History Highlight:

Today in 1989, at just 38 years old, Stevie Wonder became the youngest living person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, other inductees include The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Otis Redding and Dion DiMucci. Wonder is without a doubt one of the most creative and loved musical performers of the late 20th century.

Also, Today In:

1964 - The Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" became the fastest-breaking and the fastest-selling single in Capitol Records' history when it entered the singles chart at No. 45.

1965 - The Rolling Stones recorded "The Last Time" and "Play With Fire" at the RCA studio in Hollywood, California. Phil Spector played acoustic guitar on "Play With Fire."

1969 - Former Beatles drummer Pete Best wins a defamation suit against his former group. Best sued over remarks Ringo made in an interview implying that he was kicked out of the band because of drug use.

1974 - Free's Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke, Mott The Hoople's Mick Ralphs, and King Crimson's Boz Burrell unite to form the band Bad Company.

1975 - Barry Manilow scored his first U.S. No. 1 single when "Mandy", (originally titled "Brandy" when it was recorded in 1972 by Scott English), went to the top of the charts.

1991 - During an AC/DC North American tour three fans were killed during a crush in a crowd at a gig in Salt Lake City.

1996 - Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from Michael Jackson.

1997 - Tori Amos was at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "Professional Widow (It's Got To Be)". The song had been remixed by Armand Van Helden and was rumored to be about Courtney Love.

2005 - The Game released his major-label debut album, The Documentary. It features “Hate It or Love It,” “How We Do,” and “Westside Story.”

2005 - Black Mountain released their self-titled debut album. It features “No Hits” and “No Satisfaction.”

2010 - Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle, and mother to Rufus and Martha Wainwright, died of cancer at home in Montreal at the age of 63.

2011 - The largest collection of Beatles memorabilia went on display in a new museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rodolfo Vazquez, a 53-year-old accountant, turned his mammoth Beatles collection into a museum with more than 8,500 objects - setting the new world record for the largest collection of Beatles memorabilia. Some of the items included a box of condoms bearing the names of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, a brick from the Cavern Club, a chunk of the stage from the Star Club in Hamburg, and certified copies of the band members' birth certificates. Among his favorite items were 64 boxes of chewing gum in the form of Beatles records.

2016 - Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey died at the age of 67 in New York City from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia. Frey co-founded the Eagles in 1971 with Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. After the breakup of the Eagles in 1980, Frey embarked on a successful solo career and went on to score the Top 40 hits "The One You Love," "Smuggler's Blues," "The Heat Is On," and "You Belong to the City."

2019 - Sharon Van Etten released her fifth studio album, Remind Me Tomorrow. It features “Comeback Kid” and “Seventeen.”

2019 - Maggie Rogers released her debut studio album, Heard It in a Past Life. It features “Alaska,” “On + Off,” “Fallingwater,” “Give a Little,” “Light On,” and “Burning.”

2019 - Alice Merton released her debut studio album, Mint. It features “No Roots,” “Lash Out,” and “Funny Business.”

2019 - James Blake released his fourth studio album, Assume Form. It features “Don’t Miss It,” “Mile High,” “Barefoot in the Park,” and “Mulholland.”

2020 - Nashville folk singer David Olney died at age 71 after suffering a heart attack during a performance in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. He formed the band The X-Rays, which released two albums before splitting up in 1985. His songs have been covered by numerous artists, including Emmylou Harris, Del McCoury, Linda Ronstadt and Steve Earle.

2023 - David Crosby died aged 81 in his sleep from complications of COVID-19 at his horse ranch in Santa Ynez, California.

Birthdays:

Danny Kaye was born today in 1911.

Hargus “Pig” Robbins, session keyboardist for Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Bob Dylan, Sturgill Simpson, and many others, was born today in 1938.

David Ruffin of The Temptations was born today in 1941.

Bobby Goldsboro (“Honey”) is 84.

R. Stevie Moore is 73.

Guitarist Jack Sherman (Red Hot Chili Peppers) was born on this day in 1956.

Jim O’Rourke, producer of Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born and past member of Sonic Youth, is 56.

Jonathan Davis of Korn is 54.

Crispian Mills of Kula Shaker is 52.

Luther Dickinson of The Black Crowes is 52.

Estelle is 45.

Katie White of the Ting Tings is 42.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.