History Highlight:
In 2019, larger-than-life singer, songwriter, and New Orleans icon, Dr. John, passed away. The 77-year-old artist (born Malcolm John Rebennack) rose to fame in the late 60s with his combination of jazz, funk, R&B, and blues. While Dr. John worked as a session musician throughout his life, he also had a rich solo career, which included nearly 40 studio and live albums, as well as one Top Ten US hit, 1973’s “Right Place, Wrong Time.” He was also an in-demand collaborator, who worked with the likes of Ringo Starr, The Rolling Stones, Canned Heat, Gregg Allman, and many others.  

Also, Today In: 

1962 - The first Beatles recording session took place at Abbey Road studios.   

1968 - In the wake of the assassination of Robert Kennedy, The Rolling Stones added the line, "Who killed the Kennedys?" to the lyric of their unreleased-at-the-time "Sympathy For The Devil." 

1970 - Syd Barrett played his first gig since leaving Pink Floyd at the Extravaganza 70, at London's Olympia Hall, England, backed by a band that included his old friend Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. 

1971 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono went onstage for the first time together since 1969, joining Frank Zappa for a jam at the Fillmore East. 

1987 - Heart released their ninth album, Bad Animals, which like their previous album, used outside songwriters. The big hit from the disc was the No. 1 ballad "Alone," written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. 

1990 - The 2 Live Crew album As Nasty As They Wanna Be became the first album declared legally obscene when Federal District Judge Jose Gonzalez ruled that the album violated community obscenity standards in three south Florida counties: Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach.  

1993 - The Who's "Tommy", which was converted into a Broadway play, won five Tony Awards.  

1993 - The Velvet Underground re-formed for the first time in 24 years for a show at London's Wembley Arena. 

1999 - Plans were announced for Elvis Presley to tour the UK almost 23 years after his death with a virtual version of the "King" performing with a live orchestra and members of his band.  

2001 - Elton John auctioned off 20 vehicles in his car collection, earning $2.75 million. He said he didn't have time to drive them anymore.  

2010 - Marvin Isley, the youngest member of the Isley Brothers, died at age 56. Marvin Isley, who was the group's bass player, stopped performing in 1996 because of complications from diabetes, including the loss of his legs.  

2014 - The BBC broadcasted "You've Got A Friend: The Carole King Story", named for her 1971 song.  

2017 - The site of the 1969 Woodstock music festival was officially recognized for its place in history when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Bethel Woods Center for the Arts had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.   

Birthdays: 

Levi Stubbs was born today in 1936. 

Gary U.S. Bonds is 84.  

Guitar wizard Steve Vai is 63. 

Ross MacDonald, 1975 bassist, is 34 

Tom Araya, Slayer, is 62.  

Levi Stubbs, lead singer of the legendary R&B group the Four Tops, was born today in 1936. The group’s output was a key part of Motown’s incredible run of hit records in the 1960s and 1970s, including "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)," "Reach Out I'll Be There," “Bernadette,” and “It’s the Same Old Song.” Each one featured Stubbs anchoring the vocals with his powerful delivery. He entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 as a member of the Four Tops. Stubbs died in 2008 at the age of 72.  

Carl Barat, singer of The Libertines, is 45 years old today. In addition to co-fronting the band with Pete Doherty, Barat was the frontman and lead guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and in 2010 debuted a self-titled solo album. In 2014 he announced the creation of his new band, The Jackals. 

Jeremy Gara, Arcade Fire drummer, is 45. 

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