Today In Music: A look back at pop music

(Jan. 12)

Today's birthdays include the late Tex Ritter, who was born in 1905; country singer Ray Price in 1926 (age 76); Glenn Yarborough in 1930 (age 72); William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys in 1939 (age 63); British blues pioneer "Long" John Baldry in 1941 (age 61); Maggie Bell in 1945 (age 57); Cynthia Robinson, trumpet player with Sly and the Family Stone, in 1946 (age 56); "shock jock" Howard Stern in 1954 (age 48); Per Gessle of Roxette in 1959 (age 43); Chynna Phillips of Wilson Phillips in 1968 (age 34); and Melanie Chisholm, a.k.a. "Sporty Spice" of the Spice Girls, in 1974 (age 28).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1963, "Please Please Me" became the Beatles' first No. 1 single in Britain.

Also in 1963, Bob Dylan appeared in a play on BBC Radio, "Madhouse On Castle Street," playing the part of -- what else? -- a folk singer.

In 1965, the pop music show "Hullabaloo" premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1979, the Bee Gees received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1981, the Recording Industry Association of American donated 800 albums to the White House record library. The titles included "Alive" by KISS, Bob Dylan's "Blonde On Blonde," and "Never Mind the Bollocks" by the Sex Pistols.

In 1986, Luther Vandross was behind the wheel of his Mercedes Benz when it went out of control and crashed on Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Los Angeles. His passenger was killed and Vandross was charged with vehicular manslaughter. He later pleaded no contest to lesser charges and was ordered to perform a benefit concert.

In 1987, rumors abounded that Michael Jackson was about to make a bid to purchase Motown records from its founder, Berry Gordy Jr.

In 1992, Mick Jagger's wife, Jerry Hall, gave birth to the couple's third child, a girl, in London. The child was named Georgia May Ayeesha.

In 1993, Cream, Van Morrison, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Doors, Etta James, Sly and the Family Stone, Ruth Brown, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The highlight of the ceremony in New York City was the reunion concert by Eric Clapton and the other members of Cream.

Also in 1993, Ted Nugent was fined $1,000 for shooting two flaming arrows across the stage during a Cincinnati concert.

And in 1993, Michael Jackson's lawyer denied rumors the pop star had wanted a white dancer hired to portray him as a child in a new Pepsi TV commercial.

And in 1993, a Missouri man, James Williams, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in the 1983 murder of 1960s pop singer Walter Scott.

In 1994, a Los Angeles federal jury ruled Michael Jackson did not steal the songs "Thriller," "The Girl Is Mine" and "We Are The World" from his former neighbors in Gary, Ind.

In 1995, the Allman Bros. Band, Al Green, Janis Joplin, Martha and the Vandellas, Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin and Neil Young were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Also in 1995, Stevie Wonder performed his first paid concert in Arizona in nearly nine years. The singer had boycotted the state for canceling its observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The state had reinstated the holiday in 1993.

In 1996, the Los Angeles Times reported that Janet Jackson was ready to sign an $80 million, four-album deal with Virgin Records. The contract was said to be unprecedented for any artist.

Also in 1996, Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar led 1,000 music students in the world's largest guitar lesson at the new Hard Rock Cafe in Universal City, Calif.

In 1997, James Taylor sang the national anthem at the AFC title contest between the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars. (The Patriots won.)

In 1998, Carlos Santana became the first Hispanic inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Inducted along with Santana -- the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, the Mamas and the Papas, Gene Vincent and Lloyd Price.

Also in 1998, a judge in Beverly Hills, Calif., placed Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee on two years' probation and ordered the rocker to undergo anger management counseling. This -- after Lee pleaded no contest to charges stemming from a September 1996 altercation outside a Hollywood nightclub with a photographer who was trying to take pictures of Lee and his actress wife, Pamela Anderson.

In 1999, Madonna made her seventh appearance on Mr. Blackwell's "Worst Dressed Women." She was described as "a Neo Gothic fright -- a glitzy gargoyle searching for a 'Ray of Fashion Light.'" Other pop artists on the list -- Courtney Love and Mariah Carey.

Also in 1999, Quiet Riot lead singer Kevin DuBrow was arrested upon his arrival at the Charlotte, N.C., airport. He was accused of not paying a $105,000 judgment awarded to a woman injured at a Quiet Riot concert in 1994.

In 2000, Carlos Santana's "Supernatural" returned to the top of the Billboard Top-200 album chart after receiving 10 Grammy nominations.

Today's musical quiz:

Name the first host of "Hullabaloo." Answer: Singer/actor Jack Jones.