Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(July 10)

Today's musical birthdays include musician-composer Milt Buckner, who was born in 1915, jazz musician-arranger Dick Cary in 1916, Ian Whitcomb in 1941 (age 61); Moby Grape guitarist Jerry Miller in 1943 (age 59); Arlo Guthrie in 1947 (age 55); Ronnie James Dio of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath -- among others -- in 1949 (age 53); bassist Dave Smalley of the Raspberries also in 1949 (age 53); and Pet Shop Boys Neil Tennant in 1954 (age 48).

Today in music history:

In 1964, 200,000 people lined the route taken by the Beatles to a chic reception in Liverpool, England.

In 1965, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" topped the charts -- becoming the Rolling Stones' first No.1 single.

Also in 1965, Sonny and Cher debuted on the pop singles charts with "I Got You Babe."

In 1967, Kenny Rogers left the New Christy Minstrels.

In 1968, Eric Clapton announced that Cream was breaking up.

Also in 1968, Nice was banned from playing London's Royal Albert Hall after burning an American flag on stage.

In 1974, David Bowie played a week of concerts in Philadelphia to promote his first U.S. Top-10 album, "Diamond Dogs." Several of the shows were recorded and released in album form later in the year as "David Live."

In 1975, Cher filed for divorce from Greg Allman. She accused him of seeing an old flame. They reconciled, and had a son, Elijah Blue, in 1977. The marriage eventually lasted about three years.

In 1979, Chuck Berry was sentenced to four months in jail after being convicted on income tax evasion charges.

In 1983, Bon Jovi signed with Mercury Records.

In 1984, Huey Lewis and the News sang the national anthem before baseball's All-Star game in San Francisco.

In 1986, the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia lapsed into a diabetic coma, brought on by what friends said was exhaustion and an abscessed tooth.

Also in 1986, it was reported that three women -- all claiming to be the widow of doo-wopper Frankie Lymon -- were fighting in a New York court over his estate.

In 1987, record company executive John Hammond died at age 76. It was Hammond who discovered Billie Holiday, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan. His nurse said he died listening to a Billie Holiday record.

In 1991, the owners/promoters of a suburban St. Louis amphitheater sued Guns N' Roses, claiming actions by the band led to the July 2 riot that injured 75 people. The rockers said poor security was to blame.

Also in 1991, Damn Yankees singer/bassist Jack Blades accidentally hit himself in the eye with his guitar. He ended up having surgery to repair the injury, which occurred during an encore in Louisville, Ky.

Again in 1991, Sea Lion Films announced an agreement to turn the book "Love, Janis" by Janis Joplin's sister, Laura, into a Broadway show about the life of the late rock singer.

In 1993, a Spanish newspaper reported Jerry Lee Lewis was booed offstage after he kicked a cameraman during a concert in La Coruna, Spain.

In 1997, Space resumed the U.S. concert tour that had been interrupted by health problems and a death in the family.

Also in 1997, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders married Colombian artist Lucho Brieva in London. She was 46, he 32.

In 1998, Variety reported Madonna had passed on the chance to play Maggie in the London production of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof."

In 2000, two vandalism incidents in as many weeks led the families of dead Lynyrd Skynyrd rockers Ronnie VanZant and Steve Gaines to move their loved ones from an Orange Park, Fla., cemetery to a private location.

Topping the charts on this date: "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" by Connie Francis (1960), "This Guy's in Love with You" by Herb Alpert (1968), "Afternoon Delight" by Staland Vocal Band (1976).

Today's musical quiz:

What does the title of the Bon Jovi album "7800 Degrees Fahrenheit" refer to? Answer: That supposedly is the temperature of an exploding volcano.