History Highlight:

Today in 1946, Dolly Parton was born, making her 79 today. Known best as a country artist, she has had 25 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard country music charts, a record for a female artist. She has 41 top 10 country albums and 110 charted singles over the past 40 years. In 1999, she was well-deservedly inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has composed thousands of songs, notably "I Will Always Love You" (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper for Parton, as well as an international pop hit for Whitney Houston), "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors", and "9 to 5". She is also one of the few to have received at least one nomination from the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and Emmy Awards. As an actress, she starred in films such as 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, and Steel Magnolias. She has also founded a number of charitable and philanthropic organizations. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parton donated $1 million towards research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help develop a Coronavirus vaccine. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Also, Today In:
1963 - The Beatles made their first national TV appearance in the U.K. on "Thank Your Lucky Stars" performing "Please Please Me."

1967 - The Monkees were at No. 1 on the U.K. singles with "I'm A Believer," the group's only U.K. No. 1. The song composed by Neil Diamond had over 1 million advance orders, and went gold within two days of release. It is one of the fewer than forty all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) physical copies worldwide.

1967 - The Beatles began recording "A Day In The Life" at Abbey Road studios London, recording four takes of the new song. "A Day in the Life" is the final song on the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

1971 - The mass murder trial of Charles Manson was underway. Much to the dismay of The Beatles, Helter Skelter was played in the courtroom. Manson had reportedly scrawled "helter skelter" on a mirror at the scene of the crime.

1974 - A nine-mile long traffic jam prevented many fans from entering the Bob Dylan concert with The Band at the Miami Sportsatorium until it was half-over.

1976 - Promoter Bill Sargent made his first proposal to The Beatles to reunite, offering $30 million for just one concert. As we know, they refused it and all ensuing entreaties.

1980 - The Wall by Pink Floyd began a 15-week run on top of the Billboard 200 Album Chart. It was Pink Floyd's third number one album in the U.S.

1980 - "Brass In Pocket" gave The Pretenders their first U.K. No. 1 single. The band's self-titled debut album started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. chart also on this day.

1985 - Bruce Springsteen peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Born in the U.S.A.", Springsteen's fourth top ten single in the U.S.

1993 - Fleetwood Mac reunited to play "Don't Stop" and other hits at the first inauguration celebration for President Bill Clinton.

1994 - Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on this day were The Animals, The Band, Duane Eddy, The Grateful Dead, Elton John, John Lennon (as a solo artist), Bob Marley, and Rod Stewart.

1998 - Carl Perkins, a legendary pioneer of rockabilly, died in Nashville following a series of strokes.

1999 - Bonnie Prince Billy released I See a Darkness, Dave Matthews Band put out Live at Luther College, and Ani DiFranco unveiled Up Up Up Up Up Up.

2003 - Norah Jones started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Come Away With Me, also a U.K. No. 1.

2006 - American soul singer Wilson Pickett died in hospital near his Ashburn, Virginia home of a heart attack aged 64. Pickett recorded the soul classics "Mustang Sally", "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" and "In The Midnight Hour" along with 15 other U.S. Top 40 singles.

2007 - Canadian singer songwriter and former Mamas and the Papas singer Denny Doherty died at the age of 66. He died at his home near Toronto after a short illness. The group scored the 1966 U.S. No. 1 and U.K. No. 2 single "Monday Monday".

2008 - Singer songwriter John Stewart, who wrote The Monkees hit "Daydream Believer" died at age 68. Stewart was a member of folk group The Kingston Trio and went on to record more than 45 solo albums with his biggest solo success being a U.S. top five single "Gold" in 1979.

2010 - Spoon released their seventh studio album, Transference, in the U.S. It features “Written In Reverse,” “The Mystery Zone,” and “Got Nuffin.”

2010 - Motion City Soundtrack released their fourth studio album, My Dinosaur Life. It features “Disappear,” “Her Words Destroyed My Planet,” and “A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help).”

2010 - Surfer Blood released their debut album, Astro Coast. It features “Swim” and “Floating Vibes.”

2011 - Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler made his debut appearance as a judge on American Idol, during the premiere of the show's tenth season (replacing Simon Cowell).

2014 - Bruce Springsteen scored his 10th U.K. No. 1 album with High Hopes.

2015 - Belle and Sebastian released their ninth studio album, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. It features “The Party Line.”

2019 - Scottish drummer Ted McKenna died at age 68 of a hemorrhage during a routine operation for a hernia. He worked with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Rory Gallagher and The Michael Schenker Group and toured with Ian Gillan for a short period in 1990.

2020 - R&B singer and musician Robert Parker died at age 89. He was best known for his 1966 hit, 'Barefootin'. He played with most of New Orleans' musicians, including Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, and Huey "Piano" Smith.

Birthdays:

Australia's "King of Rock & Roll" Johnny O'Keefe ("Real Wild Child", "Shout!", "She's My Baby") was born in 1935.

Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, harmonica player for Muddy Waters, was born on this date in 1936.

Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers was born today in 1939.

Janis Joplin was born today in 1943.

Rod Evans, singer for Deep Purple, is 78.

Robert Palmer was born today in 1949.

Martha Davis of the Motels is 74.

Dewey Bunnell of America (he wrote “A Horse With No Name”) is 73.

Eric Leeds, jazz and funk musician best-known for his work with Prince, is 73.

Jeff Pilson, bassist for Dokken, Foreigner, and Dio, is 66.

Whitfield Crane of Ugly Kid Joe is 57.

John Wozniak, lead singer of Marcy Playground, was born in Minneapolis on January 19, 1971. He is 54.

Hikaru Utada is 42.

Mac Miller was born today in 1992.

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