History Highlight:

Today in 1975, Led Zeppelin performed "Kashmir" live for the first time during a concert at the Ahoy in Rotterdam, Holland. The song was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (with contributions from John Bonham) over a period of three years. It became a concert staple, performed by the band at almost every concert after its release. The song has been described as one of Led Zeppelin's most overtly progressive epics.

Also, in:

1964: The Whisky a Go Go opened in West Hollywood, CA. This club would go on to be a launching pad for such acts as The Doors and Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention.

1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded "Purple Haze" at Olympic Studios in London.

1992: Nirvana's landmark album Nevermind reached the top of the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the first of two non-consecutive weeks at number one. They also peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and made their debut appearance on U.S. television on Saturday Night Live on this night.

1993: Ted Nugent was fined $1,000 for shooting off two flaming arrows during a Damn Yankees concert at Cincinnati Gardens. Nugent was also given a three-day suspended sentence for a misdemeanor fire-code violation.

2003: T. Rex drummer Mickey Finn died from alcohol related liver problems in a London hospital. He was 55 years old.

Birthdays:

Slim Harpo, blues musician ("Baby Scratch My Back"), was born today in 1924.

Clarence Clemons, saxophonist for the E Street Band, was born today in 1942.

Big Bank Hank (Henry Lee Jackson), rapper from The Sugarhill Gang, was born today in 1956.

Tony Kaye, keyboardist for Yes, is 64 today.

Vicki Peterson, guitar/vocals for The Bangles, is 58 today.

Tom Dumont of No Doubt is 48 today.

Mary J. Blige is 45 today.

Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers is 45 today.

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