History Highlight:

Today in 1995, Son Volt released their debut album, Trace. Son Volt had formed in 1994 following the breakup of Uncle Tupelo (a schism that famously resulted in the formations of the Son Volt and Wilco). Son Volt recorded their debut album at Salmagundi studio in Northfield, Minnesota, and the band’s lineup at the time included Minnesota siblings Dave and Jim Boquist. Other Minnesotans who worked on Trace as session players were Marc Perlman (The Jayhawks) on bass on the track “Mystify Me,” and Dan Newton (Cafe Accordion Orchestra) on accordion on “Too Early.” Other tracks on the album include “Loose String,” the enduring classic “Windfall,” and “Drown,” which became a big hit on alternative radio the year of its release.

Also, Today In: 

1960 - Former chicken plucker Chubby Checker went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "The Twist". 

1966 - John Sebastian and The Lovin' Spoonful's well-timed "Summer in the City," their first No. 1 hit, earned them a Gold record. 

1968 - The great Easy Rider bugs-in-your-teeth Harley-riding anthem, "Born to Be Wild" by John Kay and Steppenwolf was a giant hit, scoring the band a Gold record on this day. It is sometimes described as the first heavy metal song, and the second verse lyric "heavy metal thunder" marks the first use of this term in rock music (although not as a description of a musical style). 

1970 - Diana Ross started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". It was the singer's first solo No. 1 since leaving The Supremes. 

1973 - Gram Parsons, at only 26, died of an overdose. A member of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, he has attained legendary status in the Americana world in the years since. Fun fact: It is said that Parson developed an interest in country music while attending Harvard University, which he was admitted to not based on his grades but on the basis of a strong personal essay. 

1979 - James Taylor, Jackson Browne, The Doobie Brothers, Graham Nash, and Bonnie Raitt perform at Madison Square Garden for the first of five "no nukes" concerts. 

1980 - The Specials released their second album, More Specials. It features “Stereotype” and “Do Nothing.”

1981 - Simon and Garfunkel reunited before nearly half a million fans in Central Park. The 22-song set wound up to be a best-selling album and an HBO special. 

1981 - The Rolling Stones album Tattoo You started a nine-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. chart, the band's ninth U.S. No. 1. 

1985 - Frank Zappa, John Denver and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister testify at a Senate hearing where the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) argue for a ratings system on music. The musicians explain that this is censorship, but the PMRC wins a victory and warning labels are ordered on albums containing explicit lyrics. 

1987 - The Grateful Dead hit No. 10 on the U.S. Hot 100 with "Touch Of Grey," the only hit song for the band. 

1988 - Enya released her second studio album, Watermark. It features the singles "Orinoco Flow," "Evening Falls...," "Storms in Africa," and "Exile."

1988 - Cocteau Twins released their fifth studio album, Blue Bell Knoll. It features the single "Carolyn's Fingers."

1988 - Bon Jovi released their fourth studio album, New Jersey. It features the singles "Bad Medicine," "Born to Be My Baby," "I'll Be There for You," "Lay Your Hands on Me," and "Living in Sin."

1988 -  Erasure released "A Little Respect." 

1989 - Janet Jackson released her fourth studio album, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814. It features “Miss You Much,” “Rhythm Nation,” “Escapade,” “Black Cat,” and more. The album was produced by the Minneapolis production superteam of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and it was recorded at their Flyte Tyme Studios in Minneapolis and in Edina. During an instrumental interlude in the song “Escapade,” Janet Jackson even shouts out, “Minneapolis!”

1991 - Tom Cochrane released his second solo studio album, Mad Mad World. It features the singles "Life Is a Highway," "No Regrets," "Sinking Like a Sunset," "Washed Away," and "Bigger Man."

1991 - Michael Jackson was a guest voice on The Simpsons, where he played a mental patient Homer befriends named Leon Kompowski. 

1992 - Radiohead filmed the video for their new single "Creep" during a show at the Venue, in Oxford, England. During its initial release, "Creep" was not a chart success. However, upon re-release in 1993, it became a worldwide hit. 

1995 - The Flaming Lips released their seventh studio album, Clouds Taste Metallic. It features “Bad Days,” “This Here Giraffe,” and “Brainville.”

1995 - G. Love & Special Sauce released their second album, Coast to Coast Motel. It features “Kiss and Tell.”

1995 - Superchunk released their fifth studio album, Here’s Where the Strings Come In. It features “Hyper Enough” and “Green Flowers, Blue Fish.”

