History Highlight:

Born on August 11, 1976, Ben Gibbard is 48. Best-known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie, he's also one half of the Postal Service, released a solo album in 2012, and released a collaborative album with Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt's Jay Farrar. In March of 2020, he had a conversation with Jill Riley about connecting with fans and supporting his Seattle community during a public health crisis.

Also, Today In: 

1956 - Elvis Presley's double-sided hit "Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog" was released. The single went to No. 1 on the U.S. chart, where it stayed for 11 weeks — a record that would not be broken until 1992's Boyz II Men hit "End of the Road." 

1962 - Neil Sedaka started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," his first U.S. No. 1 as an artist. 

1969 - Motown Records introduces their new signing, The Jackson 5, to tastemakers and industry types at a party in Beverly Hills hosted by Diana Ross. The group lives up to the hype, becoming one of the top acts of 1970. 

1973 - The first big oldies revival kicks off in earnest as George Lucas' new film, American Graffiti, opens in theaters. Set in 1962, the film creates a wave of nostalgia for songs from the '50s and early '60s. 

1979 - The Knack started a five-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Get The Knack, which included the hit single, "My Sharona." 

1979 - Led Zeppelin played their last-ever U.K. show when they appeared at Knebworth House, England. 

1984 - Ray Parker Jr. started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with the theme from the film Ghostbusters. Parker, who had been a session guitarist for Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, was accused of plagiarizing the melody from Huey Lewis and the News' song "I Want a New Drug," resulting in Lewis suing Parker. The pair settled out of court in 1985. The music video for the song featured clips from the film, as well as a dancing sequence with the cast, plus cameos by Jeffrey Tambor, Melissa Gilbert, George Wendt, Al Franken, Danny DeVito, Terri Garr, Carly Simon, Chevy Chase and others. 

1992 - The Mall of America opens in Bloomington, Minnesota, with Ray Charles performing "America The Beautiful." 

1995 - Dangerous Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer as an inner-city schoolteacher, debuts in US theaters. The movie's soundtrack tops the Billboard 200 albums chart thanks to its lead single, Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise." 

1999 - Kiss arrived on Hollywood Boulevard to unveil their star on The Walk Of Fame. The band had released more than 30 albums and sold more than 80 million records worldwide. 

2002 - Bruce Springsteen started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with The Rising, the singers fifth U.S. No. 1. Also No. 1 in the U.K. 

2008 - The Canadian singer Feist appears on Sesame Street, where she turns her song "1234" into a lesson in counting. It becomes one of the most popular music segments on the show, and far more popular than the original. 

2011 - American group the Go-Go's received the 2,444th star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. 

2016 - For the second year, President Obama releases two summer playlists on Spotify. It's his last year in office, which might be why "So Very Hard To Go" is on the list. 

Birthdays: 

Singer and talk show host Mike Douglas was born today in 1920.

Rockabilly star Ronnie “The Blond Bomber” Dawson was born today in 1939.

John Ellison, who wrote “Some Kind of Wonderful,” is 83.

Mike Hugg of Manfred Mann is 82.

Jim Kale of the Guess Who is 81.

Denis Payton of the Dave Clark Five was born today in 1943.

Singer Eric Carmen of The Raspberries (whose solo hits include "All By Myself," "Hungry Eyes," "Make Me Lose Control") was born today in 1949. He died on March 11, 2024.

Eric Braunn, guitarist for Iron Butterfly, was born in 1950. He passed away in July 2003. 

Bob “Bob 1” Mothersbaugh — lead guitarist for Devo, and brother of lead singer Mark — is 72.

Hulk Hogan is 71.

Joe Jackson, English musician and singer-songwriter, is 70. 

Bryan Bassett, guitar and vocals from Wild Cherry (“Play That Funky Music”) is 70.

Jah Wobble, bassist for Public Image Ltd and solo artist, is 66.

Bragi Ólafsson, bassist for The Sugarcubes, is 62. 

Charlie Sexton, guitarist in Bob Dylan’s band, is 56.

DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest is 54. 

Asher Roth is 39.

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