On this day

March 17, 1997

Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from March 17, 1997

With Rebel Gains and Mobutu in France, Nation Is in Effect Without a Government

By Howard W. French

News analysis finds that six-month-old war for control of Zaire may have entered final chapter with seizure of important eastern city of Kisangani by mercenary-backed rebels that may presage end to ruthless, 31-year rule of Pres Mobutu Sese Seko; country remains, in effect, without Government, with Mobutu in France for treatments of advanced prostate cancer as his army and power have steadily crumbled; maps; photo (M)

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A Time to Mourn: King Hussein Comforts Israelis

By Serge Schmemann

King Hussein of Jordan, in gesture of reconciliation, visits grieving families of seven Israeli girls killed by Jordanian soldier; is accompanied by daughter and son, and Israeli Prime Min Benjamin Netanyahu; also makes new efforts to mediate way out of tense impasse between Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat over Israel's plans to build new Israeli settlement in Arab Jerusalem; Netanyahu reiterates that he will not reverse Government's decision to build settlement in southeastern Jerusalem; maps; photo (M)

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Squaring Off Over Future Of Coliseum

By Clifford J. Levy

Latest effort to redevelop Columbus Circle is resulting in same kind of civic turbulence that doomed its forebears; effort is entering crucial stage because Metropolitan Transportation Authority will soon choose three ot four finalists in search for developer to construct building to replace New York Coliseum; opposition to plans from various groups, including Municipal Art Society of New York, discussed; map (M)

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of March 12, 1997, covering March 17, 1997.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Howard Stern Private Parts: The Album by Soundtrack

    Howard Stern Private Parts: The Album

    Soundtrack

    Last week
    —
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    1
  2. 2
    Album cover for Secret Samadhi by Live

    Secret Samadhi

    Live

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    2
  3. 3
    Album cover for Unchained Melody/The Early Years by LeAnn Rimes

    Unchained Melody/The Early Years

    LeAnn Rimes

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    3
  4. 4
    Album cover for Falling Into You by Celine Dion

    Falling Into You

    Celine Dion

    Last week
    10
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    51
  5. 5
    Album cover for Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt

    Tragic Kingdom

    No Doubt

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    61

Notable Births

Katie Ledecky

1997Katie Ledecky, American swimmer[†]

Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky is an American competitive swimmer. She is the most decorated female swimmer in history and the most decorated American woman in Olympic history, with a total of 14 Olympic medals, including nine golds. She shares the record for the most Olympic gold medals won by a woman with Larisa Latynina and ranks as the fifth-most decorated Olympian of all time.

Daniel Sprong

1997Daniel Sprong, Dutch ice hockey player[†]

Daniel Sprong is a Dutch professional ice hockey right winger for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Sprong was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2015 NHL entry draft after playing two seasons with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and made the Penguins immediately after being drafted, though he would return to the QMJHL and play two more seasons with the Islanders. He played parts of four seasons with Pittsburgh and their American Hockey League affiliate before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks in 2018, where he spent two seasons before being traded to the Washington Capitals in 2020. After his initial stint with the Kraken, he had tenures with the Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks before returning to Seattle.

Notable Deaths

Jermaine Stewart

1997Jermaine Stewart, American singer-songwriter and dancer (born 1957)[†]

William Jermaine Stewart was an American R&B singer, best known for his 1986 hit single "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off", which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. His 1987 song "Say It Again" reached number seven in the United Kingdom.

Historical Context for March 17, 1997

In 1997, the world population was approximately 5,924,787,816 people[†]