Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(July 1)

Today's musical birthdays include the late blues musician and composer Thomas Dorsey, born in 1899; blues musician Willie Dixon in 1915; Delaney Bramlett of Delaney and Bonnie in 1939 (age 63); Deborah Harry, once and again with Blondie, in 1945 (age 57); B52's keyboardist and vocalist Fred Schneider in 1951 (age 51); Dan Aykroyd, one-half of the Blues Brothers, in 1952 (age 50); White Lion guitarist Vito Bratta in 1961 (age 41); Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum in 1963 (age 39); and Alanis Morissette in 1974 (age 28).

Today in music history:

In 1956, Elvis Presley appeared on "The Steve Allen Show," serenading a basset hound with his hit single "Hound Dog."

Also in 1956, Brenda Lee -- not yet 12 years old -- signed a recording contract with Decca Records.

In 1967, the Parliaments -- to be later known as Parliament-Funkadelic and led by funk king George Clinton -- made its chart debut with "(I Wanna) Testify."

In 1968, John Lennon publicly announced his love for Yoko Ono at the opening of his first art exhibit in London.

In 1969, rock 'n' roll pioneer Sam Phillips sold his Memphis-based Sun Records to Nashville music-biz powerhouse Shelby Singleton.

In 1970, Jimi Hendrix began recording for the first time at his own studio in New York City. It was known as the Electric Ladyland.

In 1972, the tribal rock musical "Hair" closed on Broadway after 1,729 performances.

In 1975, David Bowie began filming "The Man Who Fell To Earth" -- his motion picture debut -- in Albuquerque, N.M.

Also in 1975, Ringo Starr and his wife, Maureen, were divorced.

In 1984, the Music Theater Network launched its Concert Cinema service that put rock concert videos in 600 movie theaters.

In 1986, as part of her prize in an MTV contest, Prince's "Under the Cherry Moon" premiered in Lisa Barber's hometown of Sheridan, Wyo. He also sang for her and 200 friends.

In 1987, Wilson Pickett was convicted in Hackensack, N.J., of illegally carrying a loaded shotgun. It was his second weapons conviction.

In 1993, Bon Jovi offered free tickets to its July 3 show in Moline, Ill., to anyone who'd filled three sandbags to help shore up levees along the flooded Mississippi River.

In 1994, a judge in Baton Rouge, La., sentenced Percy Sledge to five years' probation and fined him $95,000 for tax evasion.

In 1995, legendary disc jockey "Wolfman Jack" (real name: Robert Smith) died of a heart attack. He was 57.

In 1996, tickets for the first 10 rows of the upcoming Hootie and the Blowfish concert in Long Island, N.Y., were voided after the band found out theater workers had held back tickets and sold them to scalpers instead.

Also in 1996, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled against John Denver, meaning he must stand trial for a 1994 drunk driving accident near Aspen. Denver had allegedly run his car into a tree.

And in 1996, members of the rock group the Wrens were arrested on trespassing charges after they were caught filming a music video in an abandoned Edgewater, N.J., building. They were released after the cops checked their identification.

In 1999, Blues Traveler cancelled its two scheduled Fourth of July weekend annual appearances at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado after lead singer John Popper was hospitalized with chest pains.

Also in 1999, singer Guy Mitchell died of complications from surgery in Las Vegas. He was 72. Between 1950 and '60, Mitchell had nearly 40 hit records -- most of them novelties, folk tunes and country songs.

Today's musical quiz:

Alanis Morissette has a twin brother. True or false? Answer: True. His name is Wade.