History Highlight:

One hundred years ago today in Philadelphia, Billie Holiday was born. Considered the greatest female jazz singer of all time, Holiday formed the basis for jazz and pop singing as we know it; her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Holiday made more than 100 records and worked with such luminaries as Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Billie Holiday died on July 17, 1959, in New York at age 44. In 1987, Holiday was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2000, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Also, Today In:

1956 - The CBS Radio Network premiered the first regularly scheduled national broadcast rock 'n' roll show, Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party.

1962 - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and early Rolling Stones pal Dick Taylor met Brian Jones for the first time at the Ealing Club, a London spot where Brit blues lovers liked to hang out.

1969 - John and Yoko recorded "Give Peace A Chance" in their Toronto hotel room during one of their bed-ins for peace.

1973 - Diana Ross started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Lady Sings The Blues.

1994 - Courtney Love was arrested on drugs and theft charges after a reported overdose. At this time, Love was unaware that her husband Kurt Cobain was dead at their home, (his body wasn't discovered until April 8, by an electrician who had arrived to install a security system at their house).

2008 - Feist won five prizes, including album of the year at the Junos, Canada's top music awards. The Canadian singer-songwriter won single of the year for "1234," album and pop album for The Reminder, as well as artist and songwriter of the year.

Birthdays:

Ravi Shankar was born today in 1920.

Florian Schneider-Esleben of Kraftwerk is 68.

John Oates of Hall and Oates is 66.