Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(Sept. 18)

Today's birthdays include Jimmie Rodgers, whose song "Honeycomb" topped the charts in 1957. Rodgers was born in 1933 (age 69). Frankie Avalon was born in 1940 (age 62); Alan King of Ace in 1946 (age 56); Kerry Livgren of Kansas in 1949 (age 53); Ramones' bassist Dee Dee Ramone, whose real name is Douglas Colvin, in 1952 (age 50); Cutting Crew drummer Martin Beedle in 1961 (age 41); Human League's Joanne Catherall in 1963 (age 39); Ian Spice of Breathe in 1966 (age 36); and Ricky Bell, of the New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe, in 1967 (age 35).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1969, Tiny Tim announced his engagement to Miss Vicki Budinger at the New Jersey State Fair. The wedding was performed later that year on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." Unfortunately, the marriage didn't last.

In 1970, Jimi Hendrix choked to death on his own vomit after overdosing on sleeping pills. Hendrix's death was followed two weeks later by Janis Joplin's and 10 months later by Jim Morrison's -- all dying at age 27.

In 1971, Pink Floyd became the first rock group to perform at the Classical Music Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland. The band performed a version of its album "Atom Heart Mother."

In 1974, Doris Day won a $22.8 million malpractice suit against her former lawyer.

In 1983, KISS appeared on MTV without the rock band's trademark make-up for the first time.

In 1985, Frank Zappa and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister went on record against record labeling in testimony before a congressional committee.

In 1986, Yale University announced Benny Goodman had bequeathed four truckloads of master recordings, arrangements and music memorabilia to the school.

In 1990, "Tonight" gave the New Kids On The Block their ninth straight top-10 single. However, the group's next single, "Let's Try It Again," failed to crack the top-40.

In 1993, devout Jews prevented tourist Michael Jackson from visiting the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

Also in 1993, Sinead O'Connor performed at the World of Music Arts and Dance Festival near Los Angeles. It was her first U.S. appearance since being booed off the stage during a tribute to Bob Dylan in New York the year before.

In 1996, a Los Angeles federal jury ruled against the Jackson family and awarded $2.6 million to the producers of the ill-fated 1994 "Jackson Family Honors" TV special. The producers said the charity benefit lost money because Michael Jackson failed to perform solo on the show.

Also in 1996, the BeeGees, Jackson 5, Rascals, Joni Mitchell, George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic, Buffalo Springfield, and Crosby Stills and Nash were announced as the 1997 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

In 1997, the Rolling Stones performed an intimate show at a small Chicago nightclub in preparation for the North American leg of the band's "Bridges to Babylon" tour, which kicked off the next week in the Windy City.

Also in 1997, the Farm Aid concert -- canceled due to slow ticket sales at the Texas Stadium -- was rescheduled at the New World Music Theatre in Tinley Park, Ill., for the same day, Oct. 4. The benefit was a sell-out.

And in 1997, Carlos Santana was honored with The Chicano Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award by Los Angeles radio personality Sancho (of KPCC-FM).

In 2000, a Detroit TV station (WDIV-TV) reported that Eminem had moved out of his Sterling Heights, Mich., home to a luxury home in the Manchester Estates neighborhood to get away from his estranged wife and his fans. A real estate agent was quoted saying the neighbors were worried the bad-boy rapper would bring unwanted attention to their quiet, upscale community.

Also in 2000, Madonna revealed during her first live online chat that she and her 4-year-old daughter Lourdes sing Britney Spears songs together.

Today's musical quiz:

There's an asteroid named after Frank Zappa. True or false? Answer: True. In July 1994, the International Astronomical Union announced that it had named an asteroid Zappafrank in honor of the late rocker, who died in December 1993.