History Highlight:

Today in 2001, John Lee Hooker, American blues singer and guitarist, died in his sleep at age 83. Some of his best known songs include "Boogie Chillen'", "Crawling King Snake", "Dimples", "Boom Boom", and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer". Despite being illiterate, Hooker was a prolific lyricist and often employed an improvisational style in his music. Fun fact: He appeared and sang in the 1980 film "The Blues Brothers".

Also, Today In:

1966 - After a North American tour, The Rolling Stones sued 14 hotels over a booking ban in New York, claiming that the ban was violating civil rights laws.

1966 - Jimmy Page made his live debut with The Yardbirds at the Marquee Club, London. The group is notable for having started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page, all of whom were in the top five of Rolling Stone's 100 Top Guitarists list (Clapton at No. 2, Page at No. 3, and Beck at No. 5).

1967 - It was the Summer of Love: There was a free concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park celebrating the Summer Solstice. The Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Quicksilver Messenger Service all performed.

1990 - Rock pioneer Little Richard received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2011 - People magazine reported that 75-year-old Glen Campbell had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Birthdays:

Ray Davies, of The Kinks, is 72 today.

Joey Molland, singer and guitarist for Badfinger, is 69.

Celebrated guitarist Nils Lofgren (E Street Band, Crazy Horse) is 65.

Pat Sansone, multi-instrumentalist for Wilco, is 47.

Brandon Flowers (The Killers) is 35.

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