December 19 On this Day in Entertainment: 1993 - Michael Clarke (drummer for The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers) dies of liver failure at age 47 after decades of alcohol abuse. 1955 - Carl Perkins records "Blue Suede Shoes" two days after writing the song. 1997 - Titanic opens in theaters. It becomes the top-grossing movie of all time, with a soundtrack that sells about 15 million copies, thanks mostly to the Celine Dion hit, "My Heart Will Go On." 1974 - Ron Woods joined the Rolling Stones