Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(July 13)

Today's musical birthdays include Roger "Jim" McGuinn, founder of the Byrds, and drummer Stephen Jo Bladd of the J.Geils Band, both of whom were born in 1942 (age 60; Cheech Marin of Cheech and Chong in 1946 (age 56); Louise Mandrell, Barbara's sister, in 1954 (age 48; and bassist Lawrence Donegan of Lloyd Cole and The Commotions in 1961 (age 41.

Today in music history:

In 1977, NRBQ responded to the New York power outage by taping flashlights to the microphone stands and continuing with an acoustic set at the BottomLine.

In 1978, the BBC banned the Sex Pistols single "No One Is Innocent" because it featured "Great Train Robbery" fugitive Ronnie Biggs.

In 1984, Eddie Van Halen joined the Jacksons onstage in Dallas to perform Michael Jackson's hit song "Beat It."

Also in 1984, Jeff Beck left the Rod Stewart tour after seven concerts.

In 1985, organized by Boomtown Rats lead singer Bob Geldof, the "Live Aid" concerts in London and Philadelphia provided 18 hours of music and raised millions of dollars to help African famine victims.

Also in 1985, Elton John re-signed with MCA Records.

In 1986, Teddy Pendergrass was released from the hospital after being injured when he ran his van into a utility pole 11 days earlier. The crash came two years after the accident that paralyzed him.

In 1987, a Los Angeles federal judge threw out Bette Midler's $10 million lawsuit against Ford, but said the automaker acted like a "common thief" in using a Midler "sound-alike" voice in its TV ads.

In 1988, Sting performed a benefit concert for tropical rain forests at Washington's Kennedy Center.

In 1993, the trial began in Los Angeles in the lawsuit filed by singer Yvette Marine, who claimed she sang "co-lead" vocals on four songs on Paula Abdul's 1988 debut album "Forever Your Girl." Virgin Records and Abdul denied the charges. Marine would lose the case.

Also in 1993, a stretch of Tennessee Highway 56 near McMinnville was named for the late country singer Dottie West.

In 1994, a Whitney Houston spokeswoman announced the singer had suffered a miscarriage. Houston had announced the pregnancy only a week earlier.

In 1995, Sony announced it had released George Michael from his recording contract, freeing him to sign with Virgin Records and Dreamworks SKG.

Also in 1995, the soundtrack to "Pocahontas" ousted Michael Jackson's "HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1" from the top of the Billboard Top-200 album chart.

Again in 1995, legendary guitarist Les Paul collapsed with chest pains outside his New Jersey home as he was leaving for Nashville to attend his 80th birthday party.

In 1996, members of the Goo Goo Dolls were among the nearly 1,000 people at Nashville's Riverfront Park trying to set a world guitar marathon record. Unfortunately, they fell short of the record set in Vancouver in 1994 with 1,320 guitarists.

In 1997, Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis suffered a shattered wrist when his motorcycle was hit by a car in Los Angeles.

In 2000, Veruca Salt, Less Than Jake and Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise were among the bands that took part in a coast-to-coast cyber-concert event. Midnight Mayhem was Web cast live from clubs in New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Topping the charts on this date:

Teddy Bear -- Elvis Presley (1957), (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction -- The Rolling Stones (1965), Will It Go Round in Circles - Billy Preston (1973), Bette Davis Eyes -- Kim Carnes (1981).

Today's musical quiz:

Bette Midler has carefully cultivated the image of a New Yorker, but where did she spend the first 21 years of her life? Answer: In Hawaii, where she was born.