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Today In Music: A look back at pop music

By PENNY NELSON BARTHOLOMEW, United Press International
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(Oct. 12)

Today's birthdays include Samuel Moore, "Sam" of Sam and Dave, who was born in 1935 (age 66); Melvin Franklin of the Temptations in 1942; Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt in 1948 (age 53); and Dave Vanian of The Damned in 1956 (age 45).

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Today's musical milestones:

In 1962, the Beatles were among the opening acts for Little Richard at Liverpool's New Brighton Tower.

In 1966, Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell got together to form the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

In 1968, John Sebastian left the Lovin' Spoonful to go solo.

In 1971, "Jesus Christ Superstar" premiered at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in New York.

Also in 1971, Gene Vincent died from bleeding ulcers at age 36. He'd had a top-10 hit in 1956 with "Be-Bop-a-Lula."

In 1975, Rod Stewart played his last show with Faces at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, N.Y.

In 1978, Sid Vicious was arrested and charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.

In 1986, The Clash was the opening act for The Who at New York's Shea Stadium on The Who's first farewell tour.

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In 1986, "My Way" -- Kitty Kelley's unauthorized biography of Frank Sinatra -- made the best-seller list.

In 1992, Michael Jackson broke his own record for album sales when "Dangerous" sold more than 15 million copies in 10 months.

Also in 1992, a security guard accused Elton John of hitting him on the back of his head during an AIDS benefit concert at New York's Madison Square Garden.

In 1993, Duran Duran kicked off the North American leg of its concert tour in Merrillville, Ind.

In 1994, 60 people were injured -- none seriously -- when seating collapsed at the start of a Pink Floyd concert in London.

In 1996, Hootie and the Blowfish joined regulars Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and 45,000 fans at Farm Aid '96 in Columbia, S.C.

In 1997, John Denver was killed when his experimental plane nose-dived into Monterey Bay off the California coast. He was 53.

In 1998, Johnny Cash was readmitted to Nashville's Baptist Hospital for a check on the medications he was taking for a nervous system disorder known as Shy-Drager syndrome, a disease in the Parkinson's family. Cash had left the hospital 10 days earlier after being treated for pneumonia.

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Also in 1998, Elton John turned down an offer to serve as a United Nations "messenger of peace" -- citing a lack to time to do the job justice.

In 2000, Venice Underground, former Porno For Pyros guitarist Peter DiStefano's new band, released its self-titled debut album.


Today's musical quiz:

In the mid-1970s, John Sebastian had a No. 1 single with the theme song from what TV show? Answer: "Welcome Back, Kotter."

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