History Highlight:

Today in 2006, Marvin Gaye was honored when a park in Washington D.C. that was formerly called Watts Branch Park was officially renamed Marvin Gaye Park on what would have been the singer's 67th birthday. Gaye grew up near the east end of the park that now bears his name.

Also, Today In:

1964 - The Beach Boys recorded their next single "I Get Around," which became their first U.S. No. 1 in the summer of that year.

1969 - Bruce Springsteen's early band, Child, made their live debut at the Pandemonium Club in Wanamassa, N.J.

1971 - Janis Joplin was at No. 1 on the U.S. album charts with Pearl.

1977 - Fleetwood Mac went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Rumours. The album is Fleetwood Mac's most successful release; along with winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978, the record has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide.

1987 - One of the greatest jazz drummers of all time, Buddy Rich, died aged 69 due to complications caused by a brain tumor.

1990 - Nirvana went into Smart Studios in Madison, Wis., and started work on demo versions of "In Bloom," "Dive," "Lithium," "Pay To Play," "Imodium," "Sappy," and "Polly", with Butch Vig producing.

2004 - Coldplay singer Chris Martin was accused of attacking a photographer after leaving a London restaurant with his then-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow.

2006 - Gnarls Barkley started an eight-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "Crazy." The duo of singer Cee Lo Green and producer Danger Mouse made chart history by becoming the first act ever to reach No. 1 through computer downloads only.

Birthdays:

David Robinson, drummer for The Cars and The Modern Lovers, is 66 today.

Emmylou Harris is 68 today.

Keren Woodward of Bananarama is 52.

Marvin Gaye was born today in 1939 (q.v.).

Serge Gainsbourg was born today in 1928.

Related

• Washington Parks: Marvin Gaye Park