Today In Music: A look back at pop music

(Oct. 8)

Today's birthdays include George Bellamy of the Tornados, who was born in 1940 (age 61); former Procol Harum guitarist Ray Rowyer, who preceded Robin Trower and played on the "Whiter Shade of Pale" single, in 1945 (age 56); Tony Wilson of Hot Chocolate in 1947 (age 54); Average White Band's Hamish Stuart in 1949 (age 52); Robert "Kool" Bell of Kool and the Gang in 1950 (age 51); and Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone, whose real name is John Cummings, in 1951 (age 50).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1966, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels released the medley "Devil With A Blue Dress/Good Golly Miss Molly."

In 1976, the Sex Pistols signed a recording contract with EMI.

In 1980, Bob Marley collapsed onstage during a Wailers' show in Pittsburgh. He was taken to New York's Sloan-Kettering Hospital, where a spokesman denied the reggae star had brain cancer. Marley would die of brain cancer less than a year later.

In 1985, Little Richard was seriously injured when his sports car ran into a phone pole in West Hollywood. He'd apparently fallen asleep at the wheel.

In 1986, Ozzy Osbourne's concert in Tyler, Texas, was canceled due to a bomb threat.

Also in 1986, Run-DMC called for a day of peace among Los Angeles street gangs.

In 1988, Phil Collins' remake of the 1966 Mindbenders' hit "A Groovy Kind of Love" became his eighth top-10 single, and would become his fifth No. 1 song.

In 1991, Dionne Warwick announced plans to host a three-day concert in Lagos, Nigeria, to benefit an organization that helps African children.

In 1994, most of the big-name stars scheduled to appear at the Elvis Presley tribute in Memphis were no-shows. However, Lisa Marie Presley and her new husband, Michael Jackson, did attend.

In 1995, at an auction, someone paid $17,920 dollars for Madonna's seven-piece black sequined costume from her "Girlie Show" tour.

In 1996, former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct in connection with the heroin-and-alcohol overdose death on July 12 of bandmate Jonathan Melvoin in a New York City hotel room. He was sentenced to complete a drug treatment program.

Also in 1996, Bruce Springsteen faxed the Asbury Park Press newspaper in New Jersey, saying he doesn't support Bob Dole. The day before, the Republican presidential hopeful had rolled into a rally in Red Banks, N.J., with the bus's PA system blaring "Born in the USA."

In 1999, Crosby Stills Nash and Young announced they wouldn't perform as scheduled at Neil Young's Bridge School concerts later in the month (Oct. 30-31) so Graham Nash's legs, broken during a September boating accident off Hawaii, could heal.

Today's musical quiz:

AWB's Hamish Stuart also played with this ex-Beatle's band. Who? Answer: Paul McCartney.