1995 - Mercury Rev released their third studio album, See You on the Other Side. It features “Everlasting Arm,” and “Young Man’s Stride.”

1997 - The pitch-correction software Auto-Tune hits the market and soon becomes ubiquitous in recording studios, especially after Cher hits No. 1 with her Auto-Tuned "Believe." 

1999 - The Dixie Chicks become the first country group to top the Billboard albums chart when Fly debuts at No. 1. 

2001 - Eels released their sixth studio album, Souljacker. It features the singles "Souljacker Part I" and "That's Not Really Funny."

2003 - A week after his death at the age of 71, country legend Johnny Cash is bestowed with artist, song and album of the year awards at the Americana Music Awards ceremony in Nashville. 

2004 - Celine Dion extended her Las Vegas show for another year. Dion was reportedly being paid $100 million for the original three-year run of five 90-minute concerts a week. 

2004 - Country singer Skeeter Davis, known for the 1962 crossover hit "The End of the World," dies of breast cancer at age 72. 

2005 - Broadcast released their third studio album, Tender Buttons. It features the singles "America's Boy" and "Goodbye Girls."

2006 - DJ Shadow released his third studio album, The Outsider. It features the singles "3 Freaks," "This Time (I'm Gonna Try It My Way)," and "Enuff."

2006 - Lupe Fiasco released his debut studio album, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor. It features the singles "Kick, Push," "I Gotcha," "Daydreamin'," and "He Say She Say."

2008 - Kings of Leon released their fourth studio album, Only by the Night. It features the singles "Sex on Fire," "Use Somebody," "Revelry," and "Notion."

2008 - Drummer Earl Palmer died. He worked with The Beach Boys, Little Richard ('Tutti Frutti'), Frank Sinatra, Ike And Tina Turner ('River Deep, Mountain High'), The Monkees, Fats Domino ('I'm Walkin'), Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, The Righteous Brothers ('You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'), Randy Newman, Bonnie Raitt, Tim Buckley, Little Feat and Elvis Costello. 

2008 - Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM are seriously injured when the plane they are riding in hurtles off the end of a runway in South Carolina and hits a highway embankment. 

2010 - John Lennon's son Julian told the press that he has ended his long-running feud with his half-brother Sean and his step-mother Yoko Ono, which started after the former Beatle was murdered in December, 1980. The trio battled in court for a share of the singer's estate, but Julian now said "Things are good between us. Whenever I'm in New York, we all get together."

2014 - Aphex Twin released, Syro. It was his first album under that name since 2001.

2014 - Hozier released his debut studio album, Hozier. It features “Take Me to Church,” “Work Song,” “Jackie and Wilson,” and “Cherry Wine.” A critical and commercial success, the album became a top 10 release in many countries, including Hozier’s native Ireland, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.

2016 - Tom Waits and wife/collaborator Kathleen Brennan, along with John Prine, receive the PEN Lyric Award Prize, given in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. 

Birthdays: 

Billy Ward of Billy Ward and the Dominoes was born today in 1921.

Helen Carter of the Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle was born today in 1927.

Nick Massi, bassist for the Four Seasons, was born today in 1927.

Brook Benton (“It’s Just a Matter of Time”) was born today in 1931.

Beatles manager Brian Epstein was born today in 1934. 

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers is 85. 

Paul Williams — writer of “Rainbow Connection,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “Touch” (with Daft Punk) — is 85.

(Mama) Cass Elliot of The Mamas and the Papas was born today in 1941. 

Freda Payne (“Band of Gold”) is 83.

Lol Creme of 10cc is 78.

Twiggy is 76.

Producer and singer Daniel Lanois is 74. 

Nile Rodgers of Chic is 73. 

Lita Ford of The Runaways is 67. 

Jarvis Cocker of Pulp is 62.

Trisha Yearwood is 61.

Jimmy Fallon is 51.

Ryan Dusick, formerly of Maroon 5, is 48.

Tegan and Sara Quin are 45. The twin sisters, who just played First Avenue last week, were born in Calgary, Alberta, where they started making punk rock music together as teenagers. Since then, the duo have released 10 studio albums, starting with Under Feet Like Ours in 1999, followed by a string of successful releases including The Con and Love You to Death. They have also contributed to various soundtracks, like The Lego Movie’s "Everything Is Awesome!!!", which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2015. Their most recent album, Crybaby, was released in October 2022. As openly queer artists, Tegan and Sara have also been outspoken advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. 

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