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Today in Music History: Happy Birthday, Courtney Love

Courtney Love and Hole perform at Magazzini Generali on February 19, 2010, in Milan, Italy.
Courtney Love and Hole perform at Magazzini Generali on February 19, 2010, in Milan, Italy.Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

July 09, 2020

Birthday Highlight:

Courtney Michelle Love (born Courtney Michelle Harrison in 1964) is 56 today. Best-known as the lead singer of Hole and for her marriage to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, she has also been in the films "Sid and Nancy" (1986), "Straight to Hell" (1987), "Man on the Moon" (1999) and "Trapped" (2002). She has released solo work, starred in the TV shows "Sons of Anarchy" and "Empire", written a memoir and co-written a manga called "Princess Ai".

Also, Today In:

1954 - Elvis Presley recorded "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (the B-side for his first single) at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn. Presley had recorded the A-side "That's Alright" four days earlier.

1955 - Bill Haley & His Comets went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Rock Around The Clock," staying at No. 1 for eight weeks and becoming one of the biggest selling singles of all time.

1956 - Following a June 30 riot at a rock concert featuring Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers in Asbury Park, N.J., Bill Haley and His Comets were denied permission to play at the Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City. A city ordinance was passed that read: "Rock and roll music encourages juvenile delinquency and inspires young females in lewd bathing suits to perform obscene dances on the city's beaches."

1958 - Johnny Cash signed to Columbia Records, where he remained for the next 30 years and released more than 60 albums.

1962 - Bob Dylan recorded "Blowin' In the Wind" at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City during an afternoon session.

1977 - Elvis Costello quit his job at Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics to become a full-time musician.

1983 - The Police started an eight-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Every Breath You Take."

1988 - Cheap Trick went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "The Flame," the group's only U.S. No. 1.

1995 - The Grateful Dead gave their last concert with leader Jerry Garcia at Chicago's Soldier Field.

1999 - Elton John had a pacemaker fitted in an operation at a London hospital following reports about his ill health.

2004 - David Bowie was forced to cancel a string of European shows after emergency heart surgery.

2010 - During a Santana concert at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois, Carlos Santana proposed to his drummer and girlfriend, Cindy Blackman, who had just finished a drum solo during the band's set. The couple married in December 2010.

2013 - Lauryn Hill began a three-month prison sentence in Connecticut for tax evasion.

2019 - After years of animosity that kept Ann and Nancy Wilson apart, Heart regrouped for their Love Alive tour, which kicked off with a show in St. Louis. The support acts included an amazing female lineup: Joan Jett, Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile and Elle King.

Birthdays:

Lee Hazlewood was born today in 1929.

AC/DC's first singer Bon Scott was born today in 1946.

Debbie Sledge of Sister Sledge is 66.

Jim Kerr of Simple Minds is 61.

Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse is 45.

Jack White 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.