History Highlights:

Chuck Berry is 87 today. Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive, with lyrics focusing on teen life and and utilizing guitar solos and showmanship that would be a major influence on the inception of rock music. Berry was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986, with the comment that he "laid the groundwork for not only a rock and roll sound but a rock and roll stance."

Also, Today In:

1957 - A young Paul McCartney made his first onstage appearance with The Quarrymen at New Clubmoor Hall Conservative Club in Liverpool.

1964 - Eric Burdon and The Animals headlined their first tour in England. The tour began in Manchester with opening acts Carl Perkins and Gene Vincent.

1967 - John Lennon, branching out from The Fabs, played a small but memorable role as "Gripweed" in Richard Lester's antiwar black comedy, How I Won The War. The film premiered in London on this day.

1968 - Led Zeppelin (briefly known as The New Yardbirds) played their first British engagement at the Marquee Theatre.

1975 - Simon And Garfunkel reunited on the second episode of Saturday Night Live to positive reviews and good ratings.

2008 - Adele appeared on Saturday Night Live along with then US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The show earned its highest ratings in 14 years with a total of 17 million viewers.