History Highlight:

Carlton Douglas Ridenhour - better-known as Chuck D - was born today in 1960, making him 58 today. He is a cofounder and core member of one of the most influential and long-lasting groups in music history, Public Enemy. The group has been going strong for over 30 years and are known for their politically charged music and criticism of the American media. Check out Sean McPherson's conversation with him in 2016, when he was in town to speak at Augsburg College as part of its Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Convocation.

Also, Today In:

1963 - The first issue of "Beatles Monthly," a magazine devoted to the group, was published. It continued for 77 editions until 1969, and at its peak was selling over 350,000 copies a month.

1964 - Billboard Magazine reported that the harmonica was making a comeback in a big way thanks to its use by Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Bob Dylan.

1971 - The Concert for Bangladesh, organized by George Harrison to aid victims of famine and war in Bangladesh, took place at New York's Madison Square Garden. The event featured performances by Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, and more.

1971 - The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour premiered on CBS television.

1980 - George Harrison formed a movie production company called Handmade Films, which produced the films Monty Python's Life of Brian, The Long Good Friday, Time Bandits, and Shanghai Surprise.

1980 - Def Leppard made their U.S. live debut when they appeared at the New York City concert opening for AC/DC. It was also Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott's 21st birthday.

1981 - Just after midnight, MTV launched. There was a pre-launch in May, but the channel officially went live today. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by television personalities known as "video jockeys," or VJs. The first video they played to kick off the station was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.

1981 - Australian singer Rick Springfield started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Jessie's Girl", which later won the singer a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. The song was at No. 1 when MTV launched on August 1, 1981. Rick had played Noah Drake in the TV show General Hospital.

1985 - Tom Waits released Rain Dogs, widely considered one of his most important and innovative works.

1987 - Los Lobos were at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with their version of the Ritchie Valens song "La Bamba", which was also a No.1 hit in the US.

1987 - Guns N' Roses headed to Park Plaza and 450 South La Brea in Hollywood and shot their first video, "Welcome To The Jungle."

1987 - MTV Europe was launched, the first video played being "Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits which contained the appropriate line "I Want My MTV".

1988 - Cincinnati AM radio station WCVG changed its format, becoming the first U.S. all-Elvis radio station. The burning love for the format died out after a year, and on August 16, 1989, it switched to talk.

1989 - The Rolling Stones released their album Steel Wheels, which contains the hit "Mixed Emotions."

1994 - Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley announced that they were married, having wed at a secret ceremony in the Dominican Republic 11 weeks earlier.

2007 - Prince kicked off a series of 21 sold out U.K. shows at London's O2 arena. Tickets for the events cost 31.21 - the same figure used by the singer to name his album, website and perfume.

2014 - The movie Guardians of the Galaxy opened in America, reviving '70s favorites like "Hooked On A Feeling" and "Come And Get Your Love."

Birthdays:

Jerry Garcia was born today in 1942.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard is 59.

Coolio is 55.

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