History Highlight:

Today in 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. 

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. 

1971 - George Harrison hosts the Concert For Bangladesh, the first major charity concert and the precursor to Live Aid. Guests include Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston and Ringo Starr. 

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 - 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. 

1988 - Soundgarden release their second EP, Fopp, on Sub Pop Records. Its title comes from the name of an Ohio Players song, which they cover on the set. 

1988 - Mudhoney's first-ever single is released: "Touch Me I'm Sick" b/w "Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More," via Sub Pop Records. 

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. 

2013 - The British government was trying to stop American Idol singer Kelly Clarkson from taking a rare turquoise and gold ring once owned by Jane Austen out of the country. The 2002 winner of the Idol TV show bought the jewelry at auction last year for more than £150,000, but Culture minister Ed Vaizey had put a temporary export bar on it saying he wanted the "national treasure" to be "saved for the nation". 

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

2015 - English singer, actress and entertainer Cilla Black died at her holiday home near Marbella, Spain, aged 72.  

2015 - Rush play their last concert, closing out their R40 Live tour with a show at The Forum near Los Angeles. It's not announced as their farewell, but the band has hinted it might be. At the end of the show, drummer Neil Peart uncharacteristically comes to the front of the stage to take a bow with his bandmates. 

Birthdays: 

Jerry Garcia was born today in 1942. He passed away in 1995.  

Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple, Zephyr and The James Gang) was born today in 1951. 

Joe Elliott is 64. 

Chuck D is 63.  

Robert Cray, blues guitarist, is 70. 

Rick Anderson, bassist for The Tubes, is 75. 

Coolio was born today in 1963. He passed away in 2022.  

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows is 59. 

Harold “Hype” Williams is 53. He broke into directing rap videos in the early '90s with clips from Puff Daddy, The Notorious B.I.G., and Nas before adding work with Kanye West and Jay-Z to his resume in the ensuing decades. 

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