History Highlight:

Kevin Patrick Shields was born today in 1963, making him 55. Shields is best-known as the vocalist and guitarist of My Bloody Valentine, who are said to have pioneered a subgenre known as shoegazing, characterised by an ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and volume. The band released two albums - Isn't Anything (1988) and Loveless (1991) - before breaking up in the late 1990s. Shields has collaborated with other artists and bands since then such as Yo La Tengo, Dinosaur Jr, Mogwai, Primal Scream and Patti Smith. He also contributed several original compositions to the soundtrack of the 2003 film "Lost in Translation", which earned him nominations for British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) awards.

Also, Today In:

1963 - "Little" Stevie Wonder taped his sophomore album, The Twelve Year Old Genius, live at a Detroit theatre. It would become Motown's first No. 1 album and it yielded Wonder's first smash hit, "Fingertips, Pt. 2."

1966 - Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" debuted on the singles chart, where it would became her biggest hit ever, reaching No. 4.

1969 - John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's infamous 10-day "bed-in" for peace began at a Montreal hotel.

1971 - Ram, Paul McCartney's second solo album, was released. Unlike McCartney's first solo effort, it was not a one-man band affair. Contributing musicians included guitarists David Spinozza and Hugh McCracken.

1977 - Stevie Wonder started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with his tribute to Duke Ellington, "Sir Duke", his sixth U.S. No. 1.

In 1979 - Elton John launched a series of concerts in the Soviet Union. The shows were videotaped for a cable TV special called To Russia With Elton.

1980 - Joe Strummer of The Clash was arrested in Hamburg, Germany, after a concert during which a melee broke out between the band and the audience. Strummer reportedly struck one fan over the head with his guitar; he was released after an alcohol test proved negative.

1983 - David Bowie's "Modern Love" shot to No. 1 in the singles charts, thanks in part to Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar playing.

1997 - Radiohead released their third studio album OK Computer.

2010 - U2's lead singer Bono had emergency spinal surgery after suffering an injury while preparing for tour dates.

2011 - Adele went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Rolling In The Deep", taken from her second studio album, 21. The video to the song was nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards nominations; "Rolling in the Deep" was also the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Number One Single of 2011. And on Feb. 12, 2012, "Rolling in the Deep" received three Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video.

2015 - American bass guitarist Louis Johnson died at age 60. He was a member of Brothers Johnson, and played on the Michael Jackson albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Dangerous, and hit songs "Billie Jean" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".

2016 - Nick Menza, a former drummer in heavy metal band Megadeth, died after suffering a heart attack on stage while performing with his band OHM in Los Angeles.

Birthdays:

Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers is 77.

John Dalton of the Kinks is 75.

Stan Lynch, drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is 63.

The Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls / Christopher G. Wallace) was born today in 1971.

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