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Today in Music History: Remembering Prince on a momentous day

Prince plays his Cloud guitar in 'Purple Rain'
Prince plays his Cloud guitar in 'Purple Rain'Warner Bros.

June 07, 2017

History Highlight:

Though he was a Jehovah's Witness and didn't celebrate holidays, it's hard not to think about Prince today, on what would have been his 59th birthday. June 7 marks a couple of other milestones for Prince besides the day he was born - on his 35th birthday on this day in 1993, Prince changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, and became known as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince. 11 years later on this day, his Musicology album entered the top 10.

Also, Today In:

1963 - Decca Records in the U.K. released "Come On," the first record by The Rolling Stones.

1969 - The Who's rock opera Tommy entered the Billboard charts at #96; it would peak at #4.

1979 - Chuck Berry was charged with three counts of tax evasion.

1995 - Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood was admitted to a hospital after his ear was leaking blood. The problem was diagnosed as being the result of continuous guitar playing.

2007 - The funeral of guitarist, singer Bo Diddley took place in Gainesville, Florida.

2009 - After performing the Poison hit "Nothin' but a Good Time" at the Tony Awards, Bret Michaels had a run-in with the set, and the set won. He cut his lip and fractured his nose in the incident.

2012 - Bob Welch, an early member of Fleetwood Mac who enjoyed a successful solo career with hits such as "Ebony Eyes", was found dead after an apparent suicide at home in Nashville. He was 66.

Birthdays:

Dean Martin was born today in 1917.

Tom Jones is 77.

Eric Kretz, Stone Temple Pilots drummer, is 51.

Guitarist Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 50.

Iggy Azalea is 27.

George Ezra is 24.

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