Today in Music: A look back at pop music

(May 26)

Today's birthdays include Al Jolsen, who was born in 1886; Peggy Lee in 1920 (age 81); Miles Davis in 1926; Band drummer Levon Helm in 1943 (age 58); Verden "Phally" Allen, keyboardist for Mott the Hoople, in 1944 (age 57); the Guess Who's drummer Gerry Paterson in 1945 (age 56); Stevie Nicks in 1948 (age 53); country's Hank Williams, Jr., in 1949 (age 52); and Lenny Kravitz in 1964 (age 37).

On this day in music history:

In 1953, Elvis Presley placed second in a talent concert held at a Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Show.

In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono started their second "Bed-In for Peace" in a room at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. During the event, they recorded "Give Peace a Chance."

In 1974, a 14-year-old fan died in the audience crush at a David Cassidy concert at White City, London.

In 1977, William Powell of the O'Jays died at age 35.

In 1989, the estate of Roy Orbison was sued by a music publishing company, which claimed the late singer had failed to honor his commitments under a contract signed in 1985.

In 1990, for the first time ever, female artists held the top-five positions on the Billboard Hot-100 singles chart. Madonna was No.1 with "Vogue" -- followed by Heart's "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You," Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U," Wilson-Phillips' "Hold On" and Janet Jackson's "Alright."

Also in 1990, David Bowie was sued for $56 million by his ex-wife, Angela.

In 1992, fraud and breach of contract charges against Aretha Franklin were dropped. The charges had stemmed from her failure to appear at a Chicago Music Fest in July 1991.

In 1993, an unauthorized biography claimed Mick Jagger's bedmates have ranged from Madonna to Princess Margaret to Eric Clapton to Rudolf Nureyev.

In 1993, health problems forced Bobby Brown to cancel the European leg of his tour.

Also in 1993, Singapore lifted its longtime ban on classic rock songs by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Chicago, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. But the ban remained on stuff by Prince, Sinead O'Connor, Guns N' Roses and the Rolling Stones.

In 1994, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married in a secret ceremony in the Dominican Republic. The marriage lasted less than two years.

Also in 1994, the Temptations marked the 30th anniversary of their first hit song with a show at New York's Apollo Theater Hall of Fame.

In 1998, Chicago said "no thanks" to an offer of a free concert by hometown band Smashing Pumpkins. City officials said the show would attract too many people to the lakefront park concert site.

Also in 1998, the Moody Blues launched a 27-city U.S. concert tour in San Diego.

The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston confirmed that rocker Eddie Van Halan had enrolled in a cancer prevention clinical trial. In a statement, doctors said the 45-year-old lead guitarist for Van Halen was trying "to prevent cancer." It was later revealed the musician did indeed have cancer and was undergoing treatment.

When Madonna first moved to New York City, how did she support herself? Answer: She worked in a donut shop.