History Highlight:

Today in 1974, Carl Douglas started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Kung Fu Fighting". The song was recorded in 10 minutes (with just two takes), and had started out as a B-side but went on to sell 11 million records worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Also, in:

1963 - The Beatles second album With The Beatles started a 21-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. album chart.

1967 - Otis Redding went into the studio to record "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay". Though the song skyrocketed to the top of the R&B and pop charts in the months after its release, Redding didn't get to enjoy its success as he died in a plane crash three days after recording the song. The hit was Otis's largest-selling to date and it's reported that the familiar whistling heard before the song's fade was the singer fooling around, as he had forgotten what he was going to do during that part. The immensely popular song has been covered by dozens of performers such as Cher, Bob Dylan, Widespread Panic, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Pearl Jam, Garth Brooks and Justin Timberlake.

1985 - Mr Mister started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Broken Wings".

1991 - George Michael and Elton John were at No. 1 in the U.K. with a live version of "Don't Let The Sun Go down On Me". All proceeds from the hit went to aids charities.

1991 - Michael Jackson started a 7 week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Black Or White", his 12th solo No. 1, also a No. 1 in the U.K.

1991 - U2 went to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts with Achtung Baby.

1996 - Toni Braxton started an 11-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Un-Break My Heart".

2003 - Britney Spears was at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with In The Zone, the singer's fourth U.S. No. 1 album. The singer broke her own record from being the first female artist to have three albums enter the U.S. chart at No. 1 to being the first female artist to have 4 albums enter at No. 1 consecutively.

2005 - The MBE medal that John Lennon returned to the Queen was found in a royal vault at St James' Palace. Lennon returned his medal in November, 1969 with a letter accompanying saying, "Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. With Love, John Lennon."

Birthdays:

Harry Chapin ("Cats in the Cradle") was born today in 1942.

Tom Waits turns 67 today.

Psychedelic Furs bass player Tim Butler is 58 today.

Damien Rice turns 43 today.

All Saints singer Nicole Appleton is 42 today.

Singer Aaron Carter is 29 today.

Mumford & Sons banjo player Winston Marshall is 28 today.

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