Today in Music: A look back at pop music

(June 16)

Today's birthdays include Billy "Crash" Craddock, who was born in 1939 (age 63); Lamont Dozier, one-third of the sound-writing trio Holland-Dozier-Holland, in 1941 (age 61); Eddie Levert of the O'Jays in 1942 (age 60); singer/songwriter Gino Vanelli in 1952 (age 50); and Musical Youth's Patrick Waite in 1958 (age 44).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1939, the country group the Rouse Brothers recorded the first version of "Orange Blossom Special."

In 1967, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Otis Redding, the Mamas and the Papas, Buffalo Springfield and Hugh Masekela drew 50,000 people to the Monterey Fairgrounds in California for the Monterey Pop Fest, the first of the 1960s great rock fests.

In 1968, Janis Joplin, Steve Miller and Santana played a benefit at Bill Graham's Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.

In 1977, "Beatlemania" opened on Broadway.

In 1980, "The Blues Brothers" -- starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd -- premiered in Chicago, where it was largely filmed.

In 1982, Pretenders guitarist James Honeyman-Scott died from a drug overdose in London. He was 25.

In 1984, Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Two Tribes" entered the British charts at No.1.

In 1987, lawyers for the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream negotiated an agreement to allow a new ice cream flavor to be marketed as "Cherry Garcia."

Also in 1987, a Beastie Boys/Run-DMC concert in Seattle went peacefully, despite predictions of teenage gang violence.

And in 1987, Michael Jackson's publicist announced they had increased their offer to a London hospital to buy the remains of the "Elephant Man."

In 1990, "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones topped the charts in the Netherlands for the second time. The first time had been 24 years earlier.

In 1992, a British court banned an anti-nuclear rally in northern England, at which U2 was scheduled to perform.

In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service issued commemorative stamps honoring Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Clyde McPhatter, Otis Redding, Dinah Washington, Ritchie Valens and Elvis Presley.

In 1995, Michael Jackson apologized for the anti-Semitic terms contained on a track, "They Don't Care About Us," on his new album "HIStory: Past, Present and Future Book 1."

In 1999, an anonymous bidder paid $1,700 for an autographed guitar and case from the rock band Chicago at the first-ever Starwood Preferred Guest Celebrity Suitcase Auction in New York City.

Today's musical quiz:

Where did Michael Jackson make his musical debut? Answer: Jackson performed in public for the first time with the Jackson 5 at a Gary, Ind., club called Mr. Lucky's in 1966.