History Highlight:

On this day in 1998, Elton John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight) became Sir Elton John, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. He was awarded the title of Knight Bachelor for "services to music and charitable services". John has performed at a number of royal events, such as the funeral of Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey in 1997, the Party at the Palace in 2002 and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace in 2012. After more than half a century on the road and an unparalleled career that has redefined the cultural landscape, Elton is currently embarking on his final tour.

Also, Today In:

1965 - The Beatles began work on their second movie, Help!.

1969 - Before breaking up, the Jimi Hendrix Experience performed its last British concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

1971 - Janis Joplin's posthumous release, Pearl, was awarded a Gold record.

1973 - Roberta Flack had her second No. 1 single when "Killing Me Softly With His Song" started a five-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

1975 - Led Zeppelin released their sixth album, Physical Graffiti. It features “Kashmir,” “The Rover,” “Houses of the Holy,” and “Trampled Under Foot.”

1976 - The Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) becomes the first album certified Platinum by the RIAA, a designation introduced in 1975.

1979 - The Sex Pistols released the album The Great Rock N' Roll Swindle.

1979 - The Police's single, "Roxanne," entered the Billboard Hot 100 charts for the first time, where it would remain for 13 weeks.

1981 - The Double Fantasy album won John Lennon a posthumous Grammy for Best Album.

1982 - The Police won Best British Group at the first annual Brit Awards, held in London.

1987 - Graceland won Paul Simon a Grammy for Album Of The Year. His seventh solo studio album, it features hits "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes", "Homeless", "Crazy Love, Vol. II" and "Graceland". In 1984, after a period of depression, divorce and commercial disappointment from his previous album, Simon became fascinated with a bootleg cassette of South African township music. He then planned a trip to Johannesburg, where he spent two weeks recording with South African musicians.

1988 - As a joke, Alice Cooper announced plans to run for Governor of Arizona as a member of the "Wild" Party.

1992 - Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love in Waikiki, Hawaii.

1998 - Train release their self-titled debut album.

2004 - Liars released their second album, They Were Wrong, So We Drowned. It features “Broken Witch.”

2009 - The United States Mint launched a new coin featuring American composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington.

2014 - Franny Beecher, the lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962, died in his sleep from natural causes. He was 92 years old. He continued to perform with surviving members of the Comets into 2006.

2015 - Screaming Females released their sixth studio album, Rose Mountain. It features “Hopeless.”

2015 - Dan Deacon released his fourth studio album, Gliss Riffer. It features “Feel the Lightning” and “Learning to Relax.”

2015 - Emile Haynie released his debut studio album, We Fall. It features guest appearances from Andrew Wyatt, Brian Wilson, Rufus Wainwright, Lana Del Rey, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sampha, Dev Hynes, Nate Ruess, Colin Blunstone, Lykke Li, Romy Madley Croft, Randy Newman, Father John Misty, Thomas Bartlett a.k.a. Doveman and Julia Holter. Singles include “Falling Apart” and “Wait for Life.”

2020 - Guitarist, songwriter and producer David Roback, best-known as the founding member of the duo Mazzy Star, died at age 61 from cancer.

Birthdays:

Michel Legrand (Oscar-winner for “The Windmills of Your Mind”) was born today in 1932.

Joanie Sommers (“Johnny Get Angry”) is 83.

Paul Jones of Manfred Mann is 82.

Nicky Hopkins, a session piano player who worked with The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, The Beatles, John Lennon, The Who and The Small Faces was born on this day in 1944.

Rupert Holmes, a singer-songwriter best known for his hit "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" is 77.

Lonnie Turner, bassist for the Steve Miller Band, was born today in 1947.

George Thorogood (“Bad to the Bone”) is 74.

Steve Jobs of Apple Computer (iPod, iTunes, iPhone, etc.) was born today in 1955.

Sammy Kershaw is 66.

Michelle Shocked is 62.

Chad Hugo — who, with Pharrell Williams, formed the production duo The Neptunes — is 50.

Trace Cyrus is 35.

O’Shea Jackson Jr. — son of Ice Cube and AKA OMG — is 33.

Earl Sweatshirt is 30.

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