Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe (Jan. 14) Today's birthdays include New Orleans-based pianist, singer and producer Alain Toussaint, and singer Jack Jones, both of whom were born in 1938 (age 65); White Lion's Mike Tramp in 1961 (age 42); and rapper-turned-actor LL Cool J in 1968 (age 35). Advertisement Today's musical milestones: In 1955, DJ promoter Alan Freed held his first "Rock 'n' Roll Ball" at the St. Nicholas Arena in New York's Harlem. The show featured Fats Domino, the Clovers, the Moonglows, the Drifters, the Harptones, and Big Joe Turner. In 1960, Elvis Presley was promoted to sergeant in the U.S. Army. In 1964, the Beatles' "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was released in the United States. In 1966, Davie -- spelled D-A-V-I-E -- Jones changed his name to David Bowie so he wouldn't be confused with the Monkees' Davy Jones. In 1967, the first "Human Be-In and Gathering of the Tribes" was held in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It featured the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Dizzy Gillespie on stage, and Allen Ginsberg and Timothy Leary among the 20,000 people in the audience. Advertisement In 1973, Elvis Presley drew what was then the largest TV audience in history with his live, worldwide broadcast from Honolulu. In 1975, Three Dog Night earned its 10th -- and last -- gold record for the band's third album "Joy To The World: Their Greatest Hits." In 1978, the Sex Pistols performed what would be the band's last show, at the Winterland Theater in San Francisco. In 1984, ZZ Top received more than 131,000 votes in a "Saturday Night Live" phone-in poll of Democratic candidate preferences. Also in 1984, Madonna got her first taste of national exposure, singing "Holiday" on "American Bandstand." And in 1984, Paul McCartney's single "Pipes of Peace" was released. In 1992, Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose accidentally sliced his hand open during a concert in Dayton, Ohio. The injury forced the band to cancel its two shows in Detroit. In 1994, lawyers agreed to postpone Michael Jackson's sworn deposition in the child molestation case against him until later in the month. In 1997, Madonna, Whitney Houston and Bette Midler made Mr. Blackwell's annual best-dressed list. Advertisement In 1998, Paula Cole's road manager, Philip Sullivan, was cleared on charges of rape and burglary after an ex-girlfriend in Kentucky admitted to making up the story. Today's musical quiz: LL Cool J's real name is James Smith. Where did he come up with LL Cool J? Answer: "LL Cool J" is an abbreviation for "Ladies Love Cool James."
