Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(Aug. 29)

Today's birthdays include legendary jazz musician Charlie "Bird" Parker, who was born in 1920; the late Dinah Washington in 1924; Dick Halligan of Blood Sweat and Tears in 1943 (age 59); Procol Harum's Chris Copping in 1945 (age 57); Pablo Cruise's Dave Jenkins in 1947 (age 55); Rick Downey of Blue Oyster Cult in 1953 (age 49); and Michael Jackson in 1958 (age 44).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1958, 15-year-old George Harrison joined the Quarrymen, the skiffle band founded by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The group was the first act ever to play the Casbah Club in Liverpool, which was run by the mother of Quarrymen drummer Pete Best.

In 1964, Roy Orbison released "Oh, Pretty Woman." In 1966, the Beatles played San Francisco's Candlestick Park. It was the Fab Four's last concert appearance.

In 1970, the Kinks released "Lola."

In 1976, the original line-up of Spirit -- drummer Ed Cassidy, singer/guitarist Randy California, keyboardist John Locke, lead vocalist Jay Ferguson and bass player Mark Andes -- reunited for a concert in Santa Monica, Calif. They were joined onstage by Neil Young for an encore of Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone."

In 1977, Memphis police arrested three people and charged them with trying to steal the body of Elvis Presley, which had been buried at Forest Hill cemetery a week-and-a-half earlier. As a result of this incident, Presley's father, Vernon, had the bodies of his son and his wife, Gladys, disinterred and reburied at Graceland.

In 1986, it was reported that David Crosby had been allowed to return to California from Texas, where he'd served time in prison on drug- and weapon-possession charges.

Also in 1986, a Beatles' home movie of the band's 1965 U.S. tour was auctioned off for $40,000 dollars in London.

In 1988, Bob Seger filed for divorce from actress/model Annette Sinclair after 10 months of marriage.

In 1990, it was reported that Vince Welnick would be tabbed as the Grateful Dead's new keyboardist, replacing Brent Mydland, who'd died from a drug overdose a month earlier.

In 1991, a Chicago judge gave preliminary approval to a refund plan for people who bought Milli Vanilli records, tapes or CDs.

Also in 1991, an unidentified Japanese bidder paid almost $15,000 for a Christmas card drawn in 1958 by a then-18-year-old John Lennon for Cynthia Powell, his future first wife. At the same auction at Christie's in London, someone paid $9,610 for a guitar smashed by The Who's Peter Townshend. And the Hard Rock Cafe USA bought Elvis Presley's robe for $8,870.

In 1995, "Runaway" -- Janet Jackson's first solo single since 1993 -- was released.

Also in 1995, two members of Meat Loaf's music video film crew were killed when their helicopter struck some power lines and crashed in California's Sequoia National Forest.

In 1996, fans in Santiago, Chile, turned violent while waiting for the heavy metal band Iron Maiden to appear. Sixty-four people were arrested.

In 1997, a teenage boy died in the mosh pit during a Rage Against the Machine concert in Indianapolis. Earlier, the opening act -- the Wu-Tang Clan -- allegedly urged the crowd to rush the stage. In 1998, 11 people were arrested and 86,000 concertgoers ordered by police to leave the Pontiac, Mich., Silverdome after a chair-throwing melee erupted during a rap concert headlined by No Limit and Master P.

Topping the charts on this date:958 Little Star - The Elegants (1958), Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful (1966), (You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka (1974), Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (1982).

Today's musical quiz: He spent nearly $50 million buying the rights to 251 Beatles songs, outbidding Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono. Who? Answer: Michael Jackson.