History Spotlight:
Today in 2013, Lorde, 16, becomes the youngest solo artist to write and record a Hot 100 no. 1 hit when "Royals" claims the top spot. "Royals" is Lorde's debut single included in her debut extended play (EP) The Love Club EP (2012) and debut studio album Pure Heroine (2013). "Royals" received widespread acclaim from music critics, who praised its songwriting, production, and Lorde's vocal performance. Critics also credited the song for paving the way for other alternative-leaning pop artists. The track won awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2014 Grammy Awards, and the APRA Silver Scroll Award. In the US, "Royals" spent nine weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It sold 10 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. 

Also, Today In: 

1955 - The Chrysler Corporation launched high-fidelity record players for its 1956 model year automobiles. Known as Highway Hi-Fi, the record player was manufactured by CBS Electronics and measured about four inches high and less than a foot wide, and it mounted under the instrument panel. Seven-inch discs, made exclusively for Highway Hi-Fi by Columbia Special Products, spun at 16 2/3 rpm and required almost three times the number of grooves per inch as an LP. Chrysler discontinued the players in late 1958. 

1957 Little Richard renounces rock and embraces God, telling the crowd at his show in Sydney, Australia: "If you want to live for the Lord, you can't take rock 'n' roll, too. God doesn't like it." After the tour, Richard gives up secular music, gets ordained as a minister, and records Gospel. He doesn't return to rock until 1962. 

1965 - Working on the album Rubber Soul at Abbey Road Studios in London, The Beatles recorded the song, "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)." The track included George Harrison's double-tracked sitar part, marking the first appearance of the Indian instrument on a pop record. 

1968 - Big Brother And The Holding Company, who featured Janis Joplin as lead singer, went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Cheap Thrills. The album included "Piece of My Heart" and a cover of George Gershwin's "Summertime." 

1969 - A DJ on Detroit's WKNR radio station received a phone call telling him that if you play The Beatles 'Strawberry Fields Forever' backwards, you hear John Lennon say the words "I buried Paul." This started a worldwide rumour that Paul McCartney was dead. 

1969 - Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks is born. A founding member of both the Dixie Chicks and country blue grass duo, Court Yard Hounds, Maguire won awards in national fiddle championships while still a teenager and is skilled in mandolin, viola, double bass, guitar, backing vocals, and orchestrating string arrangements. 

1975 - Rod Stewart and The Faces made their final live appearance when they played at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. 

1978 - Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, who he found dead in the bathroom of their hotel room with a stab wound to her abdomen. Vicious dies of a heroin overdose before he can be tried for the murder. 

1979 - Fleetwood Mac releases Tusk, their first album since the wildly successful Rumours in 1977. A double album with less commercial appeal, Mick Fleetwood credits it with keeping the band together, as the band members were free to experiment. 

1981 U2 release their second album, October. Reflecting their Christian faith, it's filled with allusions to the Bible, notably on the song "Gloria." 

1985 - Guitarist Ricky Wilson, founding member of the B-52s, died on this day in 1985 of complications from AIDS. All the members of the band (including Ricky's sister, Cindy) came together in 1976 over their shared love dance and surf music. Although Wilson passed before the band's biggest commercial success, his guitar style and unusual tunings helped make the B-52s one of the most distinctive bands in New Wave history. 

1987 INXS release their breakthrough album Kick, with the hits "Need You Tonight," "Devil Inside" and "New Sensation." 

1991 - Mariah Carey hits no. 1 in America with "Emotions," the title track to her second album. Her first four singles also hit the top spot, making Carey the first artist to hit no. 1 with their first five singles (overtaking The Jackson 5). 

1993 - Faith Hill releases her debut album, Take Me As I Am, featuring the #1 singles "Piece Of My Heart" and "Wild One." 

1995 - Tupac Shakur was released from Clinton Correctional Prison on $1.4 million bail which was posted by Suge Knight. In return 2Pac signed a three album deal with Knight's Death Row Records. 

1996 - One of these things is not like the other. Here's what the US albums chart looks like: No. 1 Celine Dion - Falling Into You, No. 2 Kenny G - The Moment, No. 3 Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar. 

1997 - With Backstreet Boys mania building worldwide, the group had to cancel a free, open-air concert at the Mostenses Plaza in Madrid when too many fans show up. 

1997- John Denver was killed when the handmade, experimental airplane he was flying ran out of gas and crashed off the coast of Monterey Bay, California. 

2001 Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland quits the band. A post on the group's website states, "Limp Bizkit and Wes Borland have amicably decided to part ways. Both Limp Bizkit and Borland will continue to pursue their respective musical careers." He returns in 2009. 

2003 - Rapper 50 Cent took home all five trophies for which he is nominated at the World Music Awards, held in Monaco. Russian teen duo t.A.T.u. picks up three awards, while Norah Jones and Eminem win two. 

2005 - Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee suffered minor burns at a concert in Casper, Wyo., after a pyrotechnics effect went awry. Lee was treated at a local hospital for his injuries. 

2009 - Michael Jackson's from-the-vaults track "This Is It" is released as a promotional single to accompany the concert documentary of the same name. It's the first release since his death in June. 

2018 The biographical film First Man, inspired by the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong, debuts in US theaters. R&B singer Leon Bridges appears as jazz musician Gil Scott-Heron, reciting the poem "Whitey On The Moon." 

Birthdays: 

Nappy Brown (“Don’t Be Angry”) was born today in 1929.

James “Sugar Boy” Crawford (“Jock-A-Mo,” which later became the hit “Iko Iko” for several other artists) was born today in 1934.

Luciano Pavarotti was born today in 1935. He passed away in 2007. 

Sam Moore of Sam & Dave is 89. 

Melvin Franklin of the Temptations was born today in 1942. He passed away in 1995. 

Pat DiNizio, frontman for the Smithereens, was born today in 1955.

Jane Siberry is 69.

David Vanian, singer for the Damned, is 68.

Jeff Keith, singer for Tesla, is 66.

Bryn Merrick, bassist for the Damned, was born today in 1958.

Martie Maguire of The Chicks and Court Yard Hounds is 55.

Jordan Pundik, frontman for New Found Glory, is 45. 

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.