Birthday highlight:

Today in 1995, Hippo Campus frontman Jake Luppen was born, making him 30. Hippo Campus formed in St. Paul, where the band members attended the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists; Luppen originally trained in opera. Hippo Campus’ songs “Way It Goes” and “Buttercup” have been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and their most recent album, Flood, released on September 20, 2024. Although Luppen is best known for his work in Hippo Campus, he is also a writer, multi-instrumentalist and producer who has worked with numerous musicians, including Raffaella, Miloe and Samia.

Also, today in:

1954 - A single that proved to be a turning point in popular music, "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & The Comets, was released.

1964 - Rudy Lewis of the Drifters died at age 28 under mysterious circumstances the night before the group was set to record "Under the Boardwalk." Former Drifters backup singer Johnny Moore was brought back to perform lead vocals for the recording session.

1967 - The Young Rascals started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Groovin’."

1977 - The Jam released their debut album In the City, which features the band's debut single and title track "In the City.”

1978 - Paul McCartney went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "With A Little Luck," his sixth solo U.S. No. 1.

1982 - Heart released their sixth studio album, Private Audition. It features the singles "This Man Is Mine" and "Bright Light Girl."

1987 - Mötley Crüe released their fourth studio album, Girls, Girls, Girls. It features the singles "Girls, Girls, Girls," "Wild Side," and "You're All I Need."

1991 - Seal released his self-titled debut studio album, Seal. It features the singles "Crazy," "Future Love Paradise," and "The Beginning."

1996 - Duncan Sheik released his self-titled debut studio album, Duncan Sheik. It features the singles "Barely Breathing" and "She Runs Away."

1996 - Super Furry Animals released their debut studio album, Fuzzy Logic. It features the singles "Hometown Unicorn," "God! Show Me Magic," and "Something 4 the Weekend."

1997 - Foo Fighters released their second album, The Colour And The Shape. It features “Monkey Wrench,” “Everlong,” and “My Hero.”

1997 - Guided by Voices released their tenth studio album, Mag Earwhig!. It features the singles "Bulldog Skin" and "I Am a Tree."

1998 - Frank Sinatra's funeral was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, Calif. Among those paying their respects were Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

2003 - Soul singer James Brown was pardoned for his past crimes in South Carolina.

2003 - “Weird Al” Yankovic released his eleventh studio album, Poodle Hat. It features the singles "eBay" and "Couch Potato."

2003 - Menomena released their debut studio album, I Am the Fun Blame Monster!. It features the single "The Late Great Libido."

2003 - Electric Six released their debut studio album, Fire. It features the singles "Danger! High Voltage," "Gay Bar," and "Dance Commander."

2003 - Cass McCombs released his debut studio album, A. It features the singles "Subtraction" and "A Comedian Is Someone Who Tells Jokes."

2006 - Heavy metal monsters Lordi became Finland's first-ever Eurovision Song Contest winners after their song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" won in Athens.

2008 - Islands released their second studio album, Arm’s Way. It features the singles "The Arm" and "Creeper."

2008 - Congress passed a resolution designating May 13 as Frank Sinatra Day to honor Sinatra's contributions to American culture.

2012 - Robin Gibb, one-third of the Bee Gees and a singer-songwriter who helped to turn disco into a global phenomenon by providing the core of the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever, died from cancer at age 62.

2013 - Ray Manzarek, keyboard player and founder member of the Doors, died at age 74.

2015 - The Rolling Stones played a surprise gig at the 1,300-capacity Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, during which they performed the entire Sticky Fingers album. The audience included Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Harry Styles, Leonard Cohen and Patricia Arquette.

2016 - Car Seat Headrest released their tenth studio album, Teens of Denial. It features the singles "Vincent," "Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales," and "Unforgiving Girl (She's Not An)."

2016 - Bob Dylan released his thirty-seventh studio album, Fallen Angels. It features covers of classic American songs, including works by Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, and others. The album was preceded by the single "Melancholy Mood."

2016 - Andy Shauf released his fifth studio album, The Party. It features the singles "The Magician," "Quite Like You," and "To You."

2016 - Mudcrutch (led by Tom Petty) released their second studio album, 2. It features the singles "Trailer," "Beautiful World," and "Hungry No More."

2017 - At the Palladium in London, the Cranberries played their last show with lead singer Dolores O'Riordan, whose health issues caused cancellation of the remaining dates. She died on January 15, 2018.

Birthdays:

Motown soul singer Shorty Long was born today in 1940.

Joe Cocker was born today in 1944.

Cher is 79.

Steve Currie, T. Rex bassist, was born today in 1947.

Steve George of Mr. Mister is 70.

Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's is 67.

Susan Cowsill of the Cowsills and Continental Drifters is 66.

Daniel Dodd "Dan" Wilson is 64 today. Wilson has been a prominent member of the Minneapolis music community since the early 1980s, when he got his start playing in college bands like the Love Monsters and Animal Dance. He gained recognition on the indie scene playing in Trip Shakespeare with his brother Matt Wilson, with whom he still collaborates to this day, and bassist John Munson, who has also continued to work with both brothers throughout the years. His songwriting resume includes "Closing Time," which he wrote for his band Semisonic, "Not Ready to Make Nice" (co-written with the Chicks) and "Someone like You" (co-written with Adele), among so many more mega-hits. Semisonic released their latest album, Little Bit of Sun, in 2023.

Nick Heyward is 64.

Patti Russo of Meat Loaf is 61.

Busta Rhymes is 53.

Rachel Platten is 44.

Jake Luppen of Hippo Campus is 30.

Rosa Linn is 25.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts, The Glow Management, Iowa Public Radio and Wikipedia.