History highlight:

Happy 84th birthday to Bob Dylan. Born Robert Allen Zimmerman in 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota, he has been influential in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Early songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'" became anthems for the American civil rights and anti-war movements, and his six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" altered the range of popular music. Dylan has sold more than 100 million records, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. Happy birthday, Bob Dylan!

Also, today in:

1968 - Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull were arrested on charges of marijuana possession, the same day the Rolling Stones released "Jumpin' Jack Flash.”

1969 - The Who peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with "Pinball Wizard," their fourth Top 40 single in the U.S.

1970 - Fleetwood Mac performed their last concert with Peter Green as their guitarist in Bath, U.K. at the Bath Festival.

1974 - All-time genius of jazz composing, arranging, piano, and band-leading (he led a star-studded orchestra continuously for almost 50 years), Duke Ellington died in New York City at the age of 75.

1978 - Van Halen's self-titled debut album was certified gold by the RIAA. It later went on to sell 10 million copies in the U.S.

1980 - Patrons looking to buy tickets to Genesis' benefit show at the Roxy in Los Angeles were surprised to see the band members selling the tickets themselves.

1983 - The Kinks released their nineteenth studio album, State of Confusion. It features the singles "Come Dancing," "Don't Forget to Dance," and "State of Confusion."

1983 - The Plimsouls released their second studio album, Everywhere at Once. It features the singles "A Million Miles Away" and "Oldest Story in the World."

1986 - The Monkees, minus Mike Nesmith, began their 145-date 20th Anniversary World Tour at the Concord Hotel in the Catskill Mountains. The group had risen in popularity thanks to MTV, which started airing old episodes of their TV show.

1988 - Van Halen released their eighth studio album, OU812. It features the singles "Black and Blue," "When It's Love," "Finish What Ya Started," and "Feels So Good."

1991 - Founder member of the Byrds, Gene Clark, died of a heart attack at age 49.

1991 - After a limited release in major cities (starting with Los Angeles), Madonna's concert documentary Truth or Dare opened in theaters.

1993 - Rod Stewart released his live album, Unplugged...and Seated. It features the singles "Have I Told You Lately" and "Reason to Believe."

1994 - Toad the Wet Sprocket released their fourth studio album, Dulcinea. It features “Something’s Always Wrong” and “Fall Down.”

1997 - Hanson landed a No. 1 hit with their debut single "MMMBop.”

1999 - "What's Really Happening," a song David Bowie had composed in collaboration with Alex Grant — the winner out of 80,000 contenders in a lyric/songwriting contest — was broadcast over the internet. The cybercast of this recording session utilized a 360 degree full-view camera for the first time.

1999 - Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991, was honored on a new set of millennium stamps issued by the Royal Mail. Fun fact: according to Smithsonian Magazine, Mercury had a stamp collection of his own as a child between the ages of 9 and 12, he put together a substantial collection that included stamps from different British colonies. Though he died at age 45, he was known for his powerful vocal range and live performances and as the composer of many of Queen's biggest hits, such as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Killer Queen," "Somebody to Love," "Don't Stop Me Now," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," and "We Are the Champions."

2005 - Gorillaz released their second studio album, Demon Days. It features "Feel Good Inc.," "Dare," and "Dirty Harry."

2005 - Sleater-Kinney released their seventh studio album, The Woods. It features “Entertain” and “Jumpers.”

2005 - Common released his sixth studio album, Be. It features “The Food,” “The Corner,” “Go!,” and “Testify.”

2005 - Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne put the Beverly Hills house that was featured on the hit reality television show The Osbournes up for sale. Pop superstar Christina Aguilera eventually purchased the house.

2008 - Forty-two years after releasing his first album, Neil Diamond scored his first No. 1 when Home Before Dark topped the albums chart.

2010 - Sleigh Bells released their debut studio album, Treats. It features “Rill Rill,” “Tell ‘Em,” and “Infinity Guitars.”

2011 - White Denim released their fourth studio album, D. It features the singles "Drug" and "Street Joy."

2016 - Gord Downie, lead singer of the Tragically Hip, announced that he had terminal brain cancer. Downie, who had been diagnosed the December before and had been going through treatment, did one last tour with the band, closing with a show in his hometown of Kingston, Ontario, on Aug. 21, 2016.

2017 - Sonny West, one of the original members of Elvis Presley's Memphis Mafia, died of lung cancer at the age of 79.

2019 - Faye Webster released her third studio album, Atlanta Millionaires Club.

2019 - Steve Lacy released his debut studio album, Apollo XXI.

2020 - Bassist Al Rex died aged 91. He started playing for Bill Haley and His Comets and its predecessor Bill Haley and the Saddlemen in 1949 and became noted for “wild antics” on stage.

2023 - Tina Turner died in Küsnacht, Zürich, Switzerland, at the age of 83.

Birthdays:

Patti LaBelle is 81.

Albert Bouchard, drummer for Blue Oyster Cult, is 78. 

Waddy Wachtel — session musician for Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Kim Carnes, Randy Newman, Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones (lead guitar on "Saint of Me"), Jon Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Iggy Pop, Warren Zevon, Bryan Ferry, and more — is 78.

Rosanne Cash is 70.

Cameo frontman Larry Blackmon is 79.

Guy Fletcher, keyboardist for Dire Straits, is 65. 

Heavy D was born today in 1967. 

Rich Robinson, guitarist for The Black Crowes, is 56. 

Allesandro Cortini, keyboardist for Nine Inch Nails, is 49.

Billy Gilman is 37.

G-Eazy is 36.

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