Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(March 11)

Today's birthdays include Manfred Mann drummer Mike Hugg, who was born in 1940 (age 63); drummer Ric Rothwell of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders in 1944 (age 59); session guitarist Harvey Mandel in 1945 (age 58); keyboardist Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge in 1947 (age 56); Golden Earring's George Kooymans in 1948 (age 55); Bobby McFerrin in 1950 (age 53); Mike Percy of Dead or Alive, and Big Country guitarist Bruce Watson, both in 1961 (age 42); and Lisa Loeb in 1968 (age 35).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1950, after 26 years on the radio, the long-running country music show "The National Barn Dance" aired for the last time.

In 1968, a gold record was awarded posthumously to Otis Redding for his No.1 single "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay."

In 1972, Crystal Gayle first entered the country music charts.

In 1974, an insurance company paid out $112,000 on a life insurance policy taken out by Janis Joplin. The payment was in keeping with a court agreement that the coroner had ruled Joplin's 1970 overdose death an accident rather than a suicide.

In 1976, the Paul Simon single "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" was certified "gold."

In 1986, Jay Black, lead singer for Jay and the Americans, filed for bankruptcy.

In 1995, the Spin Doctors performed a concert to raise money for a trip by a Princeton, N.J., high school choir. Lead singer Chris Barron had graduated from the school.

Today's musical quiz:

Bobby McFerrin's 1988 hit single "Don't Worry, Be Happy" is from what movie? Answer: "Cocktail."