Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(Feb. 15)

Today's birthdays include Brian Holland of the songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland, who was born in 1941 (age 62); Kinks drummer Mick Avory in 1944 (age 59); John Helliwell, saxophonist with Supertramp, in 1945 (age 58); Santana bassist David Brown in 1947 (age 56); Melissa Manchester in 1951 (age 52); UB40's Ali Campbell in 1959 (age 44); and Culture Club's Mikey Craig in 1960 (age 43).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1965, Nat "King" Cole died of cancer at age 46.

In 1968, blues harmonica player Little Walter Jacobs -- a key member of Muddy Waters' band -- was stabbed to death during a street fight in Chicago. He was 38.

In 1974, New York's Bottom Line -- a showcase for major new talent -- opened with Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor and Carly Simon in the audience.

In 1976, Bette Midler bailed out seven members of her entourage after they were arrested on drug possession charges.

In 1981, blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield was found dead in his car in San Francisco. The cause of death -- an apparent accidental drug overdose. He was 36.

In 1984, stage and screen actress and singer Ethel Merman died at age 75

Also In 1984, the revamped Pretenders began a 52-date U.S. tour.

In 1987, People magazine reported that John Lennon's murderer, Mark David Chapman, had considered killing many other celebrities -- including Paul McCartney, Johnny Carson, Elizabeth Taylor, and President Reagan.

In 1993, an overflow crowd jammed NBC's Burbank, Calif., studios to see Duran Duran on "The Tonight Show."

In 1994, a federal court jury ruled that Michael Jackson did not steal the idea for his hit song "Dangerous" from a Denver woman who'd sent him a demo tape.

In 1999, the Detroit Free Press reported that 31 lawsuits had been filed against Aretha Franklin since 1988 for unpaid bills to dentists, accountants, plumbers, caterers, florists, etc.

Today's musical quiz:

How did Melissa Manchester get her start in the music business? Answer: Manchester got her start in the early 1970s with a group that backed Bette Midler.