sector, eliminating as many as 11,700 jobs by 2005.

In 2017, Australia, China and Malaysia announced they were suspending the nearly three-year underwater search of the Indian Ocean for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared on March 8, 2014 with 239 onboard, including two Canadians.

In 2018, the economy’s impressive run prompted the Bank of Canada to raise its trend-setting interest rate a quarter point to 1.25%.

In 2019, Prince Philip was unhurt after a serious car crash in which the 97-year-old had to be helped out of his overturned Land Rover near the royal residence at Sandringham.