History Highlight:

Meat Loaf is 70 today. Born Marvin Lee Aday, the singer's Bat Out of Hell trilogy of albums (Bat Out of Hell, Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose) has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide, and 40 years later, it still sells an estimated 200,000 copies annually. He is also known for his operatic voice and theatrical performances.

Also, Today In:

1964 - The Beach Boys made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show where they performed "I Get Around" and "Wendy".

1979 - Blondie released Eat To The Beat, which contained the hit "Dreaming." The album was certified Platinum in the United States where it spent a year on the Billboard album chart peaking at No. 17. It also reached No. 1 on the United Kingdom album chart.

1980 - David Bowie scored his fourth U.K. No. 1 album with Scary Monsters And Supercreeps. The album featured the singles "Ashes to Ashes" and "Fashion".

1986 - The pioneering rap/rock version of "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith and Run-D.M.C. hit the Top 5.

1986 - The Beatles track "Twist and Shout" re-entered the U.S. singles chart over twenty-five years after it first appeared, when the song was featured in the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

1990 - Marvin Gaye received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2004 - Legendary record producer Phil Spector was formally charged with murder in the February 3rd, 2003 shooting of actress Lana Clarkson.

2011 - Tony Bennett became the oldest living person to top the U.S. album chart when the 85-year-old's Duets II album went to No. 1.

Birthdays:

Randy Bachman of Guess Who is 74.

Lil Wayne is 35.

Avril Lavigne is 33.

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