Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(March 8)

Today's birthdays include Johnny Dollar, who was born in 1933 (age 70); Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees in 1945 (age 58); Randy Meisner, bassist and vocalist with Poco and with the Eagles, in 1946 (age 57); singer/songwriter Carole Bayer Sager and Three Dog Night guitarist Mike Allsup, both in 1947 (age 56); Whitesnake's Mel Galley in 1948 (age 55); Clive Burr of Iron Maiden in 1957 (age 46); Gary Numan of the Cars in 1958 (age 45); Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Peter "Pedro" Gill in 1960 (age 43); and triplets Bob, Clint and Dave Moffatt of the country band the Moffatts in 1984 (age 19).

Today's musical milestones:

in 1933, the landmark musical "42nd Street," choreographed by Busby Berkeley, opened on Broadway.

In 1957, Britain's Mew Music Express magazine predicted that newcomer Tommy Sands would quickly eclipse the success of Elvis Presley. He didn't.

In 1962, the Beatles -- with Pete Best on drums -- made the band's TV debut on the BBC show "Teenager's Turn." They played Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby."

In 1964, The Dave Clark Five made the first of many appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1968, Bill Graham's Fillmore East opened in New York. On the bill -- Albert King, Tim Buckley, and Big Brother and the Holding Company.

In 1969, the Beatles held the top two places on the Billboard Top-200 album chart with "The Beatles," a.k.a. the "white album," and the soundtrack album to the animated feature film "Yellow Submarine."

In 1970, former Supreme Diana Ross opened her first solo engagement -- an 11-night run at a nightclub in Framingham, Mass.

In 1973, the Grateful Dead's Rod "Pigpen" McKernan died at age 27. The cause of death was a stomach hemorrhage, exacerbated by liver damage.

Also in 1973, former Beatle Paul McCartney and wife Linda were fined 100 pounds after pleading guilty to growing marijuana at their Scottish farm.

In 1980, Willie Nelson's "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" topped the country music charts.

In 1984, a daughter, Molly Kate, was born to country singer Ricky Skaggs and his wife, Sharon.

Singer and band leader Billy Eckstine, pioneer of bebop, died on this day in 1993.

Also in 1993, Michael Jackson established a film production company to make movies with positive and uplifting themes.

In 1994, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain was released from a Rome hospital four days after lapsing into what was said to have been an accidental drug-induced coma.

Also in 1994, Aerosmith was named favorite rock band at the People's Choice Awards.

And in 1994, Eddie Van Halen visited quadriplegics at a hospital in Chatsworth, Calif., after a conman pretended to be friends with the rock star and stole their nurse's car.

In 1995, Madonna's album "Bedtime Stories" was certified double platinum. The song "Take A Bow" was her 11th No.1 single -- more than any other female artist in music history.

In 1996, BBC Radio One declined to air the second Beatles single "Real Love" from "The Beatles Anthology," calling it of insufficient merit.

Today's musical quiz:

"The Monkees" wasn't Mickey Dolenz's first TV show. What was? Answer: As a child in the 1950s, Dolenz starred in the TV series "Circus Boy," billed as Mickey Braddock.