History spotlight:

Today in 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City. Lennon is one of the most famous and iconic musicians of all time, best as known as one of the members of the Beatles, for his subsequent solo career and for his political activism and pacifism. John would have been 76 had his life not been taken 36 years ago.

Also, in:

1961 - The Beach Boys' first single "Surfin'" was released. On the strength of the song's performance in the Southern California market, Capitol Records signed the group. Other surfing songs would follow: "Surfin' Safari", "Surfin' U.S.A.", and "Surfer Girl."

1963 - Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped at gunpoint from a hotel in Lake Tahoe. He was released two days later after his father paid out the $240,000 ransom demanded by the kidnappers, who were later captured,and sentenced to long prison terms. In order to communicate with the kidnappers via a payphone the senior Sinatra carried a roll of dimes with him throughout this ordeal, which became a lifelong habit. He is said to have been buried with a roll of dimes.

1966 - Working at Abbey Road in London, Paul McCartney overdubbed his lead vocal for "When I'm Sixty-Four". Then The Beatles set about remaking a new John Lennon song "Strawberry Fields Forever".

1968 - Singer and guitarist Graham Nash left The Hollies and started work with David Crosby and Stephen Stills who went on to form Crosby Stills and Nash.

1973 - Roxy Music had their first U.K. No. 1 album when Stranded went to the top for one week. The sleeve featured Playboy's Playmate of The Year, model Marilyn Cole.

1979 - Styx went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Babe".

1984 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood were at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "The Power Of Love".

2013 - Metallica played a gig inside a dome at the Argentine Antarctic Base Carlini, thus becoming the first band ever to play on all seven continents.

Birthdays:

Sammy Davis Jr. was born on this day in 1925.

The Impressions singer Jerry Butler is 77 today.

The Hollies drummer Bobby Elliott is is 75 today.

The Doors singer Jim Morrison was born today in 1943.

Bread drummer Mike Botts was born today in 1944.

The Allman Brothers Band keyboard player Gregg Allman is 69 today.

Def Leppard guitar player Phil Collen is 59 today.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood singer Paul Rutherford is 57 today.

Megadeth's Marty Friedman is 64 today.

Sinead O'Connor is 50 today.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitar player Nick Zinner is 42 today.

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