History Highlight:

Olivia Isabel Rodrigo was born today in 2003, making her 21 today. Filipino-American Rodrigo was born in Murrieta, California, and grew up in Temecula nearby. As a teenager, she starred in the Disney TV programs Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. In 2021, her debut single, “Drivers License,” was a viral sensation, and was later part of her hit album, Sour. In 2023, she released her sophomore album, Guts — which she has said was inspired by Babes in Toyland and Rage Against the Machine. It was also a commercial and critical triumph. She has received three Grammy Awards.

Also, Today In:

1960 - Jimi Hendrix made his first stage appearance with his band The Rocking Kings at the National Guard Armory in Seattle.

1965 - The Supremes entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 80 with "Stop! In The Name Of Love." Written and produced by Motown's main production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, "Stop! In the Name of Love" would go on to hold the number-one position on the Billboard pop singles chart in the United States just a few weeks later. The Supremes' choreography for this song, with one hand on the hip and the other outstretched in a "stop" gesture, is as legendary as the song itself; the moves were taught to the Supremes by Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin of The Temptations.

1965 - Gary Lewis and the Playboys started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "This Diamond Ring." Lewis is the son of actor Jerry Lewis.

1970 - The single "Instant Karma" by The Plastic Ono Band was released in the United States. John Lennon had written, recorded and mixed the track all in one day on Jan. 22, 1970.

1971 - The soundtrack to Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart.

1975 - Alice Cooper released his first solo album Welcome to My Nightmare which went on to reach No. 5 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and sell one million copies in the U.S.

1976 - Kiss placed their booted footprints outside of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

1980 - Bon Scott, singer from AC/DC, was pronounced dead on arrival at a London hospital after a heavy night's drinking.

1982 - Pat Benatar married her guitarist Neil Giraldo in Maui. It was Benatar's second marriage, and they're still married to this day.

1982 - Genesis peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with the "Abacab" which was their fourth single to reach the top forty in the U.S.

1984 - The Smiths released their self-titled debut album.

1988 - Foreigner peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Say You Will" which was their eighth top ten single in the U.S.

1989 - Fine Young Cannibals released The Raw and the Cooked featuring “Good Thing” and “She Drives Me Crazy.”

1991 - Bob Dylan and John Lennon received lifetime achievement awards at the 33rd Grammy Awards.

1996 - Snoop Dogg is acquitted of murder, ending an ordeal that started in 1993 when his bodyguard shot and killed a rival gang member from the Jeep Snoop was driving.

2009 - The White Stripes, favorites of the host, play "We're Going To Be Friends" on the final episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien. It ends up being the last performance by the group, which splits up two years later.

Birthdays:

Ibrahim Ferrer, of Buena Vista Social Club, was born today in 1927.

Buffy Sainte-Marie is 83.

J. Geils was born today in 1946.

Walter Becker, bassist and guitarist for Steely Dan, was born today in 1950.

Poison Ivy, of the Cramps, is 71.

Kurt Cobain was born today in 1967. Cobain formed Nirvana — an integral part of the Seattle music scene and grunge genre — with Krist Novoselic in 1985. Despite releasing only three full-length studio albums in their seven-year career, Nirvana has come to be regarded as one of the most influential and important rock bands of the modern era. In 1994, Cobain committed suicide at his home in Seattle at the age of 27.

Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys is 49.

Chris Thile is 43.

Rihanna is 36.

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