Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(Sept. 4)

Today's birthdays include Merald Knight, brother of Gladys Knight and one of her Pips, who was born in 1942 (age 60); drummer Gene Parsons of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, also in 1942 (age 60); drummer Greg Elmore and singer/guitarist Gary Duncan, both of Quicksilver Messenger Service and both in 1946 (age 56); the Commodores' Ronald LaPread also in 1946 (age 56); and Martin Chambers of the Pretenders in 1951 (age 51); singer Rose McGowan in 1973 (29).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1962, the Beatles began the group's first recording session at EMI Studios in London, with George Martin producing.

In 1964, the Animals headlined 10 nights at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York.

In 1965, someone stole a bunch of equipment from The Who's van while the band was out buying a guard dog.

In 1968, the Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man" was banned from the radio in Chicago, where authorities feared rioting in the street.

On this day in 1971, the long-running Lawrence Welk Show aired its last episode on network TV. Welk later turned it into a syndicated series, which ran until 1982.

In 1976, the Sex Pistols made its first TV appearance on the British show "So It Goes."

In 1990, a Los Angeles judge dismissed payola charges against former record promoter Joseph Isgro.

In 1991, country singer Dottie West died in Nashville from the injuries she'd suffered in a car accident five days earlier.

In 1992, Prince signed a $100 million deal with Warner Bros. Records that reportedly made him a vice president.

Also in 1992, Billy Preston pleaded no contest to drug and assault charges stemming from his picking up of day laborers to work at his Malibu, Calif., home.

And in 1992, the wife of Simple Minds' Jim Kerr gave birth to a baby boy in London. The infant was the couple's first child.

In 1994, Michael Jackson and his new bride, Lisa Marie Presley, arrived in Paris for a two-day visit.

Also in 1994, the wife of former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman gave birth to the couple's first child -- a girl -- in London.

In 1996, Smashing Pumpkins dominated the MTV Video Music Awards, taking home seven awards.

In 1997, Beck won five awards, and Jamiroquai four, at the 14th annual MTV Video Music Awards.

Also in 1997, the Wu-Tang Clan canceled the rest of its tour following a pair of incidents -- including the alleged beating of a record label promoter by members of the rap group -- and charges the rappers urged the audience to stampede the stage during a show in Indianapolis.

In 1998, President Clinton met briefly in Dublin, Ireland, with the members of U2. Of the band, Clinton said "they're nice people" and called Bono "a smart man."

Today's musical quiz:

In what Caribbean nation did Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley tie the knot? Answer: Jackson and Presley were married in the Dominican Republic. Their divorce less than two years later would be finalized in Los Angeles.