History Highlight:

Today is the birthday of not one, but two of The Monkees. Both Michael Nesmith (in 1942) and Davy Jones (in 1945) were born today. While Davy Jones was considered the star of the television show The Monkees, Michael wrote many of the songs that the band performed.

Also, in:

1967 - "Hello, Goodbye" off Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles was the No. 1 single in the country.

1974 - Bob Dylan recorded two songs for his Blood on the Tracks album at Studio 80 in Minneapolis.

1978 - Emerson, Lake & Palmer broke up.

1998 - Johnny Moore, lead singer for The Drifters on their 1960s hit "Under The Boardwalk", died at the age of 64.

1999 - George Harrison was stabbed repeatedly during an attempted early morning robbery at his home at Henley-Upon-Thames, near London. The 56-year-old musician and his wife Olivia struggled with the intruder and were able to hold him until the authorities got there. The couple recovered from their injuries at a nearby hospital.

2002 - The funeral of former Clash singer and guitarist Joe Strummer took place in London. Strummer had died of a suspected heart attack on December 22, at age 50.

2009 - Singer/songwriter Neil Young was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Other Canadian musicians who have been given the award include Bryan Adams, Leonard Cohen and the members of Rush.

Birthdays:

Bo Diddley was born today in 1928.

Paul Stookey of Peter Paul and Mary is 78 today.

Mike Nesmith of The Monkees is 73 today.

Davy Jones of The Monkees was born today in 1945.

Clive Bunker of Jethro Tull is 69 today.

Patti Smith is 69 today.

Ellie Goulding is 29 today.

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