History Highlight:

Today in 1964, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel recorded the acoustic version of "The Sounds of Silence". Later, the record company would add electric guitar, bass and drums, without the knowledge of either performer, and release the song as a single. The single reached number one on New Year's Day 1966 and was included in the 1966 album Sounds of Silence.

Also, Today In:

1956 - Elvis Presley was proclaimed "the new singing rage" by RCA Victor Records in a half-page spread in Billboard magazine.

1977 - The Sex Pistols inked a contract with A&M Records on a little table that was set up in London near Buckingham Palace. It lasted for six days.

1979 - James Brown played at the Grand Ole Opry.

1988 - Younger brother of The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb died in the hospital. His death from myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) followed a long battle with cocaine addiction, which had weakened his heart.

2003 - Johnny Cash was admitted to Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee to undergo treatment for pneumonia.