Birthday Highlight:

Courtney Melba Barnett was born on this day in 1987, making her 34 today. We are lucky to have had her visit the station several times all the way from Australia and she played Rock the Garden twice -- in 2015 and 2019. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards and International Female Solo Artist at the 2016 Brit Awards, and she has released two solo records -- 2015's Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit and 2018's Tell Me How You Really Feel along with her 2017 Lotta Sea Lice collaborative album with Kurt Vile. On November 12, she will release her third studio album Things Take Time, Take Time.

Also, Today In:

1957 - Sun Records released "Great Balls Of Fire," by Jerry Lee Lewis. The single went on to sell more than five million copies worldwide, and was a No. 2 in the U.S, making it one of the world's best-selling singles of all time.

1962 - The Crystals started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "He's A Rebel."

1965 - The Beatles recorded "Michelle" at EMI Studios in London. The song went on to become one of the Beatles' most popular songs in France given that some of the lyrics are in French.

1973 - Daryl Hall and John Oates released Abandoned Luncheonette, their first album under their own names (a previous album was released as "Whole Oates"). The tracks "Laughing Boy," "She's Gone" and "Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)" became concert favorites for the duo.

1977 - During a concert in London, Elton John announced his retirement from live performances.

1979 - The Eagles started a nine-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with The Long Run, their fourth U.S. No. 1 album.

1985 - With hit songs like "In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins and "Smuggler's Blues" by Glenn Frey, the Miami Vice TV soundtrack was the No. 1 album in America.

1990 - "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice hit No. 1 in the U.S., marking the first time a rapper had topped the chart.

1993 - Russian inventor Leon Theremin died. Theremin is best known for the electronic musical instrument that bears his name. He first performed the Theremin with the New York Philharmonic in 1928; in pop music, the Theremin features prominently in the Beach Boys' hit song, "Good Vibrations."

1990 - "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice became the first rap record to top the U.S. singles chart.

1990 - After being featured prominently in the smash hit film Ghost, The Righteous Brothers' version of "Unchained Melody" returned to the top of the U.K. charts after 25 years.

1995 - Hootie & the Blowfish settled out of court with Bob Dylan, who saw their lifting of lyrics from "Tangled Up In Blue" on their hit "Only Want To Be With You" as more plagiarism than tribute.

1998 - At age 16, Britney Spears released her first single, "...Baby One More Time." Three months later, it went to No. 1 in America.

2000 - Despite millions in sales in the 1980s, EMI Records announced it was dropping Simple Minds off its roster.

2001 - Mary J. Blige's "Family Affair" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of six weeks. It was the singer's first single to top the chart.

2002 - Britain's "King of Skiffle," Lonnie Donegan, died in England. He was 71. Donegan greatly influenced the development of British rock 'n' roll; the Beatles and Led Zeppelin are among numerous artists who cite Donegan's influence. 

2013 - The first ever YouTube awards were held in New York City. The event featured Eminem, Lady Gaga and M.I.A making live music videos directed by the awards' creator, Spike Jonze, and others. Eminem won Artist of the Year, while Taylor Swift's 'I Knew You Were Trouble' took the YouTube Phenomenon award.

Birthdays:

Adam Ant is 67.

Mick Thomson of Slipknot is 48.

Happy birthday to PaviElle!

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