Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(Jan. 13)

Today's birthdays include Chi-Lites singer Robert "Squirrel" Lester, who was born in 1930 (age 73); Earth Wind and Fire drummer Fred White in 1955 (age 48); guitarist Trevor Rabin of Yes, also in 1955 (age 48); and Madness's Graham McPherson in 1961 (age 42).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1948, the WLW Midwestern Hayride was first broadcast on television in Cincinnati.

In 1957, Elvis Presley recorded "All Shook Up."

In 1962, Chubby Checker's hit "The Twist" became the first song to reach the No. 1 spot twice in two years. "The Twist" had hit the top of the charts also in September, 1960.

In 1969, Elvis Presley returned to a recording studio in Memphis for the first time since he signed with RCA Records in 1955. He recorded "Suspicious Minds."

In 1973, Eric Clapton performed an impressive comeback show at London's Rainbow Theatre following a two-year hiatus, during which he kicked his heroin addiction with the help of The Who's Pete Townshend. Clapton's band for his comeback concert included Townshend, Ron Wood, Steve Winwood and Rick Grech.

In 1979, singer Donny Hathaway died in a mysterious fall from a 15th-floor New York City hotel room. He was 33. The police said Hathaway's death was a suicide, but his friends said it was an accident.

Also in 1979, the YMCA sued the Village People for their single "YMCA." The lawsuit was later dropped.

In 1980, the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship and the Beach Boys headlined a benefit concert in Los Angeles to aid the victims of the Khmer Rouge in Kampuchea.

In 1984, Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin ruptured his spleen in a Miami swimming pool accident.

In 1986, John Lydon -- a.k.a. Johnny Rotten -- and his former Sex Pistols bandmates sued Malcolm McLaren and his Glitterbest company for $1.5 million in unpaid royalties. The punk rockers won their claim.

In 1988, plans to erect a 12-foot-tall statue of Madonna in a bikini in the Italian village where her grandparents had lived were dropped after the mayor objected.

In 1992, Canadian rocker Bryan Adams sparked a mini-firestorm when he complained that "Canadian content" rules limiting radio airplay by foreign artists and promoting local artists limited the airplay of his new album, which had been co-written by his British producer, Jeff "Mutt" Lange.

In 1994, country singer Tammy Wynette was released from a Pittsburgh hospital after successful treatment of a bile duct infection.

Also in 1994, Barbra Streisand donated $200,000 dollars to establish a fund at an Arkansas hospital in memory of President Clinton's mother, who'd recently died of breast cancer.

In 1998, the Spice Girls topped Mr. Blackwell's annual Worst-Dressed List. Other artists making the infamous list included Madonna and Marilyn Manson.

Today's musical quiz:

Jeff "Mutt" Lange married what country singer? Answer: Shania Twain.