Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(Jan. 18)

Today's birthdays include the late David Ruffin, former lead vocalist with the Temptations, who was born in 1941; Bobby Goldsboro also in 1941 (age 62); and Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins in 1957 (age 46).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1948, one of TV's first talent shows, The Original Amateur Hour, made its debut. A spinoff of a popular radio show, Major Bowes' Amateur Hour where Frank Sinatra was discovered in 1937, it ran for 12 years. Among its winners were a seven-year-old Gladys Knight and an 18-year-old Pat Boone.

In 1964, the Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" entered the Billboard singles chart at No. 82.

In 1973, the Rolling Stones staged a benefit concert with Santana and Cheech and Chong at the Los Angeles Forum. The show raised $200,000 for Nicaraguan earthquake victims. Mick Jagger --- whose then-wife Bianca was born in Nicaragua -- added another $150,000.

Also in 1973, Pink Floyd began recording the "Dark Side of the Moon" album in London.

In 1978, the first -- and only -- U.S. tour by the Sex Pistols ended in San Francisco. The next day, Johnny Rotten announced the band was finished.

In 1980, Plasmatics lead singer Wendy O. Williams was arrested following a concert in Milwaukee. She claimed she was beaten by police.

In 1986, the AIDS charity record "That's What Friends Are For," by Dionne Warwick and Friends, topped the Billboard Hot-100 singles chart.

In 1989, the Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fellow inductees included Dion, the late Otis Redding, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder and the legendary producer Phil Spector.

In 1991, "Rock In Rio 2" -- billed as the largest rock concert ever -- opened its 10-day run at Rio de Janiero's Maracana Stadium in Brazil. The scheduled highlight was the one-time-only reunion of former Wham!-mates George Michael and Andrew Ridgely.

Also in 1991, three teenagers were killed at an AC-DC concert in Salt Lake City when the crowd pushed toward the stage. The band reportedly refused to stop playing.

In 1995, the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia was unhurt when he crashed his car into a guardrail near Mill Valley, Calif. The car was totaled.

In 1996, Lisa Marie Presley filed for divorce in Los Angeles from Michael Jackson after 20 months of marriage, citing irreconcilable difference.

In 2000, the office of British Prime Minister Tony Blair denied reports that Blair had Mick Jagger's name taken off a list of royal subjects to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth on New Year's Eve because the Rolling Stone's legendary sex life didn't fit in with Blair's "family values" political orientation.

Also in 2000, Texas executed convicted killer Spencer Corey Goodman for the July 1991 beating death of the wife of ZZ Top's manager during a Houston carjacking.

Today's musical quiz:

From 1962-64, Bobby Goldsboro played in what pop-country singer's band? Answer: Roy Orbison.