Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe (Aug. 21) Today's musical birthdays include Kenny Rogers, who was born in 1938 (age 64); Harold Reid of the Statler Brothers in 1939 (age 63); Tom Coster of Santana in 1941 (age 61); Jackie DeShannon in 1944 (age 58); the Buckinghams' guitarist Carl Giammerese in 1947 (age 55); the Clash's Joe Strummer and Deep Purple's Glenn Hughes, both in 1952 (age 50); and Budgie of Souixsie and the Banshees, and Kim Sledge of Sister Sledge, both in 1957 (age 45). Advertisement Today in music history: On this date in 1935, Benny Goodman played L.A.'s Palomar Theater in a nationally broadcast concert that drew an enormous audience and is frequently credited with kicking off the swing era. In 1963, teen magazine "16" named British pop star Cliff Richard the "most promising male singer." In 1972, Jefferson Starship's Grace Slick was maced by police in a scuffle following a concert in Akron, Ohio. The band's equipment manager started it by calling the police "pigs." In 1973, the Doobie Brothers' second album "Toulouse Street" was certified gold. In 1976, the Rolling Stones, Todd Rundgren, Lynyrd Skynyrd and 10cc performed at the Knebworth Pop Festival in England. Advertisement In 1980, Linda Ronstadt opened in "The Pirates of Penzance" on Broadway. In 1984, National Park Service officials announced that the Beach Boys would no longer be part of the annual Fourth of July celebration on Washington Mall, and would be replaced by a more "family-oriented" program. In 1990, Elvis Presley's first driver's license was sold for $7,400, and a John Lennon collage made in 1974 using magazine cutouts of Andy Warhol heads superimposed on nude girls astride motorcycles went for $44,350 dollars, at an auction at Sotheby's in London. In 1991, a judge cut Rick James's $1 million bail in half. The funk rocker and his girlfriend were charged with holding a woman captive and torturing her at James's Hollywood Hills home. In 1993, Madonna's neighbors called the police to complain about a party at her Hollywood Hills home. In 1994, Whitney Houston performed a make-up show in Anaheim, Calif. The concert had been canceled the previous month due to her throat problems. In 1996, funkster Rick James was released from a California prison, where he'd served time for assaulting two women back in 1991. He said he'd written more than 400 songs while behind bars. Advertisement In 1998, Celine Dion opened her "Let's Talk About Love" world concert tour in Boston. Topping the charts on this date: Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno (1958), Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful (1966), The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace (1974), Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (1062). Today's musical quiz: Who wrote "Islands in the Stream," Kenny Roger's hit duet with Dolly Parton? Answer: The BeeGees.
