History Highlight:

Today in 1968, the great Easy Rider bugs-in-your-teeth Harley-riding anthem, "Born to Be Wild" by John Kay and Steppenwolf was a giant hit, scoring the band a Gold record on this day. It is sometimes described as the first heavy metal song, and the second verse lyric "heavy metal thunder" marks the first use of this term in rock music (although not as a description of a musical style).

Also, Today In:

1960, Former chicken plucker Chubby Checker went to No.1 on the US singles chart with "The Twist."

1966 - John Sebastian and The Lovin' Spoonful's well-timed "Summer in the City," their first # 1 hit, earned them a Gold record.

1973 - Gram Parsons, at only 26, died of an overdose. A member of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, he has attained legendary status in the Americana world in the years since.

1981 - Simon and Garfunkel reunited before nearly half a million fans in Central Park. The 22-song set wound up to be a best-selling album and an HBO special.

1993 - Pearl Jam released their second studio album, Vs. The album set the record for the most copies of an album sold in its first week, a record it held for five years, despite the fact that the group declined to produce music videos for any of the album's singles.

Birthdays:

(Mama) Cass Elliot, part of The Mamas and the Papas, was born today in 1941.