History Highlight:

Today in 1938, Etta James was born. James, most often remembered for her signature song "At Last" which reached No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart, also placed nine other songs in the American Top 40, won three Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Besides "At Last", you might recognize her hits such as "The Wallflower", "Tell Mama", "Something's Got a Hold on Me" and "I'd Rather Go Blind".

Also, in:

1975 - A year and a half after its initial release, Lynyrd Skynyrd peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Free Bird", which became the band's anthem.

1975 - The Carpenters went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with their version of The Marvelettes' 1961 hit "Please Mr. Postman".

1978 - Joy Division made their live debut when they played Pips in Manchester, England.

1983 - The Allman Brothers Band bassist Lamar Williams died of lung cancer at age 34. He joined the band in 1972 after the death of original bassist Berry Oakley.

1986 - Dire Straits reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Walk of Life", their final top ten single in the U.S.

1991 - Paul McCartney recorded his Unplugged concert for MTV, where he performed such Beatles songs as "Here, There and Everywhere" and "And I Love Her". Unlike other artists who appeared on the show with acoustic instruments plugged into amplifiers, McCartney played the show with all instruments actually unplugged. Microphones were placed close to the instruments to pick up the sound. The performance was released as an album: Unplugged (The Official Bootleg).

1992 - U2 peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Mysterious Ways" which was their fourth top ten single in the U.S.

1999 - The Rolling Stones kicked off their No Security Tour at the Oakland Arena. This was their first arena tour in twenty years.

2006 - Motley Crue received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their achievements in music.

2011 - A former Miss Canada finalist became the first person in the world to graduate with a Masters degree in The Beatles.

Birthdays:

Robert Finch, singer with KC and the Sunshine Band, is 63.

Gary Tibbs, bassist for Roxy Music is 59.

Alicia Keys is 36.

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