History Highlight:

Today in 1964, The Supremes made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, a hugely popular TV program on CBS that often elevated its guests to national renown. The Supremes performed “Come See About Me,” which had hit No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 just a week earlier. The Ed Sullivan Show at that time was broadcast in black and white, and for their performance, The Supremes — Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard — wore simple yet elegant dresses and wore their hair in matching bouffant styles. Although history often holds The Beatles in higher regard in 1964, the two groups were basically neck and neck with No. 1 hits in America at that time. 

Also, Today In:

1963 - The Animals played their first radio broadcast, the BBC show Saturday Club.

1969 - Diana Ross and the Supremes went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Someday We'll Be Together", the group's 12th U.S. No. 1.

1969 - Led Zeppelin II was at No. 1 on the U.S. album charts, (the band's first album to reach No. 1 on charts in the U.K. and the U.S.). The album went on to sell over six million copies in the U.S. alone.

1975 - Future Smiths singer Steve Morrissey had a letter published in the music magazine the NME, complaining about the lack of media coverage for the New York Dolls.

1975 - The Faces' split became official. Rod Stewart had severed all connections with the group to work as a solo artist, Ron Wood was on permanent loan to the Stones, Ronnie Lane went on to form Slim Chance and drummer Kenny Jones joined The Who.

1975 - Queen started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. chart with A Night At The Opera, the group's first No. 1 album.

1975 - The Staple Singers went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Let's Do It Again" the group's second U.S. No. 1.

1976 - Blues guitarist Freddie King died of heart trouble and ulcers at age 42. Eric Clapton covered his "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, and he had a major influence on British and American blues-rock musicians such as Jimmy Vaughan, Ronnie Earl, Peter Green and Eric Clapton.

1980 - John and Yoko's Double Fantasy album started an eight-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. chart. "Just Like Starting Over" started a five-week stay at No. 1 on the singles chart.

1981 - American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader Hoagy Carmichael died at age 82. He was the composer of "Georgia On My Mind" (covered by many acts including Ray Charles), "Star Dust" and "Lazy River".

1986 - Jackie Wilson had a No. 1 single with "Reet Petite" two years after his death, following its use in a commercial for Levi's. Written in 1957 by Berry Gordy and Tyran Carlo, the success of the song helped Gordy fund the launch of Motown Records. And the song was Wilson's first solo hit after leaving the Dominoes and, over the years, has become one of his biggest international chart successes.

1997 - The Spice Girls went No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "Too Much". The group set another new world record as their first six singles all made No. 1.

2008 - Thieves broke into a house belonging to The Allman Brothers Band singer and keyboardist Gregg Allman in Georgia and stole a coin collection, knives and unreleased concert recordings. Two men were charged with the burglary two days later.

2015 - Singer Stevie Wright died aged 68. During 1964-69 he was lead singer of Sydney-based band the Easybeats, who had the 1966 worldwide hit "Friday on My Mind".

2016 - Actress Carrie Fisher, daughter of Singin' in the Rain actress Debbie Reynolds and former wife of Paul Simon but best-known for her iconic role as Princess Leia in Star Wars, died of a heart attack at age 60.

Birthdays:

Marlene Dietrich was born today in 1901.

Pianist Oscar Levant was born today in 1906.

Scotty Moore, guitarist who founded Elvis Presley’s backing band and played guitar for him between 1954 and 1968, was born on this day in 1931.

Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues was born today in 1941. He died on April 24, 2024, at the age of 82.

Les Maguire of Gerry and the Pacemakers was born today in 1941.

Mick Jones of Foreigner is 80.

Lenny Kaye of Patti Smith Group is 78.

Larry Byrom of Steppenwolf is 76.

Terry Bozzio, drummer for Frank Zappa band and Missing Persons, is 74.

David Knopfler of Dire Straits is 72.

Matt Slocum of Sixpence None the Richer is 52.

Hayley Williams, lead vocalist and co-founder of Paramore, is 36. Williams was born on Dec. 27, 1988, in Meridian, Mississippi. She later moved to Franklin, Tennessee, and it was there that pop-punk group Paramore began in the mid-2000s. The band’s members and musical styles have evolved over six albums, but Williams has remained at the center. Earlier this year, Paramore released This Is Why, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album, and the title track was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance.

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