Today In Music: A look back at pop music

(Dec. 30)

Today's birthdays include rock 'n' roll pioneer Bo Diddley, who was born in 1928 (age 73); country singer Skeeter Davis, whose real name is Mary Francis Penick, in 1931 (age 70); John Hartford in 1937 (age 64); and the late Del Shannon was born in 1939. Two members of the Monkees share birthdays today -- Michael Nesmith, who was born in 1942 (age 59) and Davy Jones in 1945 (age 56). And Jeff Lynne of the Electric Light Orchestra and the Traveling Wilburys was born in 1947 (age 54).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1944, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys made their first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.

In 1951, "The Roy Rogers Show" debuted on NBC-TV.

In 1962, teenage singing star Brenda Lee lost her home and her pet poodle in a fire.

In 1970, Paul McCartney sued to dissolve the Beatles' partnership.

In 1973, John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra played a final show at the Masonic Auditorium in Detroit.

In 1974, the Beatles' partnership was legally dissolved, four years to the day after Paul McCartney filed suit.

In 1979, Emerson Lake and Palmer announced it was breaking up. They've since gotten back together.

In 1981, the British rock band XTC played its first U.S. concert, in Philadelphia.

In 1994, Ringo Starr's ex-wife, Maureen Cox Starkey Tigrett, died of leukemia. She was 47.

In 1995, Elton John was awarded the CBE, Commander of the British Empire.

Also in 1995, U2's Bono arrived in Sarajevo to celebrate peace and New Year's Eve with Bosnian Muslims.

In 1996, a federal judge in Houston ruled in favor of a bar named the "Velvet Elvis" in a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Also in 1996, has-been white rapper Vanilla Ice performed at a Dallas dance club.

In 1999, George Harrison was seriously injured when a man described by police as "obsessed" with the Beatles broke into his home west of London and stabbed him.

Also in 1999, the Smashing Pumpkins was the "blind date" at the Miller Genuine Draft Blind Date concert in Dublin.

Today's musical quiz:

Name the future member of the Monkees who appeared on the same "Ed Sullivan Show" broadcast on which the Beatles made their American television debut (Feb. 9, 1964)? Answer: Davy Jones. He was in the London cast of the musical "Oliver!" at the time.