History Highlight:

Today in 1977, singer-songwriter Cat Stevens formally changed his name to Yusuf Islam. Stevens converted to Islam and left his music career to devote himself to educational and philanthropic causes in the Muslim community. In 2006, he returned to pop music - releasing his first album of new pop songs in 28 years, titled An Other Cup. He has released several albums since, gone on tour, and even done a tiny desk concert at NPR.

Also, in:

1964 - During a U.S. tour, Beach Boy Brian Wilson had a nervous breakdown on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston. Wilson left the band to concentrate on writing and producing. Glen Campbell replaced Wilson for the band's live shows.

1964 - Pirate station Radio London started broadcasting from the former U.S. Minesweeper "Mv Galaxy".

1972 - Imagine, a film by John Lennon, made its debut on American television.

1989 - Phil Collins started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Another Day In Paradise", his 7th U.S. solo No. 1.

1999 - George Harrison's home in Maui was broken into by a person who cooked a frozen pizza, drank beer from the fridge, started some laundry and phoned her mother in New Jersey. The person was arrested and charged with burglary and theft.

2007 - The Police were named as the highest earning touring group for the past year, bringing in nearly $132 million. The band's 54-date North American tour had generated almost double the total of the second-placed act, Country star Kenny Chesney.

Birthdays:

Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen is 76.

Mott The Hoople guitarist Ariel Bender is 70.

Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray is 60.

Eddie Vedder is 52.

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