History Highlight:

Today in 1978, Devo's Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo was released. Produced by Brian Eno, the band's debut album was met with mixed reviews at the time, but today is viewed as one of the most significant albums of the Post-Punk and New Wave genres. In fact, a number of musical luminaries were interested in producing the band's debut, including Iggy Pop and even David Bowie (who at the time described them as "the band of the future"). Are We Not Men? introduced the world to Devo's unique brand of humorous cynicism, summed up by their belief that mankind is devolving into bestial idiots rather than evolving towards perfection. 

Also, Today In: 

1955 - Fourteen-year-old Emmett Till is murdered by two white men in Money, Mississippi, for talking to a white woman. His story later inspires Bob Dylan's "The Death of Emmett Till" and Emmylou Harris' "My Name is Emmett Till." 

1961 - Joe Dowell went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with his version of "Wooden Heart." 

1961 - Tamla Records released the Marvelettes first single, "Please Mr. Postman." The song went on to sell more than a million copies and became the group's biggest hit, reaching the top of both the Billboard Pop and R&B charts. The song is notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. 

1963 - Civil Rights marchers gathered in Washington, D.C., to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. speak. He delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. Peter, Paul & Mary were present and sang "Blowin' In the Wind." 

1964 - The Beatles were affectionately pelted by countless jellybeans (their favorite candy) by screaming, hysterical fans at a concert at New York's Forest Hills Tennis Stadium. The lads hung out with a young Bob Dylan after the show. 

1968 - Tammy Wynette recorded "Stand By Your Man" at Epic studios after an idea that came from producer Billy Sherrill. Wynette and Sherril completed the song in 15 minutes. It became the most successful record of Wynette's career and is one of the most covered songs in the history of country music. The song has also appeared in various films, including: Five Easy Pieces, The Blues Brothers, The Crying Game, Sleepless in Seattle, Four Weddings and a Funeral and GoldenEye. 

1971 - John Denver's first hit, "Take Me Home Country Roads," peaks at No. 2 on the Hot 100. 

1984 - The Jacksons' Victory Tour broke the record for concert ticket sales after surpassing the 1.1 million mark in two months.  

1986 - The anti-corporate-pollution benefit concert Get Tough On Toxics is held in Long Beach, California, featuring members of Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and Neil Young. 

1989 - Mötley Crüe released their fifth studio album, Dr. Feelgood. It features the title track, “Kickstart My Heart,” “Without You,” “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away),” and Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.).”

1993 - Billy Joel started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with River Of Dreams. 

1993 - At a charity concert held at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island, Natalie Merchant plays her first gig after leaving 10,000 Maniacs. 

1996 - Isaac Hayes, who co-wrote the Sam and Dave's classic "Soul Man," sent a protest letter to presidential candidate Bob Dole, requesting Dole to stop using his song, which supporters had changed to "I'm A Dole Man." 

1998 - The movie Studio 54, about the legendary New York Disco, opens starring Ryan Phillippe and Mike Myers as the club's owners. 

2001 - Weezer releases "Island in the Sun," the second single from Weezer (aka The Green Album). 

2001 - Mary J. Blige released her fifth studio album, No More Drama. 

2005 - Green Day cleaned up at the MTV Awards, winning seven awards including Video of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and the Viewer's Choice Award. 

2009 - Noel Gallagher quit Oasis, saying he could no longer work with his brother Liam. 

2009 - Three days before the release of their second studio album, The First Days of Spring, Noah and the Whale lead singer Charlie Fink's brother Doug announces that he will leave the band to pursue a career in medicine 

2011 - Beyonce revealed her pregnancy during the MTV Video Music Awards, setting Twitter on fire. 

2012 - Celebrity Net Worth named Ringo Starr as the world's richest drummer, with an estimated worth of $300 million. Phil Collins was ranked second with $250 million, former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl was third with $225 million, the Eagles' Don Henley came in fourth with $200 million and Metallica's Lars Ulrich was fifth with $175 million. 

2016 - At the MTV Video Music Awards, Beyonce won the Video of the Year for "Formation." In support of the Black Lives Matter movement, she brought four mothers of shooting victims with her onto the red carpet. By the end of the evening, Bey (along with her production designer, choreographer, director, cinematographer and editor) had eight trophies. 

2016 - Mexican singer, songwriter Juan Gabriel died from a heart attack aged 66. Having sold over 200 millions records worldwide, Gabriel was among Latin America's best selling singer-songwriters. His nineteenth studio album, Recuerdos, Vol. II, is reportedly the best-selling album of all time in Mexico, with over eight million copies sold. 

2020 - Angel Olsen released her fifth studio album, Whole New Mess.

2020 - Katy Perry released her sixth studio album, Smile.

Birthdays: 

Billy Grammer (“Gotta Travel On”) was born today in 1925. He was a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry and he even co-founded a guitar manufacturer, Grammer Guitars, in Nashville. Those guitars are no longer in production but they continue to fetch a good price in the resale market. Grammer died in 2011 in his hometown of Benton, Illinois.

David Soul was born today in 1943. He passed away on January 4, 2024.

Danny Seraphine of Chicago is 76.

Hugh Cornwell of the Stranglers is 75.

Wayne Osmond of the Osmond Brothers is 74.

Steve Whiteman of Kix is 68.

Shania Twain is 59. 

Jack Black is 55. 

Jake Owen is 43. 

LeAnn Rimes is 42. 

Florence Welch, of Florence and the Machine, is 38. 

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