History Highlight:

Today in 1983, Billy Idol released his second solo album, Rebel Yell, which went on to reach No. 6 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and sell two million copies in the U.S. Recently, The Current’s Mary Lucia chatted with Idol about his new EP The Roadside, and he will be headed this way for a show at The Palace on December 6. 

Also, Today In:

1958 - Soul singer Sam Cooke was injured in a car crash in Marion, Ark.; the driver was killed in the crash.

1973 - Elton John started an eight-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. It was the seventh album the man born Reginald Dwight released under the Elton John name, and it was his first double album. Recorded at a chateau near Paris, the album contains the title track, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," as well as three other hit singles: "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting." In 2003, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and it has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

1978 - The Clash's second album Give 'Em Enough Rope, was released in England. The album would be their first U.S. release, preceding the U.S. version of The Clash. The album, featuring singles "Tommy Gun" and "English Civil War", was well-received by critics and fans, peaking at No. two on the U.K. album chart and No. 128 in the Billboard 200.

1979 - The Eagles went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Heartache Tonight," the group's fifth and final U.S. No. 1.

1990 - Vanilla Ice started a 16-week run at No. 1 on the US album chart with To The Extreme.

2002 - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Brian Setzer and Lenny Kravitz made guest appearances on The Simpsons, where they were depicted running a Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp.

2003 - While performing a concert in Nice, France, David Bowie cut his concert short due to laryngitis. His voice gave out during "Ziggy Stardust."

2007 - Carrie Underwood was at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Carnival Ride.

2008 - Coldplay were declared the biggest-selling band of 2008 at the World Music Awards held in Monaco. The band picked up the prize after their album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends topped charts around the globe.

2014 - Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan was arrested following an alleged air-rage incident on a flight from the United States. O'Riordan was detained after a flight attendant was reportedly attacked in the business section on an Aer Lingus flight from New York to Shannon, County Clare.

2015 - Allen Toussaint, musician, songwriter/composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B, died aged 77 while on tour in Madrid, Spain.

Birthdays:

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer was born today in 1947.

Glenn Buxton, guitarist with the Alice Cooper Band, was born today in 1947.

American songwriter Allee Willis was born today in 1947. She co-wrote many hit songs including 'September' and 'Boogie Wonderland' by Earth, Wind & Fire and 'I'll Be There for You' by the Rembrandts, the theme from the TV sitcom Friends. Her compositions sold over 60 million records. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

Mario Cipollina, bassist from Huey Lewis and the News, is 67.

Chris Joyce, drummer from Simply Red, is 66.

Frank Maudsley, A Flock Of Seagulls, is 62.

Steve Mackey, from English rock band Pulp, is 55.

Andrew Vowles of Massive Attack is 54.

Warren G is 51.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World is 46.

Rapper Eve is 43.

Chris Joannou, bassist from Silverchair, is 42.

Miranda Lambert is 38.

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