History Highlight:

Today in 2011, Florence and the Machine released their second studio album, Ceremonials. Whereas most of the album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, Florence Welch recorded some vocals for songs at various studios across the United States on days off during the band’s U.S. tour in early 2011. Welch described the album’s sound as being a blend of chamber pop and soul music. Produced by Paul Epworth, the album reached No. 1 in the band’s native U.K. and No. 6 in the United States. Ceremonials features the singles "Shake It Out," "No Light, No Light," "Never Let Me Go," "Spectrum (Say My Name)," and "Lover to Lover." Florence and the Machine’s most recent album, 2025’s Everybody Scream, was shortlisted for a 2026 Mercury Prize.

Also Today In:

1956 - Making his sensational second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, Elvis Presley sang "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," "Hound Dog" and "Love Me."

1957 - After a show at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles, local police told Elvis Presley that he was not allowed to wiggle his hips onstage. The next night, the Los Angeles Vice Squad filmed his entire concert in order to study his performance.

1958 - Buddy Holly appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, where he lip-synched "It's So Easy" and "Heartbeat." It was Holly's last major TV appearance.

1962 - The Beatles played at the Empire in Liverpool, their first gig at Liverpool's top theatre. Eight acts were on the bill including Little Richard, Craig Douglas, Jet Harris, and Kenny Lynch & Sounds Incorporated.

1964 - The first of two nights billed as the "T.A.M.I. Show" took place at the Civic Auditorium, in Santa Monica, California, with Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and The Rolling Stones. The acronym "T.A.M.I." was used inconsistently in the show's publicity to mean both "Teenage Awards Music International" and "Teen Age Music International." The recording of this program resurfaces from time to time on public television.

1967 - Diana Ross and the Supremes' Greatest Hits started a five-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart.

1977 - Queen released their sixth studio album, News of the World. It features the singles "We Are the Champions," "We Will Rock You," "Spread Your Wings," and "It's Late."

1977 - The notorious album by The Sex Pistols, Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols, was released in the U.K. It was the only studio album that the punk band ever put out. Fans and critics alike generally regard it as an important album in the history of rock music, citing the lasting influence it has had on subsequent punk-rock musicians, as well as other musical genres that were influenced by those punk-rock artists.

1977 - Neil Young released the compilation album Decade. It features the singles "Sugar Mountain" and "The Needle and the Damage Done."

1978 - Nick Gilder went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Hot Child In The City."

1978 - Kiss starred in the TV movie Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park.

1989 - Janet Jackson started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded at Flyte Tyme studios in Minneapolis, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 is one of only three albums to produce seven top-10 U.S. singles, the other two being Thriller by Janet’s brother Michael Jackson, and Bruce Springsteen's Born In The USA.

1995 - Alanis Morissette made her first appearance on Saturday Night Live, singing "Hand In My Pocket" and "All I Really Want."

1996 - The Beatles released the compilation album Anthology 3. It features the singles "A Beginning" and "What's the New Mary Jane."

1997 - R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry announced that he was departing the band after 17 years due to health concerns. Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Berry lives and works as a farmer in Georgia, mostly staying out of the limelight.

1997 - The Flaming Lips released their eighth studio album, Zaireeka. It consists of four CDs designed so that when played simultaneously on four separate audio systems, they would produce a harmonic or juxtaposed sound.

1997 - G. Love & Special Sauce released their third studio album, Yeah, It's That Easy. It features the singles "Stepping Stones" and "I-76."

2001 - The Beastie Boys played their first show in more than two-and-a-half years at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, at the first of two New Yorkers Against Violence benefits, which the rap trio organized.

2002 - Sigur Rós released their third studio album, ( ). It features the single "Untitled #1" (also known as "Vaka").

2005 - Tapes 'n Tapes released their debut studio album, The Loon. It features the singles "Insistor" and "Cowbell."

2007 - Country musician Porter Wagoner died in Nashville at age 80 from lung cancer. Wagoner helped launch the career of Dolly Parton and had his own TV show, which ran for 21 years until 1981.

2014 - At their regular haunt — the Beacon Theater in New York City — The Allman Brothers Band played their final show, a four-hour set that went past midnight, ending on the anniversary of Duane Allman's death.

2016 - Elvis Presley broke the record for the most No. 1 albums by a solo artist. The late singer's album, The Wonder Of You, beat Lady Gaga and Michael Bublé to become Presley’s 13th album to top the chart. Before that, Elvis and Madonna were tied record holders with 12 No. 1 albums each.

2022 - Jerry Lee Lewis died at the age of 87 in Nesbit, Mississippi.

Birthdays:

Harold Battiste — arranger on records by Sam Cooke, Dr. John, Sonny and Cher, and more — was born today in 1931.

Charlie Daniels, best known for his hit song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” was born today in 1936.

Mississippi singer-songwriter Ted Hawkins was born today in 1936.

Graham Bond of the Graham Bond Organisation was born today in 1937.

Curtis Lee (“Pretty Little Angel Eyes”) was born today in 1939.

Hank Marvin of the Shadows is 85.

Wayne Fontana of the Mindbenders, perhaps best known for their 1965 No. 1, “The Game of Love,” was born today in 1945.

Actor and singer Telma Hopkins, who sang on “Theme from Shaft” and who was a member of Tony Orlando and Dawn, is 78.

Desmond Child — writer of “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” as well as hits by Kiss, Aerosmith, Cher, and more — is 73.

Former Joy Division and current New Order drummer Stephen Morris is 69.

William Reid, guitarist with The Jesus and Mary Chain, is 68.

Ben Harper is 57.

Brad Paisley is 54.

Music critic Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) is 41.

Frank Ocean is 39.

Jamie xx is 38. Born in London, Jamie xx is a musician, DJ and record producer. He has worked as a member of the indie-pop band the xx, and he has also collaborated as a re-mixer with such artists as Adele and Florence + the Machine. Just a few weeks ago, on September 20, Jamie xx released his latest album, In Waves.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts, Discogs, and Wikipedia.