History Highlight:

Today in 1987, Kendrick Lamar was born in Compton, California. He is 38. At 8 years old, he watched Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre film their "California Love" video in his neighborhood and decided he wants to be a rapper. Nearly three decades later, he’s often considered one of the greatest rappers in history. He has won 17 Grammys, including Best Rap Album three times — for To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN, and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Earlier this year, he was in a lyrical feud with Drake, which resulted in two No. 1 hits, “Like That” and “Not Like Us.”

Also, Today In:

1954 - Guitarist Danny Cedrone died following a freak accident just 10 days after he had recorded the lead-guitar break on "Rock Around The Clock" with Bill Haley and His Comets. A session musician, Cedrone was paid $21 for his work; he died of a broken neck after falling down a staircase.

1955 - Col. Tom Parker arranged a meeting with Elvis Presley's manager, Bob Neal, resulting in an agreement that saw the Colonel handle Presley's gigs and career strategy from that point forward.

1971 - Carole King went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Tapestry for the first of 15 consecutive weeks. The album contained "It's Too Late", "I Feel the Earth Move", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "You've Got a Friend."

1972 - The Rolling Stones' album Exile On Main Street started a four-week run at the top of the U.S. charts.

1972 - Grateful Dead keyboard player and founding member Ron "Pigpen" McKernan played his last show with the band at a Hollywood Bowl concert. Health problems forced him to stop touring, and he died in March, 1973 at age 27.

1973 - Dolly Parton recorded "I Will Always Love You" in RCA's Studio B in Nashville. It was written as a farewell for her one-time partner and mentor, Porter Wagoner, as Parton was breaking off their creative partnership to make her own way as a solo musician. The song reached No. 1 twice - first when it was released in 1974, and then again when she rerecorded it as a part of the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1982. But the song made a legendary splash when Whitney Houston recorded her version for the 1992 film The Bodyguard. Her version of the song spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. If you want to learn more about this song and about Dolly's life and work, check out WNYC's magnificent podcast Dolly Parton's America.

1977 - After Jimmy Helms pulled out of a gig at Shoreditch College, the members of the social committee decided to call upon famous local, Elton John, who lived up the road and ask if he would perform. Elton did the gig for two bottles of wine.

1978 - Andy Gibb became the first solo artist in the history of the U.S. charts to have his first three releases reach No. 1, when "Shadow Dancing" hit the top of the chart.

1983 - The Police released their fifth and final album, Synchronicity. It features "Every Breath You Take," "King of Pain," and "Wrapped Around Your Finger."

1985 - Sting released his debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles. It features "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free," "Fortress Around Your Heart," "Russians," "Moon Over Bourbon Street," and "Love Is the Seventh Wave."

1985 - Cameo released Single Life. It features “Attack Me With Your Love.”

1987 - Great White released their thrid studio album, Once Bitten. It features “Rock Me.”

1989 - New Kids On The Block went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "I'll Be Loving You Forever," the group's first U.S. No. 1.

1991 - Van Halen released their ninth studio album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. It features “Right Now,” “Poundcake,” and “Top of the World.”

1995 - Rod Stewart set an attendance record at Wembley Stadium in London when 83,000 fans attended his concert. The record held until 2009, when U2 drew 88,000 on their 360 tour.

1996 - Placebo released their self-titled debut album. It features "Nancy Boy" and "36 Degrees."

1997 - Fans rioted at an Ozzfest concert in Columbus, Ohio, after Ozzy Osbourne couldn't perform due to throat problems. Angry fans broke windows, uprooted trees, and overturned a parked car.

1997 - Blink-182 released their second studio album, Dude Ranch. It is the last album recorded with drummer Scott Raynor. The singles, "Dammit" and "Josie" helped the group gain popularity; the album eventually grew in sales and was certified platinum in the U.S. by the end of the decade.

1997 - David Byrne released his fifth studio album, Feelings. It features “Dance on Vaseline” and “Miss America.”

1997 - K-Ci & JoJo released their debut album, Love Always. It features “All My Life.”

1997 - Old 97’s released their third studio album, Too Far to Care.

2003 - Drive-By Truckers released their fifth album, Decoration Day. It’s the first album featuring Jason Isbell on guitar.

2003 - Mogwai released their fourth studio album, Happy Songs for Happy People.

2003 - Animal Collective released their debut album, Here Comes the Indian.

2006 - Shakira landed her first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 when her single "Hips Don't Lie," featuring Wyclef Jean, reached the top of the chart. It also broke the record for the most-played pop song in a single week when it aired on American radio 9,637 times.

2008 - Silver Jews released their sixth and final album, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. It features “Strange Victory, Strange Defeat.”

2008 - Wolf Parade released their second studio album, At Mount Zoomer.

2008 - Katy Perry released the studio album One of the Boys. It features "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold."

2011 - Bon Iver released their second studio album, Bon Iver, Bon Iver. It features “Calgary,” “Holocene,” “Towers,” and “Beth/Rest.”

2012 - Bruce Springsteen played his longest show when he turned in a three-hour-and-48-minute, 32-song set at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

2014 - Sam Smith released their debut album In the Lonely Hour in the U.S.

2016 - Mitski released her fourth studio album, Puberty 2. It features "Your Best American Girl" and “Happy.”

2016 - Prince Be - one half of P.M. Dawn - died of renal disease at the age of 46 at a New Jersey hospital. The group's biggest hit was the early 90s hit "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100.

2016 - Red Hot Chili Peppers released The Getaway, their first album since 2011 and their first since 1991 without Rick Rubin producing - Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton is the producer.

Birthdays:

Songwriter Sammy Fain (“I’ll Be Seeing You”) was born today in 1902.

Country music star Red Foley was born today in 1910.

David "Stringbean" Akeman, of Hee Haw and the Grand Ole Opry, was born today in 1915.

Cliff Gallup, lead guitarist for Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, was born today in 1930.

Chuck Rainey — bassist for Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, Etta James, Louis Armstrong, Quincy Jones, and many others — is 85.

Barry Manilow is 82.

Chris Spedding — a respected session guitarist who produced the first Sex Pistols recordings — is 81.

Gregg Rolie — co-founder and former lead singer of both Santana and Journey — is 78.

Paul Young — Mike + the Mechanics singer (“All I Need Is a Miracle”) — was born today in 1947.

Philip Chevron, lead guitarist for the Pogues, was born today in 1957.

Snakefinger, guitarist for the Residents, was born today in 1949.

Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys is 67.

Eric Stefani, cofounder of No Doubt and brother of Gwen Stefani, is 58.

Paulina Rubio is 54.

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