History highlight:

Today in 1975, André Benjamin — best known as André 3000 — was born, making him 50. Born and raised in Atlanta, André 3000 met his friend Antwan Patton, best known as Big Boi, at the Lenox Square shopping mall when the pair were still in high school. Together, the duo would form the hip-hop group OutKast. Between 1994 and 2006, OutKast released six studio albums, including some of the most iconic hip-hop albums of all time. Their albums Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below both received Best Rap Album honors at the Grammys, and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below took home Album of the Year at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004. In 2023, André 3000 released the solo instrumental jazz album, New Blue Sun, and on May 5, 2025, he released the surprise EP, 7 Piano Sketches.

Also, today in:

1957 - Buddy Holly and the Crickets released their first record and only single to make it to No. 1, "That'll Be The Day." It was inspired by John Wayne repeatedly uttering the catchphrase in the movie The Searchers.

1963 - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, containing soon-to-be standards such as "Blowin' in the Wind," "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," was released via Columbia Records.

1967 - The Bar-Kays, Otis Redding's backup band, entered the R&B chart with "Soul Finger." It would be their biggest hit without Redding. Six months later, four of the band members died in the same plane crash that killed Otis.

1977 - The Sex Pistols' version of "God Save The Queen" was released and promptly banned by the BBC for containing "treasonous sentiments." Nonetheless, it peaked at No. 2 on the U.K. charts.

1977 - Neil Young released his eighth studio album, American Stars 'n Bars. It features the singles "Like a Hurricane" and "Homegrown."

1977 - Declan McManus made his first live debut in the U.K. under the stage name Elvis Costello.

1978 - The Rolling Stones released the rock radio and club dance/disco hit "Miss You." It was the first single from their soon-to-be-classic album Some Girls.

1986 - Chris de Burgh released his eighth studio album, Into the Light. It features the singles "The Lady in Red," "Say Goodbye to It All," and "Fatal Hesitation."

1987 - U2's concert in Rome was so loud that it set off earthquake alarms.

1991 - The Wedding Present released their third studio album, Seamonsters. It features the singles "Dalliance," "Lovenest," and "Corduroy."

1994 - After a 14-year hiatus, the Eagles reunited for a show in Burbank, California, closing the show with "Desperado." They soon launched their Hell Freezes Over Tour, which became the first tour to charge more than $100 for a substantial number of tickets.

1995 - Cracked Rear View, the debut by Hootie & the Blowfish, went to No. 1 in America nearly 10 months after it was released.

2003 - The Thrills released their debut studio album, So Much for the City. It features the singles "One Horse Town," "Big Sur," "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)," and "Don't Steal Our Sun."

2003 - Rooney released their debut studio album, Rooney. It features the singles "Blueside," "I'm Shakin'," and "If It Were Up to Me."

2004 - The Bee Gees were made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace; Maurice's son Adam accepted on behalf of his father, who had died just six months earlier.

2006 - Red Hot Chili Peppers started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Stadium Arcadium, the band's ninth studio album.

2008 - Al Green released his 29th studio album, Lay It Down. It features the singles "Lay It Down," "Don't Leave Me," and "Your Heart's in Good Hands."

2011 - American poet, soul and jazz musician, and author Gil Scott-Heron passed away. Upon the news of his death, Public Enemy's Chuck D tweeted "RIP GSH...and we do what we do and how we do because of you.”

2013 - Laura Marling released her fourth studio album, Once I Was an Eagle. It features the singles "Master Hunter" and "Where Can I Go?".

2011 - A species of Afrotropical spider was named in honor of composer Brian Eno. The creature is called pseudocorinna brianeno.

2016 - Catfish and the Bottlemen released their second studio album, The Ride. It features the singles "Soundcheck," "7," "Twice," and "Outside."

2017 - "Despacito (Remix)" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber topped the Hot 100, becoming the first No. 1 on the chart sung mostly in Spanish since "Macarena" in 1996.

2017 - Gregg Allman, founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, died at the age of 69 at his home in Savannah, Georgia after contracting liver cancer. The band's main songwriter early on, Allman contributed compositions like “Dreams” and “Whipping Post” to the Allman Brothers repertoire. Both songs became staples of their live shows; a cathartic 22-minute version of “Whipping Post” was a highlight of their acclaimed 1971 live album, At Fillmore East.

Birthdays:

American jazz giant Ramsey Lewis was born today in 1935.

Mal Evans, road manager for the Beatles, was born today in 1935.

Country singer Don “The Gentle Giant” Williams was born today in 1939.

British singer Cilla Black was born today in 1943.

Bruce Cockburn is 80.

Pete Sears — bassist for Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, and more — is 77.

Dee Dee Bridgewater is 75.

Eddie Harsch, keyboardist for the Black Crowes, was born today in 1957.

Susan Janet Ballion, better known as Siouxsie Sioux, is 68. She is best known for her time in Siouxsie and the Banshees (1976-1996) and the Creatures (1981-2005). Siouxsie and the Banshees released 11 studio albums and several U.K. singles, including "Hong Kong Garden," "Happy House," and "Peek-a-Boo," plus the U.S. Billboard Top 25 hit "Kiss Them for Me." With The Creatures, Siouxsie recorded four studio albums and the hit single "Right Now.”

Split Enz and Crowded House guitarist and vocalist Neil Finn is 67.

Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes of TLC was born today in 1971.

Skye of Morcheeba is 51.

Andre 3000 of Outkast is 50.

Jadakiss is 50.

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