Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(Sept. 5)

Today's birthdays include John Stewart of the Kingston Trio, who was born in 1939 (age 63); Joe "Speedo" Frazier of The Impalas in 1943 (age 59); Al Stewart in 1945 (age 57); the late Freddie Mercury of Queen was born in 1946; Buddy Miles and Loudon Wainwright III, also both in 1946 (age 56); Humble Pie guitarist Dave "Clem" Clemson in 1949 (age 53); and Dweezil Zappa, the rock singer son of the late Frank Zappa, in 1969 (age 33).

Today's musical milestones:

"Tumbling Tumbleweeds," the first of many Westerns starring legendary singing cowboy Gene Autry, opened on this date in 1935.

In 1964, the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun" replaced the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go?" atop Billboard's Hot-100 singles chart.

In 1976, Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd was seriously injured in a car accident in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla.

In 1978, Joe Negroni died at age 37. He was the third member of the 1950s R&B group Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers to die prematurely.

In 1981, the all-girl trio Bananarama released its debut single "Ai A Mwana" on the British independent label Demon Records. It flopped. However, the single attracted enough attention to lead to Bananarama signing with London Records.

In 1984, at a news conference, Michael Jackson's manager Frank DiLeo read a statement from the pop star refuting various rumors about his cosmetic surgery and sexual orientation.

In 1986, the Who's Roger Daltry; Peter Frampton; and Genesis's Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford jammed at a Warner-Electra-Atlantic sales meeting in Hollywood, Fla.

Also in 1986, Mary Wells said she, her husband and baby were kidnapped in Michigan and held captive for two days by fans eager for her to record a song they wrote. They were released in Mojave, Calif. Police said the kidnapping was never reported.

And in 1986, Dire Straits won MTV's Best Video Award for "Money for Nothing."

In 1990, B.B. King was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1991, R.E.M., Chris Isaak and C&C Music Factory took top honors at the eighth annual MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles. Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Reubens made a surprise first public appearance since his indecent exposure arrest in Florida two months earlier.

Also in 1991, a Chicago judge gave preliminary approval to a settlement in the Milli Vanilli lip-synching class action lawsuit.

In 1992, newspapers reported that recording artist Prince had signed a $100 million contract with Warner Bros., making him the highest-paid pop artist in the country.

In 1993, as many as 15 people were injured when fans rushed the stage at a Neil Young/Pearl Jam concert in George, Wash.

In 1994, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Joan Baez and John Hiatt headlined the 24th annual Bumbershoot concert in Seattle.

Also in 1994, Rod Stewart's wife -- model Rachel Hunter -- gave birth to the couple's second child, a boy, in London.

In 1995, Cat Stevens -- now known as Yusuf Islam -- released his first album in 18 years. Holding to his religious beliefs, the recording was 80-percent talk and included a Muslim hymn. The musician said most of his 1970s love songs were "impure."

In 1998, Eddie Van Halen, Queen's Brian May and Aerosmith's Joe Perry helped actor Kevin Bacon kick off his new weekly radio show -- "The Guitar Show with Kevin Bacon" -- on the AMFM Radio Networks. Bacon and his brother have their own band, called The Bacon Brothers.

Also in 1998, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee was released early on good behavior from the Los Angeles County jail after serving less than four months of a six-month sentence on charges of spousal abuse.

In 2000, the Dixie Chicks earned their first RIAA Diamond Award for sales in excess of 10 million units on their album "Wide Open Spaces." The rare milestone marked the first Diamond Award for a country group and the first for Sony Music Nashville. It was also the first Diamond Award for a debut country album.

Today's musical quiz:

The Kingston Trio's John Stewart wrote what Monkees' hit single? Answer: "Daydream Believer."