History Highlight:

Today in 1978, U2 won £500 ($850) and a chance to audition for CBS Ireland in a talent contest held in Dublin, The Limerick Civic Week Pop '78 Competition, sponsored by The Evening Express and Guinness Harp Lager. Just two years later, U2 were signed to Island Records and released their debut album, Boy. U2 have released 12 studio albums and are among the all time best-selling artists, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards and, in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Also, Today In:

1957 - Elvis Presley bought the Graceland mansion from Mrs Ruth Brown-Moore for $102,500. The house is named after the builder's daughter, Grace Toof.

1962 - Ray Charles launched his own record label, Tangerine Records.

1967 - Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles finished the recording of "She's Leaving Home" after adding backing vocals to the track. Harpist Sheila Bromberg, who was part of the string section heard on the track, became the first woman to play on a Beatles recording.

1968 - The Bee Gees made their U.S. television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. They performed two of their pre-disco ballads, "To Love Somebody" and "Words."

1984 - Van Halen's "Jump" peaked at No. 1 in the U.S.

2006 - The Smiths turned down a $5 million offer to reform for a set at the Coachella music festival.

2010 - At a hospital in New Orleans, Alex Chilton died due to heart problems at age 59.

Birthdays:

Nat "King" Cole was born today in 1919. He died of lung cancer in 1965.

Flaming Lips' bassist Michael Ivins is 52.

Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan is 48.

Hozier is 25.