History Spotlight:

Today in 2001, Beatles guitarist George Harrison died in Los Angeles of lung cancer at age 58. Although most of the Beatles' songs were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, most Beatles albums from 1965 onwards contained at least two Harrison compositions - most notably "Taxman", "Within You Without You", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Here Comes the Sun", and "Something". Harrison was a man of many interests and passions - such as Hindu mythology, Transcendental Meditation, Indian classical music, organizing various benefit shows, his own solo music career, and founding Dark Horse Records and co-founding HandMade Films. When he passed away, his ashes were scattered in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India, in a private ceremony according to Hindu tradition.

Today In:

1969 - The Beatles reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Come Together" which spent one week on top. It would later be covered by the likes of Aerosmith, Elton John, Michael Jackson, and Soundgarden.

1975 - "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen began a nine week run at number one on the U.K. Singles Chart. At the time of its release it received mixed reviews, but it later went on to become one of the most celebrated singles in popular music history.

1977 - Kansas received their second platinum album for Point of Know Return which contained "Dust in the Wind" and went on to sell four million copies in the U.S.

1980 - John and Yoko's Double Fantasy album was released. Though initially poorly received, the album is notable for its association with Lennon's murder three weeks later, whereupon it became a worldwide commercial success and went on to win the 1981 Album of the Year at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards.

1982 - Metallica performed their first headlining concert in San Francisco where they would relocate to the following February. The opening act was Exodus, which featured guitarist Kirk Hammett who joined Metallica the following April after firing Dave Mustaine, who later went on to form Megadeth.

1986 - Bon Jovi reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for the first time with "You Give Love a Bad Name".

1996 - American singer and ukulele player Tiny Tim (Herbert Khaury) died from a heart attack on stage while playing his hit "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" at a club in Minneapolis.

1999 - American singer and bandleader Curtis Knight died aged 54. Jimi Hendrix had been a member of his band in the 60's. Though Hendrix wasn't in the group very long, he was featured on over 60 songs, 26 studio and 35 live recordings some of which have been released on record.

1999 - It was reported that Oasis singer Liam Gallagher had gone missing after leaving his house three days earlier.

Birthdays:

Merle Travis, inventor of the first solid body electric guitar, was born today in 1917.

Barry Goudreau, guitarist for Boston, is 65.

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