Birthday Highlight:

Devo co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh is 66 today. Mothersbaugh was born in Akron, Ohio. He attended Kent State University in Ohio, where he met Jerry Casale and Bob Lewis; the trio began performing as Devo in 1973. Combining punk, art rock, post-punk and new wave, Devo's music has influenced popular music, particularly new wave, industrial and alternative artists. Devo were also pioneers of the music video, with their early 1980s hit "Whip It" getting heavy airplay in the early days of MTV. Beyond Devo, Mark Mothersbaugh has scored films for Wes Anderson and for television shows; he is also a visual artist and, as someone who has worn glasses since age seven, is a designer of fashion eyewear.

Also, Today In:

1974 - Ray Stevens started a three week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with the novelty song "The Streak" which capitalized on the then popular craze of streaking.

1978 - The Buddy Holly Story, featuring Gary Busey in the title role, premiered in Dallas, Texas. The film was well received by critics and audiences alike.

1980 - Joy Division singer and guitarist Ian Curtis committed suicide at home in Macclesfield, England, at the age of 23. Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979, and recorded their follow-up Closer in 1980.

1984 - Simple Minds were at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Don't You Forget About Me". A year later, the track was featured in the 1985 American teen drama film The Breakfast Club.

1991 - R.E.M.'s 7th studio album Out Of Time hits No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

1997 - Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris scored a hat trick as the Damon Albarn-captained Blur team won the Soccer Six charity soccer tournament in London.

2008 - Ting Tings scored their first U.K. No. 1 single with "That's Not My Name," a track from the Manchester duo's debut studio album, We Started Nothing.

Birthdays:

Singer-songwriter Albert Hammond (father of the Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr.) is 72.

Legendary British Keyboardist Rick Wakeman (Yes, David Bowie) is 67.

Country singer George Strait is 64.

Wreckless Eric (born Eric Goulden) is 62.

Midnight Oil founding member Jim Moginie is 60.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.