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Today in Music: a look back at pop music

By United Press International
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

(April 5)

Today's birthdays include Tommy Cash, Johnny's brother, who was born in 1940 (age 63; singer Eric Burdon in 1941 (age 62); Allan Clarke of the Hollies in 1942 (age 61); Whispers' Nicholas Caldwell in 1944 (age 59); actress Jane Asher, Paul McCartney's one-time fiancée, in 1946 (age 57); Dave Swarbrick of Fairport Convention in 1947 (age 56); ABBA's Anna Faltskog in 1950 (age 53); Everett Morton of the English Beat in 1951 (age 52); Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready in 1966 (age 37); and singer/songwriter Paula Cole in 1968 (age 35).

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Today's musical milestones:

In 1970, movie musicals scored big in the Academy Awards as "My Fair Lady" won for Best Picture and Best Actor (Rex Harrison) and singer-actress Julie Andrews won Best Actress for her role in "Mary Poppins."

In 1977, Jackson Browne, John Sebastian, J.D. Souther, Richie Havens and Country Joe McDonald performed a series of concerts in Tokyo to benefit efforts to protect whales and dolphins. They raised $150,000 in three days.

In 1979, Madness changed its name from the North London Avengers.

In 1981, Bob "the Bear" Hite of Canned Heat died from a heart attack at age 36.

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In 1984, Marvin Gaye Jr. was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.

In 1985, radio stations around the world simultaneously broadcast "We Are The World," the song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and recorded by 46 artists for the Africa Relief Fund.

In 1987, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson, Jerry Lewis, Mel Torme, Artie Shaw and Henry Mancini were among the mourners at the Los Angeles funeral of Buddy Rich.

In 1993, a Boston judge dropped the assault and battery charges against rapper "Marky" Mark Wahlberg after he reached an out-of-court settlement in the civil lawsuit filed by the man he had allegedly beaten up.

Also in 1993, construction finally began on the long-awaited Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.

In 1994, Aerosmith won seven awards at the eighth annual Boston Music Awards.

In 1995, country singer Clinton Gregory arrived late to the Country Dance Music Awards in Nashville because his wife was giving birth to their daughter across town.

In 2000, Grammy Award-winning singer/guitarist Jose Feliciano was among the Latin music legends inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in ceremonies held in the Bronx, N.Y.

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Today's musical quiz:

Tommy Cash had a hit in 1969 with a tribute to John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Can you name that tune? Answer: "Six White Horses."

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