(Jan. 25)
Today's birthdays include Tubes keyboardist Michael Cotten, who was born in 1950 (age 53); Richard Finch of K.C. and the Sunshine Band in 1954 (age 49); Fine Young Cannibals guitarist Andy Cox, who was also with English Beat, in 1956 (age 47); and Gary Tibbs of Roxy Music, as well as Adam and the Ants, in 1958 (age 45).
Today's musical milestones:
In 1958, Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" became the first single to enter the British music charts at No. 1.
On this day in 1960, the National Association of Broadcasters proposed that disc jockeys accepting payment from record labels for broadcasting particular songs, known as payola, would draw a $500 fine and one-year prison sentence.
In 1964, producer Phil Spector appeared on the panel of the BBC-TV's "Juke Box Jury" in London. The show rated new releases.
In 1971, a daughter, China, was born to Grace Slick and Paul Kantner.
In 1978, Bob Dylan headlined a seven-hour benefit concert for imprisoned boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. The show at the Houston Astrodome also featured Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, Carlos Santana, Steve Stills and Ringo Starr.
In 1980, Paul McCartney was released from a Tokyo jail after nine days and then ordered out of Japan. He'd been arrested at the airport after Japanese customs officials found marijuana in his luggage.
In 1982, a daughter, Chelsea, was born to Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell.
In 1984, Yoko Ono donated $375,000 to the Liverpool nursing home Strawberry Fields, the institution that inspired the Beatles song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
In 1989, Bobby Brown was arrested in Georgia for alleged lewdness on stage. He was fined $652.
In 1993, Michael Jackson, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and newcomer Billy Ray Cyrus were the big winners at the 20th annual American Music Awards.
In 1999, Paul McCartney took out an ad in the Times of London, urging parents to tell broadcasters that it was okay to play his late wife Linda's record -- despite lyrics that included a vulgar word.
Also in 1999, a jury in Columbus, Ohio, cleared Bone Thugs-N-Harmony rapper Bryon "Bizzy Bone" McCane of charges that he attacked a barber school student who supposedly had been spreading rumors about him.
In 2000, Virgin Records announced that D'Angelo's sophomore album, "Voodoo," had shipped "gold," with more than 800,000 units sent to stores prior to its release. Nearly 100,000 copies of the CD were sold on the first day.
Today's musical quiz:
Grace Slick and Paul Kantner reportedly had wanted to name their daughter this but instead chose China. What was the name they decided against? Answer: God.
