Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(June 29)

Today's musical birthdays include Johnny Ace, who was born in 1929; Eva Boyd, a.k.a. Little Eva, Carole King's babysitter-turned-singer, whose No.1 single in 1962 was "The Loco-Motion," in 1945 (age 57); Paper Lace's Carlo Santanna in 1947 (age 55); drummer Ian Paice of Deep Purple and, later, Whitesnake, in 1948 (age 54); and Colin Hay of Men At Work in 1953 (age 49).

Today in music history:

In 1967, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were convicted on drug charges stemming from a bust at Richards' home in London.

In 1968, Pink Floyd's "A Saucerful of Secrets" album was released. That same day, Pink Floyd played a free concert in London's Hyde Park with Jethro Tull and pop poet Roy Harper opening.

In 1969, the Jimi Hendrix Experience played its final show at the Denver Pop Festival. Hendrix would form a new group with Buddy Miles and Billy Cox.

Also in 1969, Shorty Long drowned. He was 29. Long did "Here Comes the Judge" as well as the original version of "Devil With a Blue Dress."

In 1973, Deep Purple played in concert in Osaka, Japan. It was vocalist Ian Gillan's and bass player Roger Glover's last gig with the band -- at least for many years.

In 1975, Elton John turned up, unannounced, at an Eagles-Doobie Bros. show in Oakland, Calif.

Also in 1975, Tim Buckley died from a drug overdose. He was 28.

In 1977, rocker Bob Geldof was attacked onstage during a Boomtown Rats gig in London.

In 1978, Peter Frampton was seriously injured in a car accident in the Bahamas.

In 1979, Lowell George, formerly with Little Feat, died from a heart attack at age 34.

In 1980, country's George Jones topped the charts with "He Stopped Loving Her Today."

In 1984, 2 million copies of the Jackson's "Victory" album were shipped to music stores.

Also in 1984, Prince's "When Doves Cry" topped the 1 million mark in sales.

In 1993, at a news conference in New York, Ike Turner denied beating his ex-wife Tina Turner, saying he only punched her once and slapped her around. Turner also challenged Tina to a musical duel. The challenge went unanswered.

In 1998, Aerosmith performed at a private party for 500 guests at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the world premiere of "Armageddon" was held. The movie co-starred Liv Tyler, the daughter of Aerosmith lead singer Steve Tyler.

In 2000, the graves of Ronnie VanZant and Steve Gaines, two members of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, were among the five disturbed by vandals at an Orange Park, Fla., cemetery. The musicians had been killed in a 1977 plane crash.

Today's musical quiz:

When Aerosmith reunited in 1984, what did the band have to do before signing with Geffen Records? Answer: They had to audition first.

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