Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(Nov. 19)

Today's birthdays include Ray Collins of Frank Zappa's The Mothers of Invention in 1937 (age 65); the Tokens' Hank Medress in 1938 (age 64); Fred Lipsius of Blood Sweat and Tears in 1944 (age 58); and Paul Revere and the Raiders' Joe Correro Jr. in 1946 (age 56).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1957, after banning Elvis Presley records from its playlist, Chicago radio station WCFL was picketed by members of the local Elvis Presley Fan Club. The ban continued anyway.

In 1968, Diana Ross and the Supremes appeared before Queen Elizabeth at the annual Royal Variety Performance in London. Between songs, Ross urged racial tolerance in an unrehearsed speech.

In 1971, B.B. King began a European tour on the anniversary of his 25th year in show business.

In 1977, rocker Joey Ramone was burned backstage before a concert in New Jersey, reportedly when a teapot exploded.

Also in 1977, Steely Dan's "Peg" was released.

In 1979, Chuck Berry was released from a California prison farm after serving a 100-day sentence for tax evasion.

In 1986, Billy Joel donated the royalties from his "You're Only Human" anti-suicide song to the National Committee on Youth Suicide Prevention.

In 1990, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences stripped Milli Vanilli of their 1989 Best New Artist Grammy Award following revelations the pop duo didn't sing on their debut album "Girl You Know It's True."

In 1992, Billboard said Whitney Houston's remake of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" would top the upcoming Hot-100 singles chart. It marked the first time in 20 years a song had leaped to the top from outside the top-10.

In 1993, rapper Tupac Shakur was arrested in connection with the gang rape of a woman at his New York City hotel suite. He was convicted of the charges a year later.

In 1995, the first of three two-hour segments of "The Beatles Anthology" documentary premiered on ABC-TV. The show included the debut of the first new Beatles' single in 25 years, "Free As A Bird."

Also in 1995, Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres suffered a flare-up of tendonitis following a gig in Adelaide, Australia -- forcing cancellation of the band's concert in Perth.

And in 1995, Hootie and the Blowfish were among the celebrities who paid tribute to Frank Sinatra at a concert bash marking Ol' Blue Eyes' 80th birthday. (Sinatra's actual birthday was Dec. 12.)

In 1996, "Baywatch" actress Pamela Anderson Lee filed for divorce from Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee after less than two years of marriage and one son. The couple later reconciled and had another son.

In 1998, rap producer Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, a colleague of rap mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs, and another man were arrested in the beating of Blaze magazine editor Jesse Washington. They allegedly didn't like an article Washington had written about Combs and Angelettie.

Also in 1998, Natalie Imbruglia's concert at the London Forum was cybercast live.

And in 1998, three Christian leaders and 2,000 followers held a prayer/protest outside a Marilyn Manson concert in Syracuse, N.Y.

Topping the charts on this date:

You Send Me - Sam Cooke (1957), Get Off of My Cloud - The Rolling Stones (1965), Keep on Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks (1973), Private Eyes - Daryl Hall and John Oates (1981).

Today's musical quiz:

What's Marilyn Manson's real name? Answer: Brian Warner. His alter ego, Marilyn Manson, is a combination of the names Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson.