Birthday Highlight:

Adam Ant is 61 today. Born Stuart Goddard, Adam Ant gained popularity as the lead singer of New Romantic/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring 10 U.K. top ten hits from 1980 to 1983, including three No. 1 singles. He has also worked as an actor, appearing in more than two dozen films and television episodes from 1985 to 2003. Since 2010, Ant has undertaken an intensive reactivation of his musical career, performing live regularly in his hometown of London and beyond. He recorded and released a new album in 2013, and he has another new album, Bravest of the Brave, planned for release in 2016. Beyond his work as a performer, Ant is involved in promoting better understanding of mental illness.

Also, Today In:

1957 - Sun Records released "Great Balls Of Fire," by Jerry Lee Lewis. The single went on to sell more than five million copies worldwide, and was a No. 2 in the U.S.

1962 - The Crystals started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "He's A Rebel."

1965 - The Beatles recorded "Michelle" at EMI Studios in London. The song went on to become one of the Beatles' most popular songs in France given that some of the lyrics are in French.

1977 - During a concert in London, Elton John announced his retirement from live performances.

1979 - The Eagles started a nine-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with The Long Run, their fourth U.S. No. 1 album.

1985 - With hit songs like "In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins and "Smuggler's Blues" by Glenn Frey, the Miami Vice TV soundtrack was the No. 1 album in America.

1993 - Russian inventor Leon Theremin died. Theremin is best known for the electronic musical instrument that bears his name. He first performed the Theremin with the New York Philharmonic in 1928; in pop music, the Theremin features prominently in the Beach Boys' hit song, "Good Vibrations."

1990 - "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice became the first rap record to top the U.S. singles chart.

2000 - Despite millions in sales in the 1980s, EMI Records announced it was dropping Simple Minds off its roster.

2002 - Britain's "King of Skiffle," Lonnie Donegan, died in England. He was 71. Donegan greatly influenced the development of British rock 'n' roll; the Beatles and Led Zeppelin are among numerous artists who cite Donegan's influence.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, and Wikipedia.