History Highlight:

Steven Patrick Morrissey, known simply as Morrissey, was born today in 1959, making him 60 today. He was the frontman for The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, and has been a solo artist since. In 2002, NME named the Smiths "the artists to have had the most influence on the NME" and in 2003, four of the band's albums appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". In a 2006 poll for the BBC's The Culture Show, Morrissey was voted the second-greatest living British cultural icon.

Also, Today In:

1958 - Jerry Lee Lewis arrived in London with his new bride, 14-year-old third cousin, Myra. This was not well-received, and the tour was cancelled after only three of 37 scheduled performances.

1965 - "Ticket To Ride" by the Beatles went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart.

1971 - The Rolling Stones' album Sticky Fingers started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. charts, the group's second U.S. No. 1 album. The artwork for Sticky Fingers, which, on the original vinyl release, featured a working zipper that opened to reveal cotton briefs, was conceived by Andy Warhol. Although it's widely assumed the cover model is Mick Jagger, the jeans in the photo were actually worn by actor Joe Dallesandro. The album also features the first use of the "Tongue and Lip Design" designed by John Pasche.

1976 - Wings started a five-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Silly Love Songs", McCartney's fifth U.S. No. 1 since leaving the Beatles.

1989 - Rap group Public Enemy fired one of its members, Professor Griff, after he made anti-Semitic remarks in the Washington Post.

1993 - Ace Of Base started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "All That She Wants", a No. 2 hit in the U.S.

1999 - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band set a new record for the number of consecutive concerts to be performed during a continuous run at a single arena. When tickets for their reunion tour went on sale for their shows at the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey, only five shows were scheduled initially, but overwhelming demand raised the number to a total of 15 shows.

2009 - White Stripes drummer Meg White married Jackson Smith at ex-husband and bandmate Jack White's Nashville home. Jack and Meg White were married for four years and divorced in 2000.

Birthdays:

Jerry Dammers, keyboardist and founding member of the Specials, is 64.

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