History spotlight:

Today in 1991, R.E.M.'s seventh studio album, Out Of Time, hits No. 1 on the Billboard charts and brings the band onto the international stage. The album won three Grammy Awards in 1992, including Best Alternative Music Album, and two awards for the lead single, “Losing My Religion.” After recording, the band travelled to Chanhassen, Minnesota, to mix the album at Paisley Park.  

Also, today in: 

1963 - "If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife..." Jimmy Soul's marriage advice anthem "If You Wanna Be Happy" hit No. 1 in America. 

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 death 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 seventh studio album, Out Of Time, hits No. 1 on the Billboard charts. 

1996 - Soundgarden performed for the first (and only) time on Saturday Night Live, playing "Pretty Noose" and "Burden In My Hand." Jim Carrey hosted. 

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. 

1999 - Backstreet Boys released their third album Millennium, which contained the hits "I Want It That Way" and "Larger than Life." Primarily produced by Max Martin, it sold over 13 million in America and many more worldwide. 

2001 - The movie Shrek was released, reviving the songs "Hallelujah" (sung on the soundtrack by Rufus Wainwright) and "I'm a Believer" (performed by Smash Mouth at the end of the film). 

2004 - Jazz drummer Elvin Jones (of the John Coltrane Quartet) died of heart failure at age 76. 

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. 

2017 - Chris Cornell died by suicide in Detroit after performing at a show with Soundgarden and struggling with depression for most of his life. 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 was also famous for working with Audioslave and Temple of the Dog. Across his entire catalog, Cornell sold 14.8 million albums, and was voted "Rock's Greatest Singer" by readers of Guitar World and No. 9 on the list of "Best Lead Singers of All Time" by Rolling Stone 

We can all help prevent suicide. If you or someone you know are having feelings of hopelessness or distress, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org. 

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: 

Big Joe Turner (“Shake, Rattle and Roll”) was born today in 1911.

Perry Como ("Some Enchanted Evening," "Till the End of Time," "Surrender") was born today in 1912.

Leon Ashley (“Laura”) was born today in 1936.

Singer-songwriter Albert Hammond (father of the Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr.) is 80.

Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys was born today in 1948. He died in 2024. 

British Keyboardist Rick Wakeman (who played with Yes and David Bowie) is 75. 

Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo is 74. 

Country singer George Strait is 72. 

Wreckless Eric (born Eric Goulden) is 70. 

Midnight Oil founding member Jim Moginie is 68. 

Michael Cretu of Enigma is 67.

Russell Senior of Pulp is 63. 

Martin Duffy of Primal Scream was born on this day in 1967. 

Martika (“Toy Soldiers”) is 55.

Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle is 54.

Jack Johnson is 49. 

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