Today In Music: A look back at pop music

(May 2)

Today's birthdays include the late Bing Crosby, who was born in 1904; Link Wray in 1935 (age 67); guitarist Hilton Valentine of the Animals in 1943 (age 59); Argent guitarist John Verity in 1944 (age 58); Goldy McJohn, keyboardist with Steppenwolf, and Bianca Jagger, Mick Jagger's ex-wife, both in 1945 (age 57); Argent drummer Robert Henrit, and singer Lesley Gore, both in 1946 (age 56); Gatlin Brother Larry Gatlin in 1949 (age 53); Lou Gramm of Foreigner in 1950 (age 52); The Knack's bassist Prescott Niles in 1954 (age 48); Human League's Jo Callis in 1955 (age 47); and Dr. Robert -- a.k.a. Robert Howard -- of the Blow Monkeys in 1961 (age 41).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1957, Elvis Presley recorded "Jailhouse Rock."

In 1965, the Rolling Stones made the group's second appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1979, the film "Quadrophenia" -- based on The Who's album and featuring Sting -- premiered in London. That same evening, drummer Kenny Jones -- replacing the late Keith Moon -- performed for the first time in public with The Who at London's Rainbow Theater.

In 1980, Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In the Wall" was banned in South Africa. Officials feared it might encourage boycotts at black schools.

In 1982, Adam and the Ants broke up. Adam Ant -- a.k.a. Stuart Goddard -- continued as a solo act.

In 1986, Wal-Mart pulled albums by 11 rockers and comics -- including AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Motley Crue -- off store shelves in 22 states.

In 1987, a fully clothed Dolly Parton popped out of a cake at the grand re-opening of her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

In 1994, Eric Clapton performed a benefit concert at New York's Lincoln Center.

In 1995, Yoko Ono donated her royalties from the original cast recording of her 1994 off-Broadway musical "New York Rock" to AmFAR.

In 1998, Hideto Matsumoto, the lead guitarist in the now-defunct rock band X Japan, hanged himself in a Tokyo condo.

In 1999, the 30th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival set a new attendance record of 495,000 for the 10-day event. The Radiators, the Neville Brothers, the Isley Brothers and Hootie and the Blowfish topped the bill for the last day.

Today's musical quiz:

Bush's debut album "Sixteen Stone" almost didn't get released. Why? Answer: Gavin Rossdale's band had been signed with Disney's Hollywood Records but their big fan, Disney President Frank Wells, was killed in a helicopter crash in 1994 just as "Sixteen Stone" was being finished. Other Hollywood executives decided the album unworthy and so it remained in limbo until being rescued by Interscope Records.