Myrlie Evers Williams delivers the invocation at the second inauguration of Barak Obama as President of the United States, becoming the first woman and first layperson to do so.
Leontyne Price made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Il Travatore. The final ovation lasted over 35 minutes, one of the longest in the history of the Met.
Mary Lou Williams American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer was born.
Mary Lou Williams recorded over 100 records wrote and arranged for Duke Ellington, Benny Good Goldman, and others. She was a Grammy nominee.