Birthday Highlight:

Today, 70 years ago, Cherilyn Sarkisian, better known as Cher, was born. Cher has enjoyed a five-decade-long career spanning from her 60's husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher, to her television career in the 1970s with her shows "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour", watched by over 30 million viewers weekly during its three-year run, and "Cher", to her illustrious solo career, to runs on Broadway and even winning an Academy Award (Moonstruck), a Grammy Award ("Believe"), an Emmy Award ("Cher - The Farewell Tour"), a special CFDA Fashion Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Cannes Film Festival Award

Also, Today In:

1954 - A single that proved to be a turning point in popular music, "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & The Comets, was released.

1967 - The Young Rascals started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Groovin".

1978 - Paul McCartney went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "With A Little Luck", his sixth solo U.S. No. 1.

Today in 1997 - Foo Fighters released their second album The Colour And The Shape.

1998 - Frank Sinatra's funeral was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, Calif. Among those paying their respects were Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

2003 - Soul singer James Brown was pardoned for his past crimes in South Carolina.

2006 - Heavy metal monsters Lordi became Finland's first-ever Eurovision Song Contest winners after their song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" won in Athens.

2008 - Congress passed a resolution designating May 13 as Frank Sinatra Day to honor Sinatra's contributions to American culture.

Birthdays:

Joe Cocker was born on this day in 1944.

Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's is 58.

Local singer-songwriter Dan Wilson is 55.

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