History Highlight:

On this day in 1955, singer-songwriter Gary Louris was born, making him 70. Raised in Toledo, Ohio, Louris moved to Minneapolis in the 1970s where he earned a degree in architecture from the University of Minnesota — but since that time, Louris has become known as an architect of great songs. Best known for his work in the Jayhawks, Louris is also part of the supergroup Golden Smog, and he’s released acclaimed solo work, the most recent being his 2025 album Dark Country. Louris’ penchant for writing indelible melodies has inspired a complimentary expression among musicians and fans: “Need a chorus? Gary Louris.”

Also, Today In:

1956 - Elvis Presley was proclaimed "the new singing rage" by RCA Victor Records in a half-page spread in Billboard magazine.

1964 - Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel recorded the acoustic version of "The Sound of Silence." Later, the record company would add electric guitar, bass and drums, without the knowledge of either performer, and release the song as a single. The single reached number one on New Year's Day 1966 and was included in the 1966 album Sounds of Silence. The song was also used by Mike Nichols in the 1967 film, The Graduate, alongside "Mrs. Robinson."

1977 - The Sex Pistols inked a contract with A&M Records on a little table that was set up in London near Buckingham Palace. The contract lasted for six days.

1978 - Buzzcocks released their debut studio album, Another Music in a Different Kitchen. It features the single "I Don't Mind."

1979 - James Brown played at the Grand Ole Opry.

1988 - Younger brother of The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb died in the hospital. His death from myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) followed a long battle with cocaine addiction, which had weakened his heart.

1992 - Cracker released their debut studio album, Cracker. It features the singles "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)" and "Happy Birthday to Me."

1992 - Body Count released their debut studio album, Body Count. It features the singles "There Goes the Neighborhood," "Body Count’s in the House," and "Cop Killer."

1998 - Fastball released their second studio album, All the Pain Money Can Buy. It features the singles "The Way," "Fire Escape," and "Out of My Head."

1998 - Tortoise released their third studio album, TNT. It features the singles "TNT," "Ten-Day Interval," and "I Set My Face to the Hillside."

2000 - Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde was arrested for leading an animal rights protest against Gap, which was accused of using leather from cows "slaughtered illegally and cruelly." The protest took place in a store in Manhattan.

2003 - The Kills released their debut studio album, Keep on Your Mean Side. It features “Fried My Little Brains.”

2003 - Johnny Cash was admitted to Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., to undergo treatment for pneumonia.

2003 - During a concert in London, England, Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks (now known simply as The Chicks), said that the band were "ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." This was during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, and the comment sparked intense controversy and outrage among a sizable percentage of Americans, including a large share of country music fans. The Dixie Chicks were removed from the playlists of thousands of country radio stations, and the band members received death threats. The backlash also damaged sales of their next album and tour.

2008 - The Kills released their third studio album, Midnight Boom. It features the singles "U.R.A. Fever," "Cheap and Cheerful," "Last Day of Magic," "Tape Song," and "Black Balloon."

2009 - Tickets for a one-off gig by Paul McCartney in Las Vegas sold out seven seconds after going on sale. The former Beatle was booked to perform at the opening of the New Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on April 19 for 4,000 fans. Tickets were $750 each.

2010 - Pink Floyd won a court battle with EMI that prevented the record company from selling single downloads and ringtones on the Internet from the group's albums. Pink Floyd's back catalogue was second only in sales to The Beatles.

2015 - A jury awards Marvin Gaye's estate (his children Marvin III, Frankie and Nona) $7.3 million, finding that the Robin Thicke song "Blurred Lines" is too similar to Gaye's 1977 hit "Got To Give It Up."

2017 - Singer/songwriter, actress and producer Joni Sledge died from natural causes at age 60. She was best-known as a founding member of Sister Sledge, who were known for their hits "We Are Family" and "He's The Greatest Dancer".

2017 - The Shins released their fifth studio album, Heartworms. It features the singles "Dead Alive," "Name for You," "Half a Million," and "Cherry Hearts."

2017 - Laura Marling released her sixth studio album, Semper Femina. It features the singles "Soothing," "Wild Fire," and "Nothing Not Nearly."

2017 - Idles released their debut studio album, Brutalism. It features the singles "Well Done," "Mother," "Divide & Conquer," and "Stendhal Syndrome."

2017 - Hurray for the Riff Raff released their sixth studio album, The Navigator. It features the singles "Rican Beach," "Hungry Ghost," and "Living in the City."

2019 - Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Asa Brebner died at age 65. He was a member of The Modern Lovers, led by Jonathan Richman. They are best-known for their 1976 hit "Roadrunner" which Rolling Stone ranked No. 274 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

2021 - Mariah Carey files an application to trademark the phrase "Queen Of Christmas."

Birthdays:

Norman Blake — of Norman & Nancy Blake, collaborator with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? contributor — is 87.

Tom Scholz of Boston is 78.

Record producer Scott Litt is 72. Litt produced six albums by R.E.M.: Document (1987), Green (1988), Out of Time (1991), Automatic for the People (1992), Monster (1994) and New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). Litt also mixed the singles "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies" from Nirvana’s 1993 album In Utero, which was recorded with Steve Albini at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

Gary Louris of the Jayhawks is 70.

Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament is 62.

Producer Rick Rubin is 62.

Neneh Cherry is 61.

Edie Arlisa Brickell was born on this day in 1966, making her 59 today. She is a singer-songwriter best-known for her band Edie Brickell & New Bohemians.

Dave Krusen, former drummer of Pearl Jam and Candlebox, is 59.

Producer Timbaland (Timothy Z. Mosley) is 53.

Robin Thicke is 48.

Benjamin Burnley of Breaking Benjamin is 47.

Carrie Underwood is 42.

Emeli Sandé is 38.

Bad Bunny is 31.

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