Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(July 22)

Today's musical birthdays include R&B singer Keith Sweat, who was born in 1931 (age 71); Chuck Jackson of the Del Vikings in 1937 (age 65); George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic is somewhere in his late 50s or 61, depending on if he was born in 1940, '41 or '44; Supertramp's Rick Davies was born in 1944 (age 58); actor/singer Bobby Sherman in 1945 (age 57); Estelle Bennett of the Ronettes in 1946 (age 56); drummer Don Henley, lately of the Eagles again, in 1947 (age 55); and film score composer Alan Menken in 1949 (age 53).

Today in music history:

In 1963, Chicago-based Vee Jay Records released "Introducing the Beatles." The album was virtually ignored by U.S. record buyers.

In 1969, Aretha Franklin was arrested for causing a disturbance in a Detroit parking lot. After paying a $50 fine, the singer apparently ran over a road sign on her way back to the street.

In 1972, Paul and Linda McCartney were arrested on drug possession charges in Sweden.

In 1977, Elvis Costello's album debut -- "My Aim Is True," on the independent label Stiff Records -- was released.

Also in 1977, during a concert with Dawn, Tony Orlando announced his retirement from performing. He didn't.

In 1979, Little Richard announced he was giving up music to be a full-time minister. He didn't, either -- at least not for long.

In 1984, Loretta Lynn's son, Jack Benny Lynn, drowned in a swimming pool near Waverly, Tenn. He was 34.

In 1986, David Crosby was paroled from a Texas prison, where he'd done time after being convicted on cocaine and weapons possession charges.

In 1987, Michael Jackson's "I Can't Stop Loving You" was released. It was the first single from the "Bad" album.

In 1992, the estate of blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan filed a lawsuit in Chicago against the pilot, charter company and makers of the helicopter that crashed Aug. 27, 1990, into a fog-shrouded hill in southeastern Wisconsin, killing Vaughan and four others.

In 1994, a planned acoustical concert by Toad the Wet Sprocket at a Schaumburg, Ill., appliance store was canceled by village officials, who said the store hadn't gotten the proper permits.

In 1995, David Clayton-Thomas of Blood Sweat and Tears sparked outrage at an outdoor concert in West Bloomfield, Mich., when he remarked that the air was "as hot as the last train car going to Auschwitz." West Bloomfield has a large Jewish population. Clayton-Thomas later apologized in a newspaper interview.

In 1997, Jamiroquai topped the list of 1997 MTV Video Music Award nominees -- capturing 10 nominations. Beck received seven nominations; and Nine Inch Nails, five.

Topping the charts on this date:

The Wayward Wind - Gogi Grant (1956), Rag Doll - The 4 Seasons (1964), Lean on Me - Bill Withers (1972), It's Still Rock and Roll to Me - Billy Joel (1980).

Today's musical quiz:

After actor/singer Bobby Sherman set female hearts aflutter on TV's "Shindig" and "Here Come the Brides," he changed careers. To what? Answer: Sherman is now a certified roup TAC-5.