History Highlight:

English-American lyricist Bernard John Taupin, known as Elton John’s primary songwriting partner, was born in Sleaford, England, on May 22, 1950. He is 74 today. Both Taupin and John responded to an ad seeking new songwriters in New Musical Express in 1967, and their collaborations on more than 30 albums began soon after. Taupin wrote the lyrics for Elton John hits including "Rocket Man," "Crocodile Rock," "Tiny Dancer," "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," and "Your Song," their first hit. He also penned lyrics for Starship’s “We Built This City” and Heart’s “These Dreams.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.

Also, Today In:

1965 - "Ticket To Ride" by the Beatles went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart.

1971 - The Rolling Stones' album Sticky Fingers started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. charts, the group's second U.S. No. 1 album. The artwork for Sticky Fingers, which, on the original vinyl release, featured a working zipper that opened to reveal cotton briefs, was conceived by Andy Warhol. Although it's widely assumed the cover model is Mick Jagger, the jeans in the photo were actually worn by actor Joe Dallesandro. The album also features the first use of the "Tongue and Lip Design" designed by John Pasche.

1976 - Wings started a five-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Silly Love Songs", McCartney's fifth U.S. No. 1 since leaving the Beatles.

1989 - Rap group Public Enemy fired one of its members, Professor Griff, after he made anti-Semitic remarks in the Washington Post.

1993 - Ace Of Base started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "All That She Wants", a No. 2 hit in the U.S.

1999 - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band set a new record for the number of consecutive concerts to be performed during a continuous run at a single arena. When tickets for their reunion tour went on sale for their shows at the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey, only five shows were scheduled initially, but overwhelming demand raised the number to a total of 15 shows.

2009 - White Stripes drummer Meg White married Jackson Smith at ex-husband and bandmate Jack White's Nashville home. Jack and Meg White were married for four years and divorced in 2000.

2016 - Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper became the first streaming-only entry on Billboard's albums chart when it debuted at No. 8.

2017 - A bombing during an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, killed 22 people.

Birthdays:

Cosmic jazz legend Sun Ra was born today in 1914.

Jackie Landry Jackson of The Chantels was born today in 1941. 

Jerry Dammers, keyboardist and founding member of the Specials, is 69. 

Morrissey is 65. 

Jesse Valenzuela of Gin Blossoms is 62. 

Johnny Gill of New Edition is 58.

Dan Roberts, Crash Test Dummies bassist, is 57. 

Russell Pritchard, bassist with The Zutons, is 45. 

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