Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(March 18)

Today's birthdays include country singer Charley Pride, who was born in 1938 (age 65); soul singer/songwriter Wilson Pickett in 1941 (age 62); drummer Barry Wilson of Procol Harum in 1947 (age 56); singer/actress Irene Cara in 1959 (age 44); singer/actress Vanessa Williams in 1963 (age 40); and rapper/actress Queen Latifah in 1970 (age 33).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1957, Bill Haley and the Comets arrived back in the United States following a world tour, during which the band performed for more than half-a-million fans.

In 1965, members of the Rolling Stones earned their "bad boys" reputation when they were fined for urinating in front of a public filling station after a concert in Essex, England.

In 1970, Country Joe MacDonald was convicted of public obscenity for leading the audience at a Worcester, Mass., concert in his "fish" cheer, which spells out the so-called "f" word.

In 1978, an estimated quarter-of-a-million people turned out to hear Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, Foreigner and Santana -- among others -- perform at the California Jam 2, held at a racetrack near Los Angeles.

In 1982, Teddy Pendergrass was paralyzed when his Rolls Royce smashed into a tree in Philadelphia. He reportedly was attempting to avoid a collision with another vehicle when he lost control of his car.

In 1986, Little Richard pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to his car accident the previous October. The musician had smashed his speeding sports car into a phone pole in West Hollywood. He suffered a broken leg.

In 1988, Ike Turner was convicted of cocaine possession in Santa Monica, Calif.

In 1992, Donna Summer received the 1,952nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1993, Lindsey Buckingham, of Fleetwood Mac fame, launched his first tour in 11 years -- and his first-ever as a solo artist -- with a concert in Chicago.

In 1995, a 17-year-old boy accused Hole lead singer Courtney Love of punching him out during a concert in Orlando, Fla. The charges were later dropped.

In 1996, prosecutors in Los Angeles said they wouldn't retry rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg on voluntary manslaughter charges in the August 1993 shooting death of a reputed gang member.

Also in 1996, Aaron Neville performed a concert for inmates at Louisiana's Angola St. Prison.

In 1997, a jury in Santa Maria, Calif., ruled in favor of Michael Jackson in a lawsuit filed by five former Neverland Ranch workers. The ex-employees contended they'd been fired after cooperating with the investigation into the child molestation allegations against Jackson.

Also in 1997, "Nine Lives" -- Aerosmith's first studio album in four years -- was released.

And in 1997, slain rapper Notorious B.I.G. -- a.k.a. Christopher Wallace -- was laid to rest following a private funeral and a motorcade through the streets of Brooklyn, N.Y., where he grew up. The rapper had been killed in Los Angeles nine days earlier in a drive-by shooting that remained unsolved.

In 1999, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed in public for the first time in 10 years at the Asbury Park Convention Center in New Jersey. The show was the first of two benefitting local community groups.

Today's musical quiz:

No flash in the pan, "Fame's" Irene Cara also sang the title track for this 1980s dance movie. What? Answer: "Flashdance."