History Highlight:

Today in 1977, Elvis Presley was pronounced dead of heart failure. 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. Check out this roundup of celebrities sharing memories of meeting him, including Jerry Reed who said "I was blown away -- I'd never seen a dude that good-looking" and Steve Martin, who said "He walks by me and he sees me, and he says, 'Son, you have an oblique sense of humor'."

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.

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.

2018 - Singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin died in Detroit at the age of 76. She was known as "The Queen of Soul" and one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. During her career she scored over 15 Top 40 hits and won 18 Grammy Awards. Hits include the 1967 No. 1 "Respect", the 1968 "I Say A Little Prayer" and the 1987 single with George Michael "I Knew You Were Waiting". In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked her No. 1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Birthdays

Al Hibbler, singer of "Unchained Melody", was born today in 1915.

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

Barry Hay of Golden Earring is 71.

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

Madonna is 61.

Emily Robison, singer songwriter with Dixie Chicks is 47.

Bob Hardy, bassist for Franz Ferdinand is 39.

Vanessa Carlton, singer of "A Thousand Miles", is 39.

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