Today in Music: a look back at pop music

(May 10)

Today's birthdays include Fred Astaire and composer Dimitri Tiomkin, born in 1899; composer-conductor Max Steiner in 1888; Larry Williams, who had a 1957 hit with "Bony Moroney," in 1935. The Spinners' Henry Fambrough was born in 1938 (age 65); Danny Rapp, of Danny and the Juniors, in 1941; Jackie Lomax in 1944 (age 59); Donovan, whose full name is Donovan Leitch, 10cc bassist Graham Gouldman and Dave Mason, formerly with Traffic, all in 1946 (age 57); Spirit's Jay Ferguson in 1947 (age 56); reggae musician Sly Dunbar in 1952 (age 51); the late Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious, whose real name was John Simon Ritchie, was born in 1957; and U2 frontman Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, in 1960 (age 43).

Today's musical milestones:

In 1928, the Carter Family recorded "Wildwood Flower."

In 1954, "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets was released on this date. A year later, the song became the first rock and roll number to top the charts.

In 1963, the Rolling Stones began the group's first recording session in London.

In 1965, Donovan and members of the Beatles were in the audience for the first of two Bob Dylan shows at London's Royal Albert Hall.

In 1967, this day saw Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones all defending themselves in separate drug-related cases.

In 1969, the Turtles and the Temptations performed at Tricia Nixon's Masque Ball at the White House. Mark Volman of the Turtles fell off the stage five times.

In 1974, the Who sold out New York's Madison Square Garden. All 80,000 tickets for four shows were sold in eight hours.

In 1975, Stevie Wonder played an unannounced, free concert near the Washington Monument, drawing 125,000 people to celebrate "Human Kindness Day."

In 1986, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married actress Heather Locklear. They were later divorced.

In 1993, fire heavily damaged country singer Mickey Gilley's theater in Branson, Mo.

In 1994, pop singer Paul Abdul filed for divorce from actor Emilio Estevez after just two years of marriage.

Also in 1994, rapper Tupac Shakur surrendered to Los Angeles authorities to begin serving a 15-day sentence for beating up a music video director.

And in 1994, Willie Nelson was arrested on drug possession charges in Hewitt, Texas, after police found him asleep in his car with a marijuana cigarette in the ashtray. The case was later thrown out.

And in 1994, Linda McCartney unveiled her new line of frozen meatless entrees at a Chicago news conference.

In 1995, members of the Black Crowes donated all proceeds from their Oklahoma City concert to charities helping the victims and survivors of the federal building bombing.

Also in 1995, Reba McEntire became the first woman in 15 years to be named entertainer of the year at the 30th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

In 1996, "Tha Crossroads" by the rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony topped the Billboard Hot-100 singles chart -- becoming the fasting rising No.1 song since the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" 32 years before.

In 2000, Bobby Brown was arrested in New Jersey for allegedly violating the terms of his probation on a drunken driving conviction. He allegedly flunked a drug test and had neglected to tell his parole officer about a trip to the Bahamas.

Today's musical quiz:

Who added the whispering in the Donovan hit song "Mellow Yellow"? Answer: Paul McCartney.