Today in music; a look back at pop music

(April 13)

Today's birthdays include Chambers Brothers percussionist Lester Chambers, who was born in 1940 (age 63); bassist Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane and also Hot Tuna, and Brian Pendleton, guitarist with The Pretty Things, both in 1944 (age 59); Al Green, Roy Loney of the Flaming Groovies, and Jim Pons of the Turtles and also the Mothers of Invention, all in 1946 (age 57); Peabo Bryson and Max Weinberg, drummer with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and also music director of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," both in 1951 (age 52); Blondie keyboardist Jimmy Destri in 1954 (age 49); Louis Johnson of the Johnson Brothers in 1955 (age 48); and Wayne Lewis, who with his brothers David and Jonathan formed the R&B band Atlantic Starr, in 1957 (age 46).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1965, Roger Miller won five Grammy Awards.

In 1967, the Rolling Stones played for the first time in a communist country. The concert at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw sparked a near-riot among fans unable to get tickets.

In 1973, Roger Daltrey released his first solo album -- the self-titled "Daltrey" -- which was produced by British rock and movie star Adam Faith.

In 1979, a stomach virus caused David Lee Roth to collapse on stage during a Van Halen concert in Spokane, Wash.

In 1982, less than three weeks after being busted in Los Angeles on cocaine possession charges, David Crosby was arrested again -- this time in his dressing room at Cardi's, a Dallas nightclub -- after police found him in possession of cocaine as well as a gun.

In 1985, USA for Africa's famine relief song "We Are the World" topped the pop singles charts.

In 1987, in cooperation with the music industry, Amnesty International launched a campaign to get record buyers to write letters demanding the release of 18 political prisoners held in jails around the world.

In 1992, Natalie Cole and her husband, Andre Fischer, announced a trial separation.

In 1994, the Los Angeles Times reported that Kurt Cobain's March drug overdose in Rome had been a failed suicide attempt.

In 1996, Art Garfunkel taped the first of two career-retrospective concerts at New York's Ellis Island.

In 1999, Brandy, Cher, Whitney Houston, LeAnn Rimes and Tina Turner -- with special guest Elton John -- performed on VH1's Divas concert, airing live from New York's Beacon Theater on the cable network.

Also in 1999, new albums by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ("Echo") and George Thorogood and the Destroyers ("half a boy/Half A Man") reached stores.

In 2000, Metallica filed suit against Napster in federal court in Los Angeles, accusing the online music swapping service of allowing visitors to its Web site to download and exchange with others copyrighted songs by the band.

Also in 2000, Detroit Wheels frontman Mitch Ryder was in Cleveland to help the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum designate Cleveland's WEWS-TV studios -- the home of the "Upbeat" TV show -- a historic landmark. "Upbeat" -- an early rock 'n' roll TV show -- featured a live audience, dancers and live performances by such artists as Ryder, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding.

And in 2000, Gloria Estefan was among the celebrities who came to Miami's Little Havana neighborhood to show support for the Gonzalez family, which is fighting to keep 6-year-old Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez in the United States.

In 2001, the Cadillacs, the Flamingos, Dion & the Belmonts, the Platters, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, and Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters were among the vocal groups inducted into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame in Boston.

Today's musical quiz:

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers once toured with what legendary singer/songwriter as his backing band? Answer: Bob Dylan, for two years.