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Today in Music History: Santana's 'Evil Ways' peaked at No. 9

Carlos Santana visits NPR for an interview about his new memoir The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light.
Carlos Santana visits NPR for an interview about his new memoir The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light.Maggie Starbard/NPR

March 21, 2017

History Highlight:

Today in 1970, Santana peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Evil Ways" which was their first top ten single in the U.S. The song was written by Clarence "Sonny" Henry and originally recorded by jazz percussionist Willie Bobo on his 1967 album Bobo Motion.

Also, Today In:

1965 - After "I Want To Hold Your Hand" held the No. 1 position on the U.S. singles chart for seven weeks, The Beatles started a two-week run at No. 1 with "She Loves You".

1976 - David Bowie and Iggy Pop were busted for drug possession in a hotel room in Rochester, New York.

1981 - John Lennon peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart posthumously with "Woman" which was Lennon's sixth top ten single in the U.S.

1981 - New wave pop-rockers Blondie entered the R&B album chart with Autoamerican, which peaked at No. 7. "Rapture," from the same album, turned out to be one of the first big crossover rap hits, going to No. 1 for two weeks.

1983 - Pink Floyd released The Final Cut, which was their final album with bassist and singer Roger Waters.

1991 - Leo Fender, inventor of the electric guitar, died of complications from Parkinson's disease at the age of 81 in Fullerton, California.

1994 - Bruce Springsteen won the Best Music, Original Song Oscar at the 66th Academy Awards for "Streets of Philadelphia".

2000 - Soul Coughing disbanded after eight years and three albums.

2004 - Ozzy Osbourne was named the nation's favorite ambassador to welcome aliens to planet earth.

2005 - MTV aired the final episode of The Osbournes. Dr. Phil McGraw visited the family where he held a frank discussion about drug abuse and other issues.

2008 - Klaus Dinger of Kraftwerk and Neu! died of heart failure at the age of 61.

2008 - A five-year legal row over the use of the Beach Boys' name was settled by two former members of the group.

Birthdays:

Rosemary "Rosie" Stone of Sly and The Family Stone is 72.

Roger Hodgson-guitarist and singer for Supertramp is 67.

Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom is 56.

Jonas Berggren of Ace of Base is 50.

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