History Highlight:

Today in 1967, Otis Redding went into the studio to record "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay". Though the song sky-rocketed to the top of the R&B and pop charts in the months after its release, Redding didn't get to enjoy its success as he died in a plane crash three days after recording the song. The hit was Otis's largest-selling to date and it's reported that the familiar whistling heard before the song's fade was the singer fooling around, as he had forgotten what he was going to do during that part. The immensely popular song has been covered by dozens of performers such as Cher, Bob Dylan, Widespread Panic, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Pearl Jam, Garth Brooks and Justin Timberlake.

Also, in:

1963 - The Beatles second album With The Beatles started a 21-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. album chart.

1974 - Carl Douglas started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Kung Fu Fighting". The song was recorded in 10 minutes, had started out as a B-side and went on to sell over 10 million.

1985 - Mr Mister started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Broken Wings".

1991 - George Michael and Elton John were at No. 1 in the U.K. with a live version of "Don't Let The Sun Go down On Me". All proceeds from the hit went to aids charities.

1991 - Michael Jackson started a 7 week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Black Or White", his 12th solo No. 1, also a No. 1 in the U.K.

1991 - U2 went to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts with Achtung Baby.

1996 - Toni Braxton started an 11-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Un-Break My Heart".

2003 - Britney Spears was at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with In The Zone, the singer's fourth U.S. No. 1 album. The singer broke her own record from being the first female artist to have three albums enter the U.S. chart at No. 1 to being the first female artist to have 4 albums enter at No. 1 consecutively.

2005 - The MBE medal that John Lennon returned to the Queen was found in a royal vault at St James' Palace. Lennon returned his medal in November, 1969 with a letter accompanying saying, "Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. With Love, John Lennon."

Birthdays:

Harry Chapin ("Cats in the Cradle") was born today in 1942.

Tom Waits turns 66 today.

Psychedelic Furs bass player Tim Butler is 57 today.

Damien Rice turns 42 today.

All Saints singer Nicole Appleton is 41 today.

Singer Aaron Carter is 28 today.

Mumford & Sons banjo player Winston Marshall is 27 today.

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