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Birthday Highlight:

Bill Berry, former R.E.M. drummer, is 56 today. Berry retired from the band in 1997 after suffering a brain aneurism onstage in 1995, and has since maintained a low profile working as a hay farmer in Georgia. He occasionally played gigs with his old band, however, performing with them last in 2007 at R.E.M.'s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After Berry's departure, R.E.M. never hired a full-time replacement. continuing as a three-piece until their disbanding last year.

Also, Today In:

1951 - Ray Charles got married for the first time. His bride was Eileen Williams, a beautician from Chicago. Their union lasted just one year.

1968 - Working at Trident studios in London, England, The Beatles recorded four takes of a new Paul McCartney song, "Hey Jude."

1969 - Making his first live concert appearance since March 25, 1961, Elvis played the International Hotel in Las Vegas, the first of 57 shows that would help revive his career and earn him $1.5 million.

1971 - After being denied entrance to a Who concert in New York City's Forest Hills Stadium, an angered fan stabbed and killed a security guard.

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