Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe (Jan. 4) Today's birthdays include John McLaughlin, who was born in 1942 (age 61); New Order guitarist Bernie Albrecht and his bandmate, singer/guitarist Barney Sumner, both in 1956 (age 47); country singer Patty Loveless in 1957 (age 46); R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe in 1960 (age 43); and David Glasper of Breathe in 1966 (age 37). Advertisement Today's musical milestones: In 1936, Billboard published the world's first record sales chart. The first No. 1 single -- on a 12-inch 78-rpm record -- was "Stop! Look! Listen!" by jazz violinist Joe Venuti. In 1950, RCA Victor announced it would start manufacturing long-playing (LP) records. Columbia Records had already debuted the long-playing album in 1948. In 1953, more than 20,000 mourners attended the Montgomery, Ala., funeral of Hank Williams Sr. In 1954, Elvis Presley recorded two demo records -- "Casual Love Affair" and "I'll Never Stand In Your Way" -- at a public studio in Memphis operated by Sun Records owner Sam Phillips. That same day, Presley met Phillips, his future producer, for the first time. Advertisement In 1974, "Performance" -- a film starring Mick Jagger as a jaded, decadent rock star -- opened in London. In 1978, Fleetwood Mac's original leader Peter Green married Jane Samuel in Los Angeles. Also in 1978, Ozzy Osbourne rejoined Black Sabbath for a temporary stay, replacing his own replacement, Dave Walker. In 1986, Thin Lizzy founder Phil Lynott died from pneumonia and heart disease. He was 34. In 1991, Janet Jackson became the first artist ever to have seven singles from one album, "Rhythm Nation 1814," make it into the top-5 on Billboard's Hot-100 pop singles chart. Also in 1991, country singer Merle Haggard was named the 18th winner of the American Music Awards "Award of Merit." In 1993, the members of Fleetwood Mac announced they would reunite for a one-time-only concert on Jan. 19, one day before Bill Clinton's presidential inauguration. Also in 1993, Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders was among the dozens of animal rights activists at McDonald's in Amsterdam for the debut of the restaurant's new all-veggie burger. Advertisement In 1994, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation accused the Elton John AIDS Foundation of purposely scheduling its AIDS benefit on the same night as the AHF's annual fundraiser, on Oscar night. Also in 1994, a third child and son was born in Richard Marx and his wife. In 1996, veteran pop star Mariah Carey and rock newcomer Alanis Morissette topped the list of nominees -- with six each -- for the 38th annual Grammy Awards. Also in 1996, Deborah Harry, Joan Jett, Joey Ramone and the Lunachicks were among the artists who performed what was described at the first live rock concert on the Internet. And in 1996, Dove Books announced it'd publish "McCartney: Yesterday and Today," a look at one of most popular Beatles songs and the man who wrote it. In 2000, veteran rocker Carlos Santana swept the nominations for the 42nd annual Grammy Awards, receiving 10 nods for his album "Supernatural," which also garnered an 11th nomination for songwriting. Also getting multiple nominations: R&B trio TLC, country swing revivalists Asleep At The Wheel, the Backstreet Boys, Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris, Whitney Houston and 1999's big winner, Lauren Hill. Advertisement Today's musical quiz: How much did Elvis Presley pay to record those two demo records at Sam Phillips' public studio? Answer: $4.
