Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(July 18)

Today's musical birthdays include - Lou Busch (Joe 'Fingers' Carr) musician: piano, arranger ,born in 1910; Dion DiMucci, of Dion and the Belmonts, who was born in 1939 (age 63) keyboardist Brian Auger also in 1939 (age 63; Martha Reeves, of Martha and the Vandellas, in 1941 (age 61); the late jazz/R&B trumpeter David Hines in 1942; guitarist Robin MacDonald of Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas in 1943 (age 59); Raspberries guitarist Wally Bryson in 1949 (age 53); Glenn Hughes of the Village People and Golden Earring drummer Cesar Zuiderwyk, both in 1950 (age 52); country's Ricky Skaggs in 1954 (age 48); XTC drummer Terry Chambers in 1955 (age 47); and Alarm drummer Nigel Twist in 1958 (age 44).

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Today in music history:

In 1952, Kitty Wells' "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" debuted on the country music charts.

In 1966, Bobby Fuller was found dead in his car in Los Angeles. An exact cause of death was never determined. Fuller was 22. His group -- the Bobby Fuller Four -- is best known for the hit song "I Fought the Law."

In 1974, the U.S. Justice Department announced it had ordered John Lennon out of the United States by Sept. 10. That, following the denial by immigration officials of Lennon's non-immigrant visa due to a 1968 marijuana possession conviction in Britain. Lennon fought the order and eventually won.

In 1975, Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded "Live!" -- a concert album -- at the Lyceum Ballroom in London.

In 1980, Billy Joel topped the Billboard Top-200 album chart with "Glass House" and the Hot-100 singles chart with "It's Still Rock 'N' Roll to Me."

In 1989, Paul Kantner -- one of the founders of Jefferson Airplane -- reunited the band's original 1966 line-up, including Marty Balin, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, as well as Grace Slick.

In 1991, the British coroner ruled that the April death of rocker Steve Marriott in a cottage fire was an accident.

Also in 1991, jazz/R&B trumpeter David Hines was killed on his 49th birthday when his motorcycle was hit by a car in the St. Louis suburb of University City, Mo.

In 1992, singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown were married at Houston's New Jersey mansion. Stevie Wonder sang at the wedding.

In 1994, Meat Loaf was sued by a Milwaukee songwriter who claimed the rocker's song "Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are" was a rip-off of his tune.

Also in 1994, the Rolling Stones performed a surprise concert at a Toronto nightclub.

In 1995, fans in Texas lined up to buy "Dreaming of You" -- the last album Tejano star Selena recorded before death four months earlier.

Also in 1995, Billboard said its annual music awards was being moving from Los Angeles to New York for first time.

In 1997, the Foo Fighters performed at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco at the second Miller Genuine Draft Blind Date, a contest run by the beer company.

In 1999, Michael Jackson had lunch with former South African President Nelson Mandela at Mandela's home in Johannesburg. It was Mandela's 81st birthday.

Topping the charts on this date:

I'm Sorry - Brenda Lee (1960), This Guy's In Love with You - Herb Alpert (1968), Afternoon Delight -- Starland Vocal Band (1976), When Doves Cry -- Prince (1984).

Today's musical quiz:

Billy Joel once worked for "Changes" magazine. As what? Answer: He was a rock critic.