Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(March 3)

Today's birthdays include Mike Pender of the Searchers in 1942 (age 61); Dr. Hook bassist and singer Jance Garfat in 1944 (age 59); Dave Mount, drummer with Mud, in 1947 (age 56); Tubes singer Re Styles in 1950 (age 53); and rapper Tone-Loc in 1966 (age 37).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1955, Elvis Presley made his first-ever television appearance -- on the regional country show the "Louisiana Hayride."

In 1966, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Neil Young formed Buffalo Springfield.

In 1967, the Jeff Beck Group -- with Beck on guitar, Rod Stewart singing, Ron Wood on bass and Aynsley Dunbar on drums -- made its debut in London.

In 1980, Sotheby's in London held its first auction of pop music memorabilia.

In 1984, Exile had its first No.1 country hit "Woke Up in Love."

In 1989, Italian TV execs refused to air Madonna's "Like A Prayer." They said the video was blasphemous, even though they admitted they hadn't seen it.

In 1993, Los Angeles police were called in to control the crowds at the legendary nightclub Whiskey when Van Halen performed at the place where the rock band was discovered 15 years earlier.

In 1994, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee pleaded no contest to charges of trying to carry a loaded gun aboard a flight at Los Angeles International Airport. He was fined and placed on one-year's probation.

Also in 1994, a reliable Beatle fan magazine "Beatlefan" reported that "secret" recording sessions in England by the three surviving Beatles -- which had been scheduled to last a week -- had been going on for almost a month.

In 1995, REM drummer Bill Berry underwent brain surgery in Lausanne, Switzerland, to repair a brain hemorrhage suffered on stage two days earlier.

Also in 1995, the Black Crowes kicked off the "Amorica or Bust" tour in Minneapolis.

And in 1995, the IRS in Detroit said it had slapped a lien on Aretha Franklin's home in upscale Bloomfield Hills, Mich., saying she owed the government nearly $500,000 in back taxes.

In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling that gave Beach Boy Al Jardine the right to sue Brian Wilson in New Hampshire courts for libel in connection with Wilson's 1991 autobiography "Wouldn't It Be Nice."

In 1998, it was reported that Veruca Salt guitarist Nina Gordan was leaving the Chicago-based band. The future of Veruca Salt was said to be "uncertain."

Also in 1998, Sacramento, Calif., gangsta-rapper Shawn Thomas -- a.k.a. C-BO -- was arrested after authorities decided his latest album "Til' My Casket Drops" violated his parole by promoting the gang lifestyle.

In 1999, rapper Coolio changed his plea from "innocent" to "no contest" to charges of carrying a concealed weapon in his car. He'd been arrested in Lawndale, Calif., in September 1998 after being stopped by police for allegedly driving on the wrong side of the street.

Today's musical quiz:

These two members of Buffalo Springfield would later form one-half of a rock quartet who'd have many hits. Who? Answer: Stephen Stills and Neil Young, who along with David Crosby and Graham Nash, were Crosby Stills Nash and Young.