History Highlight:

Susan Janet Ballion, better known as Siouxsie Sioux, was born today in 1957. She is best known from Siouxsie and the Banshees (1976-1996) and The Creatures (1981-2005). Siouxsie and the Banshees released 11 studio albums and several U.K. singles including "Hong Kong Garden", "Happy House", "Peek-a-Boo" plus a U.S. Billboard Top 25 hit "Kiss Them for Me". With The Creatures, Siouxsie recorded four studio albums and the hit single "Right Now".

Also, Today In:

1957 - Buddy Holly and the Crickets released their first record and only single to make it to #1, "That'll Be The Day." It was inspired by John Wayne repeatedly uttering the catch-phrase in the movie The Searchers.

1962 - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, containing soon-to-be standards such as "Blowin' in the Wind," "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," released via Columbia Records.

1967 - The Bar-Kays, Otis Redding's backup band, entered the R&B chart with "Soul Finger." It would be their biggest hit without Redding. Six months later, four of the band members died in the same plane crash that killed Otis.

1977 - The Sex Pistols' version of "God Save The Queen" was released and promptly banned by the BBC for containing "treasonous sentiments." It, nonetheless, and in spite of, peaked at No.2 on the U.K. charts.

1977 - Declan McManus made his first live debut in the U.K. under the stage name Elvis Costello

1978 - The Rolling Stones released the rock radio and club dance/disco hit, "Miss You." It was the first single from their yet-to-be-released classic, Some Girls.

2006 - Red Hot Chili Peppers started a two-week run at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with Stadium Arcadium, the band's ninth studio album.

2011 - American Soul and Jazz poet, musician and author Gil Scott-Heron passed away. Upon the news of his death Public Enemy's Chuck D tweeted "RIP GSH...and we do what we do and how we do because of you".

Birthdays:

Memphis blues singer and musician Junior Parker was born today in 1932.

The Drifters' Ruby Lewis was born today in 1935.

British singer Cilla Black was born today in 1943.

American Jazz giant Ramsey Lewis is 81.

Split Enz guitarist and vocalist Neil Finn is 60.

Andre 3000 of Outkast is 41.

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