History Highlight:

Today in 1955, Carl Perkins recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" at Sun Studio in Memphis. Perkins' original version of the song was on the Cashbox Best Selling Singles list for 16 weeks and spent two weeks in the number two position. The rock 'n' roll classic would go on to be covered by many other artists, most notably Elvis Presley.

Also, Today In:

1966 - The Supremes had their seventh No. 1 single, "You Keep Me Hangin' On." Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, the single is a return to rhythm and blues as compared to the Supremes' previous single, "You Can't Hurry Love." The song's signature guitar part originated from a Morse code-like radio signal heard by Lamont Dozier, who collaborated with Brian and Eddie Holland to integrate the idea into the recording.

1971 - To mark his 25th anniversary in show business, blues great B.B. King kicked off a European tour in London.

1979 - After serving a four-month term for income-tax evasion, Chuck Berry was released from prison.

1983 - Tina Turner made the charts for the first time in a decade with her rendition of "Let's Stay Together."

1988 - Bon Jovi started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with the lead single from the band's album New Jersey, "Bad Medicine," the group's third U.S. No. 1 to that date.

1991 - U2's seventh studio album, Achtung Baby, was released in the United States on Island Records.

1994 - Crosby Stills & Nash member David Crosby had a successful liver transplant operation at Dumont-UCLA Hospital in Los Angeles. Crosby's liver was deteriorated from extensive alcohol and drug abuse, as well as hepatitis-C.

2007 - Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow died of an accidental cocaine overdose at his home in Las Vegas. He was 52 years old.

2007 - Queen guitarist Brian May was named Chancellor of Liverpool's John Moores University.

Birthday:

Matt Sorum, drummer for The Cult, Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, is 59.

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