History Highlight:

Today in 2003, acclaimed singer/songwriter Elliott Smith was found near death in his Los Angeles apartment from an apparent self-inflicted knife wound. Smith, 34, was later pronounced dead at U.S.C. Medical Center. Smith's death came as a shock to the indie-rock community. His career had been growing in success with two major-label releases, an Oscar nomination for "Miss Misery" from the Good Will Hunting soundtrack, but he also suffered from depression, alcoholism and drug dependence, and these topics appeared throughout his lyrics.

Also, Today In:

1961 - Bob Dylan, accompanied only by his own guitar and harmonica, recorded his first album in a single day. His fee was just $400. On his income tax form, Dylan signed his name as "Blind Boy Grunt."

1965 - The pride of the Northwest, The Kingsmen played "Louie Louie" on Shindig!.

1972 - Many years after making his pioneering rock & roll records, Chuck Berry had his first and only U.S. #1 hit. It was an unlikely silly sing-along tune called "My Ding-a-Ling."

1995 - Blind Melon ("No Rain") lead singer Shannon Hoon was discovered dead on his tour bus from an accidental drug overdose.

1995 - Green Day singer Billie Joe was arrested and fined $141 after mooning at the audience during a gig in Milwaukee.

Birthdays:

Eric Faulkner, lead singer of the Bay City Rollers, is 61 today.

Celia Cruz, the Cuban-American salsa performer, would have been 89 today. She passed away in July of 2003 and was memorialized as a Google Doodle.