History Highlight:

Today in 1964, The Beatles made their live U.S. television debut on CBS-TV's The Ed Sullivan Show; they performed five songs, including their No.1 hit at the time, "I Want To Hold Your Hand." An estimated 73 million people watched the program. Prior to the broadcast, CBS received more than 50,000 applications for the 728 seats in the TV studio.

Also, Today In:

1981 - Bill Haley died of a heart attack at his home in Harlingen, Texas. Haley had sold more than 60 million records during his career. He scored the 1955 U.S. and U.K. No.1 single with "Rock Around The Clock", and he became known as the first rock 'n' roll star.

1985 - Madonna started a three-week run at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with Like A Virgin.

1991 - C & C Music Factory started a two-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Gonna Make You Sweat"

Birthdays:

Singer-songwriter Barry Mann, who penned such 1960s pop hits as "Saturday Night At The Movies", "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling", and "Who Put The Bomp, In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp", is 76.

Carole King is 73.

Joe Ely, country singer who toured with The Clash in the late 1970s, is 68.

Dennis Thomas, singer with Kool & The Gang, is 64.

Dave Rotheray, guitarist with English group The Beautiful South, is 52.