Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(April 4)

Today's birthdays include Muddy Waters, whose real name was McKinley Morganfield, who was born in 1915; Hugh Masekela in 1939 (age 64); Major Lance in 1941 (age 62); Tangerine Dream's Christoph Franke in 1942 (age 61); Berry Oakley of the Allman Brothers Band was born in 1948; Gail Davies was also born in 1948 (age 55); Steve Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers in 1951 (age 52); Slade guitarist Dave Hill and Peter Haycock of the Climax Blues Band, both in 1952 (age 51); Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars, whose real name is Bob Deal, in 1955 (age 48); and Deacon Blue guitarist Graeme Kelling in 1957 (age 46).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1940, Ernest Tubb made his first record for Decca.

In 1964, in an event unique in pop music history, the Beatles had 12 songs on the Billboard Hot-100 singles chart and held the top-five positions with "Can't Buy Me Love," "Twist and Shout," "She Loves You," "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "Please Please Me."

In 1968, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King and Buddy Guy played an all-night blues show in New York in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated that day in Memphis.

In 1969, the most popular show on TV, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, was cancelled by CBS because the brothers failed to submit an episode to network executives before its broadcast. The show was well known for its irreverent political satire and the brothers had already engaged in several censorship skirmishes with the network.

In 1987, Starship scored its third No.1 single in 18 months with "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now," from the film "Mannequin."

Also in 1987, U2 entered the Billboard Top-200 album chart with "The Joshua Tree" at No.7.

In 1993, a British newspaper (The Sunday Times) listed ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and former Stone Bill Wyman among Britain's richest people.

In 1994, a Los Angeles judge refused to dismiss murder charges against rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg in what police said was a gang-related shooting in August 1993. The rap star would later be acquitted by a jury.

Also in 1994, police in Orlando, Fla., tear-gassed unruly Grateful Dead fans when they tried to get into a sold-out concert.

In 1995, Duran Duran's "Thank You" album of mostly covers was released.

In 1996, Jerry Garcia's widow and Grateful Dead bandmate Bob Weir scattered "a portion" of Garcia's ashes over the Ganges River in India. Garcia's ex-wife and their four daughters would later complain that they'd planned to scatter Garcia's ashes over the Pacific like he'd asked.

In 1999, the London Sunday Mirror reported that, in her will, Dusty Springfield had left her cat to a friend and arranged to have the cat's favorite food flown in from the United States.

Today's musical quiz:

The all-night jam Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King and Buddy Guy played in New York on the night of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination raised money for what? Answer: The show raised funds for King-sponsored organizations.