History Highlight:

Today in 1969, despite problems obtaining permits from the American Federation of Musicians as a result of drinking and fighting onstage at previous engagements, The Kinks finally launched their first U.S. tour in four years.

Also, Today In:

1962 - The Beatles made their first TV appearance in Britain on Granada Television's People & Places. They sang "Love Me Do."

1981 - Thieves attempting to steal Rolling Stones tickets in Maryland shot one man dead and wounded another.

1986 - Sid and Nancy, the biopic of Sex Pistols bass player Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, graced the silver screen for the first time.

2004 - At the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Music Awards, Jet dominated the competition, winning awards for six of their seven nominations, including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Group and Breakthrough Artist.

2008 - Four Tops singer Levi Stubbs died at his Detroit home, aged 72.

Birthdays:

Rico Rodriguez, trombone player from The Specials, was born today in 1934.

Jim Seals of Seals & Croft is 77.

Jim Tucker of The Turtles is 72.

Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins of Spinal Tap and wacky neighbor Lenny Kosnowski in Laverne & Shirley) is 71.

Alan Jackson is 60.

Ziggy Marley is 50.

Wyclef Jean is 49.

Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC is 47.

Eminem is 46.

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