History Highlight:

"Great Balls of Fire" singer Jerry Lee Lewis is 80 today. Born in Ferriday, La., the singer and piano player brought together rock 'n' roll and country with a lot of success. Known for his energetic live shows, Lewis has a dozen gold records, has won several Grammy awards, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Lewis recently completed a U.K. tour, and he's got upcoming concert dates in Beaumont, Texas, and in New York City.

Also, Today In:

1967 - At Abbey Road Studios in London, The Beatles mixed the new John Lennon song, "I Am the Walrus." Lennon composed the song by combining three songs he had been working on. When he learned that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyze Beatles' lyrics, Lennon added a verse of nonsense words.

1973 - Grand Funk Railroad went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "We're An American Band," the group's first of two chart toppers.

1976 - In more Jerry Lee Lewis history: Enjoying his own birthday celebrations, Lewis accidentally shot his bass player, Norman Owens, in the chest. Lewis had been blasting holes in an office door. Owens survived but sued his boss.

1984 - Prince and the Revolution started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Let's Go Crazy."

1989 - While on a motorcycle trip from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon, Bruce Springsteen stopped in at a small saloon in Prescott, Ariz., and wound up jamming with the house band. The Boss and The Mile High Band burned through "Don't Be Cruel," "I'm On Fire," "Route 66" and a couple of other songs. One of the bartenders, Brenda Techanec, was talking about her problems paying her hospital bills. Springsteen overheard her and a week later she received $100,000 from Springsteen.

2002 - American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "A Moment Like This."

2004 - The advance U2 single, "Vertigo," was all over the radio after leaking onto the Internet.

Birthdays:

America's singing cowboy, Gene Autry, was born today in 1907.

Songwriter Tommy Boyce, whose hits include "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight," "Last Train to Clarksville," "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" and "Scooby Doo, Where Are You," was born today in 1939.

Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad is 67.

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• Jerry Lee Lewis