Today In Music: A look back at pop music

(Oct. 27)

Today's birthdays include pianist/singer Floyd Cramer, who was born in 1937 (age 64); country's Lee Greenwood in 1942 (age 59); and Duran Duran's Simon LeBon in 1958 (age 43).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1960, Ben E. King, formerly of the Drifters, recorded his first two solo tracks: "Spanish Harlem" and "Stand by Me." The tunes were produced by songwriting team Leiber and Stoller, with Phil Spector assisting.

In 1963, Peter Paul and Mary occupied the top two positions on the U.S. album charts, with "Peter Paul and Mary" and "In the Wind."

In 1973, "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight and the Pips topped the Billboard Hot-100 pop singles chart.

In 1975, Bruce Springsteen appeared on the covers of Time and Newsweek simultaneously. But it wasn't enough to get him into Graceland: the guards at Elvis Presley's estate threw him out after Springsteen hopped the fence.

In 1983, Paul McCartney's "Pipes of Peace" album was released.

In 1990, Michael Waite of Musical Youth was sentenced to four years in prison for robbery.

In 1992, Cher sued Malibu, Calif., after city officials denied her application to build a new home on a bluff overlooking a beach.

In 1995, Gloria Estefan performed on a Vatican-TV show honoring priests.

In 1996, Bruce Springsteen performed and then spoke at a Los Angeles rally aimed at voting down a ballot initiative that would end government affirmative action programs in the state of California.

In 1997, Johnny Cash announced he had a form of Parkinson's disease. He canceled plans to promote his memoirs "Cash: The Autobiography" and his latest CD. However, the singer said he expected to resume touring once the disease was stabilized through medical treatment.

Also in 1997, Universal bought the film rights to 1992's "Where Is Joe Merchant" by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffet.

And in 1997, raunchy rapper-turned-reformer Luther Campbell spoke at the annual Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Awareness Conference in Miami, which was sponsored by the 500 Role Models of Excellence.

In 1998, the late Linda McCartney's debut solo CD "Wide Prairie" was released by Capitol Records.

Also in 1998, The Artist, a.k.a. The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, was interviewed live on "BET Tonight with Travis Smiley."

In 2000, Limp Bizkit's "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water" topped the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart, becoming the sixth album -- and the first by a rock band -- to sell more than 1 million copies in its first week of release.

Today's musical quiz:

Luther Campbell, while part of 2 Live Crew, ended up in hot water with Lucasfilms. Why? Answer: Campbell called his record label Skyywalker Records, prompting trademark infringment litigation from the folks who held the rights to the "Star Wars" character Luke Skywalker.