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Today in Music History: Pink Floyd record their first single

February 27, 2015

History Highlight:

Today in 1967, Pink Floyd laid down tracks for their first single, the psychedelic nugget "Arnold Layne," written by Syd Barrett. It would make it to No. 1 in the U.K. but have no impact whatsoever in the U.S. The song tells the story of a cross-dresser who procures his ladies' clothing by stealing from laundry lines.

Also, Today In:

1961 - Chubby Checker started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Pony Time," his second No. 1 of the 1960s.

1970 - Members of Jefferson Airplane were fined $1,000 for using profane language during a concert in Oklahoma City.

1972 - More than 25,000 people attended a Led Zeppelin concert in Sydney, Austraila. Jimmy Page appeared clean shaven, having shaved of the beard he had been growing since the summer of 1970.

1977 - Keith Richards' Toronto hotel suite was raided by Royal Canadian Mounted Police while he was sleeping. Police seized 22 grams of heroin and five grams of cocaine as well as narcotics paraphernalia. Richards was arrested and charged with possession of heroin with intent to traffic, and with possession of cocaine.

1980, Winners at the Grammy Awards included the Doobie Brothers' "What A Fool Believes" for Song of the Year, Billy Joel's 52nd St for Album of the Year and Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" for Best Disco Record.

1991 - James Brown was granted an early parole and set free in Columbia, S.C., after serving two years of a six-year prison sentence for resisting arrest after a car chase across two States.

2005 - Ray Charles hit no. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Genius Loves Company.

2010 - U2 earned more money than any other music act that performed in the U.S. in 2009, making $109 million from touring, record sales and other royalties, which was almost twice as much as the second best, Bruce Springsteen, who took home $58 million in America that year.

Birthdays:

Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden is 58.

Paul Humphreys of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark is 55.

Josh Groban is 34.