History Highlight:

Today in 2019, The Highwomen — a supergroup featuring Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires — released their self-titled debut album, which includes the chart hits “Redesigning Women” and “Crowded Table.” The album itself debuted at No. 10 in the Billboard album chart, and it hit No. 1 in both the Country Albums and Americana/Folk Albums charts. At year’s end, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly and Us Weekly all ranked The Highwomen near the tops of their best albums of 2019 lists, and Rolling Stone ranked it No. 77 in its list of Top 100 of Albums of the 2010s.

Also, Today In: 

1943 - Roger Waters was born, making him 81. Waters is perhaps best known for his work within the iconic rock band, Pink Floyd. As a bassist, lyricist and overall creative force of the band, Waters played a significant role in shaping Pink Floyd’s sound and conceptual direction - especially after Syd Barrett’s departure - contributing heavily to albums like "The Wall," "The Dark Side of the Moon," and "Wish You Were Here.” After leaving the band, Waters has gone on to have a successful solo career, while also keeping busy with political activism.    

1968 - Eric Clapton stepped in to record the famous guitar solo on the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." 

1969 - The "hardest working man in show business," James Brown, pleaded exhaustion and declared his intention to retire from live performing. He was a little stressed at the time, battling a paternity suit filed by a one-time president of his fan club. 

1974 - George Harrison launches his Dark Horse record label. 

1975 - Glen Campbell started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Rhinestone Cowboy," his first No. 1 after 13 Top 40 hits. 

1976 - For the first time in the history of Fleetwood Mac, they topped the album chart with their new self-titled album. It was the second self-titled release from the band (their first being the band's debut from 1968). This was the first Fleetwood Mac album to feature Lindsey Buckingham as guitarist and Stevie Nicks as vocalist; up until the release of this album, Fleetwood Mac's albums generally sold around 300,000 - 350,000 copies apiece. This album helped launch them as musical superstars with an almost constant radio presence. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 182 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. 

1978 - Record producer Tom Wilson died. He worked with various US acts including Bob Dylan (The Times They Are a-Changin', Another Side of Bob Dylan, and Bringing It All Back Home), Frank Zappa (Freak Out!), Simon and Garfunkel (Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.) and The Velvet Underground, (White Light/White Heat). 

1980 - Entering the album chart on this day were One Trick Pony by Paul Simon, Panorama by the Cars, Reach For The Sky by the Allman Brothers, and Playing For Keeps by Eddie Money. 

1989 - Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil punches Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin in the face during the MTV Video Music Awards. 

1989 - After initially refusing to play it, MTV gives Neil Young's "This Note's For You" the Video of the Year award at the MTV Video Music Awards. The same night, Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil punches Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin in the face. 

1989 - Just as mainstream pop is about to welcome grunge music with its murky guitars and bleak outlook on society, newcomer Lenny Kravitz challenges the negativity with a simple, funk-styled message: Let Love Rule. 

1990 - Tom Fogerty (rhythm guitarist for Creedence Clearwater Revival) dies from an AIDS-related tuberculosis infection in Scottsdale, Arizona, at age 48. He contracted HIV from blood transfusions. 

1994 - Sugar released their second studio album, File Under: Easy Listening. It features “Your Favorite Thing,” “Believe What You’re Saying,” and “Gee Angel.”

1994 - Bad Religion released their eighth full-length studio album, Stranger Than Fiction, their only gold record in the United States and last recording with founding guitarist Brett Gurewitz until his return seven years later. 

1995 - Joan Jett sang the National Anthem before the Baltimore Orioles game against the California Angels. The game marked Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken's 2,131st consecutive game, breaking the record held by Lou Gehrig. Jett, a huge Orioles fan and friend of Ripken, watched the rest of the game alongside a host of baseball legends, including Willie Mays and Joe DeMaggio. 

1997 - Elton John recorded a new version of 'Candle In The Wind' after performing the song live at Diana Princess of Wales funeral. An estimated 2.5 billion people around the world watched Elton play the special tribute to Diana. The track went on to become the second biggest selling single of all-time. 

2001 - Britney Spears dons a snake to debut her new single, "I'm A Slave 4 U," at the MTV Video Music Awards. 

2004 - Dizzee Rascal released his second studio album, Showtime.

2004 - Natasha Bedingfield released her debut studio album, Unwritten. It features the hit title track.

2005 - The Rolling Stones release their album A Bigger Bang. It sells just a million copies in America (modest by Stones standards), but the accompanying tour breaks the record for highest-grossing tour, earning $558 million. 

2011 - PJ Harvey becomes the first artist to win the Mercury Prize twice when her album Let England Shake earns the prestigious award. Her first win was in 2001 for Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. 

2016 - Barbra Streisand extended her U.S. chart record after she scored her 11th U.S. No. 1 album Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway. The star had already notched up more chart toppers than any other female artist, and extended her lead over Madonna, who has eight. She also overtook Elvis Presley, who has 10, to tie with Bruce Springsteen.

2019 - Muna released their second studio album, Saves the World. It features “Number One Fan,” “Who,” “Stayaway,” and “Taken.”

2019 - Tinariwen released their eighth studio album, Amadjar.

Birthdays: 

Jimmy Reed was born today in 1925.

David Allan Coe is 85.

Dave Bargeron of Blood Sweat & Tears is 82. 

Roger Waters, founding member of Pink Floyd, is 81. 

Sylvester (“Dance [Disco Heat]”) was born today in 1947.

Claydes Smith of Kool & The Gang was born today in 1948. 

Buddy Miller — guitarist for Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and many more — is 72.

Buster Bloodvessel of Bad Manners is 66.

Scott Travis — drummer for Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, and more — is 63.

Paul Waaktaar-Savoy of a-ha is 63.

Mark Chesnutt is 61.

Macy Gray is 57. 

William DuVall of Alice in Chains is 57. 

CeCe Peniston is 55.

Rhett Miller of Old 97’s is 54.

Dolores O'Riordan, lead singer for The Cranberries, was born today in 1971. 

Nina Persson, lead singer of The Cardigans, is 50.

Cisco Adler is 46. 

Rapper Foxy Brown is 46.

Max George of the Wanted is 36.

Lil Xan is 28. 

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