History Highlight:

Happy Birthday to Madonna, who is 60 today. Born Madonna Louise Ciccone, she is referred to as the "Queen of Pop", having released global best-selling albums such as Like a Virgin and True Blue, as well as Grammy Award winners Ray of Light and Confessions on a Dance Floor. Throughout her career, Madonna has written and produced most of her songs, with many of them going No. 1 such as "Like a Virgin", "Papa Don't Preach", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes".

Also, Today In:

1962 - Little Stevie Wonder (aged 12), released his first single, 'I Call It Pretty Music, (But The Old People Call It The Blues)', the single featured Marvin Gaye on drums.

1966 - The Monkees released their first single, "Last Train to Clarksville." Critics called them "The Pre-Fab Four".

1968 - The Jackson Five made their formal debut with Diana Ross and The Supremes at the Great Western Forum, California.

1969 - During a North American tour Led Zeppelin appeared at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park with Joe Cocker as support. Zeppelin had been asked to perform at Woodstock but due to this gig commitment were unable to attend. And down the road Bruce Springsteen's band Child played the first of two shows over two days at the Student Prince, Ashbury Park. Springsteen was also unable to attend Woodstock due to these gigs.

1975 - Peter Gabriel split from Genesis.

1977 - Elvis Presley was pronounced dead of heart failure. His death was attributed to multiple ailments including high blood pressure, liver damage, and an enlarged colon, each aggravated (and possibly caused) by his extensive drug abuse. President Jimmy Carter issued a statement that credited Presley with having "permanently changed the face of American popular culture". Approximately 80,000 fans attended Elvis' funeral.

1983 - Paul Simon married actress Carrie Fisher. They divorced two years later.

1985 - Madonna married actor Sean Penn. The marriage lasted four years.

1995 - The Dublin hotel owned by U2, The Clearance, was seriously damaged by fire.

2007 - A fan of the 1980s pop band Wham! was silenced after becoming the first "noise nuisance" to be prosecuted by the city of Newcastle's night watch team. Brian Turner had tormented neighbors by playing Wham!'s hit song "Last Christmas" all night at full volume.

Birthdays

Scott Asheton, drummer for Iggy Pop and the Stooges, was born today in 1949.

Emily Robison, singer songwriter with Dixie Chicks is 46.

Barry Hay of Golden Earring is 70.

James "J.T." Taylor of Kool & The Gang is 66.

Bob Hardy, bassist for Franz Ferdinand is 38.

Vanessa Carlton 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.