History Spotlight:

Today in 2017, Chris Cornell died suddenly in Detroit after performing at a show with Soundgarden. Cornell was known for his role as one of the architects of the 1990s grunge movement, and for his near four octave vocal range as well as his powerful vocal belting technique. He released four solo studio albums as well as working with Audioslave and Temple of the Dog.

Also, Today In:

1974 - Ray Stevens started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with the novelty song "The Streak" which capitalized on the then popular craze of streaking.

1978 - The Buddy Holly Story, featuring Gary Busey in the title role, premiered in Dallas, Texas. The film was well received by critics and audiences alike.

1980 - Joy Division singer and guitarist Ian Curtis died at home in Macclesfield, England, at the age of 23. Curtis was known for his bass-baritone voice, dance style, and songwriting. Joy Division released the critically acclaimed debut album Unknown Pleasures in 1979, and recorded their follow-up Closer in 1980. Curtis's suicide resulted in the band's dissolution and the subsequent formation of New Order.

1981 - After nearly 20 years with Motown Records, Diana Ross left the label and signed a record $20 million contract with RCA. Her hit duet "Endless Love" was released on Motown in August even though she had left the label.

1985 - Simple Minds were at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Don't You Forget About Me". A year later, the track was featured in the 1985 American teen drama film The Breakfast Club.

1991 - R.E.M.'s 7th studio album Out Of Time hits No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

1997 - Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris scored a hat trick as the Damon Albarn-captained Blur team won the Soccer Six charity soccer tournament in London.

2008 - Ting Tings scored their first U.K. No. 1 single with "That's Not My Name," a track from the Manchester duo's debut studio album, We Started Nothing.

2019 - R&B singer Melvin Edmonds died at the age of 65. He was a member of the group After 7 and the brother of Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds. After 7 scored the hits 'Can't Stop,' 'Ready or Not' and 'Heat of the Moment.'

2019 - A sweater worn by Kurt Cobain during the singer's last photo-shoot with Nirvana sold for $75,000 at a New York auction. Also sold for $23,000 was Nirvana's handwritten setlist from an April 1990 concert in Washington, D.C., which Cobain wrote with black marker on a paper plate. Cobain had eaten some pizza before the show and proceeded to write the set list on the plate he had been eating his pizza on.

Birthdays:

Singer-songwriter Albert Hammond (father of the Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr.) is 76.

Legendary British Keyboardist Rick Wakeman (who played with Yes and David Bowie) is 71.

Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo is 70.

Country singer George Strait is 68.

Wreckless Eric (born Eric Goulden) is 66.

Midnight Oil founding member Jim Moginie is 64.

Russell Senior of Pulp is 59.

Martin Duffy of Primal Scream is 53.

Jack Johnson is 45.

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