History Highlight:

Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1970, Ani DiFranco is 55 today. She has released more than 20 albums. DiFranco's music has been classified as folk rock and alternative rock, although it has additional influences from punk, funk, hip hop and jazz. She has released all her albums on her own record label, Righteous Babe. Through the Righteous Babe Foundation, DiFranco has backed grassroots cultural and political organizations supporting causes including abortion rights and LGBT visibility. She released her memoir titled, No Walls and the Recurring Dream in 2019, and made The New York Times Best Seller List.

Also, Today In:

1957 - Buddy Holly and the Crickets went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "That'll Be The Day." The title of the song was inspired by a catchphrase that John Wayne uttered repeatedly in the famous John Ford film, The Searchers.

1967 - "People Are Strange" by The Doors was released. Meanwhile, The Box Tops began a four-week run at No. 1 with "The Letter."

1969 - The Northern Star newspaper of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, ran a story claiming that Paul McCartney had been killed in a car crash in 1966 and had been replaced by a lookalike. Russell Gibb of WKNR-FM in Detroit picked up on the claim and the story went worldwide. By late October 1969, the hoax was so well entrenched that McCartney came out of seclusion at his farm in Scotland to deny the story. When McCartney was asked to comment by a reporter visiting the farm, he replied, "Do I look dead? I'm as fit as a fiddle."

1977 - David Bowie released the title track from his forthcoming album, Heroes.

1977 - Steely Dan released their sixth studio album, Aja. It features the singles "Peg," "Deacon Blues," and "Josie."

1977 - The Stranglers released their second studio album, No More Heroes. It features the title track and the single "Something Better Change."

1977 - Randy Newman released his fifth studio album, Little Criminals. It features the singles "Short People" and "Baltimore."

1980 - Bob Marley collapsed onstage during a concert at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh. It would be the last time Marley ever appeared onstage; he died of cancer in May 1981.

1982 - Billy Joel released his eighth studio album, The Nylon Curtain. It features the singles "Pressure," "Allentown," and "Goodnight Saigon."

1989 - Milli Vanilli started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You," the duo's second U.S. No. 1.

1991 - Pixies released their fourth studio album, Trompe le Monde. It features the singles "Planet of Sound," "Alec Eiffel," "Letter to Memphis," and "Head On."

1991 - Primal Scream released their third studio album, Screamadelica. It features the singles "Loaded," "Come Together," "Higher than the Sun," "Don't Fight It, Feel It," "Movin' On Up," and "Damaged."

1996 - Fatboy Slim released his debut studio album, Better Living Through Chemistry. It features the singles "Everybody Needs a 303," "Punk to Funk," and "Going Out of My Head."

1997 - The Sundays released their third and final studio album, Static & Silence. It features the singles "Summertime" and "Cry."

1997 - Alana Davis released her debut studio album, Blame It on Me. It features the singles "32 Flavors" and "Crazy."

2003 - Outkast released their fifth studio album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It features the singles "GhettoMusick," "Hey Ya!," "The Way You Move," "Roses," and "Prototype."

2003 - Atmosphere released their third studio album, Seven's Travels. It features the singles "Trying to Find a Balance" and "National Disgrace."

2003 - The Fiery Furnaces released their debut studio album, Gallowsbird's Bark. It features the singles "Crystal Clear," "Tropical Ice-Land," and "We Got Back the Plague."

2003 - Rufus Wainwright released his third studio album, Want One. It features the singles "I Don't Know What It Is" and "Oh What a World."

2006 - Neil Young was named artist of the year at the Americana Honors and Awards at the fifth annual event in Nashville, Tenn. The singer-songwriter had released the protest album Living With War that year.

2008 - Jenny Lewis released her second solo album, Acid Tongue. It features the singles "Carpetbaggers," "Godspeed," and "The Next Messiah."

2008 - Cold War Kids released their second studio album, Loyalty to Loyalty. It features the singles "Something Is Not Right with Me" and "I've Seen Enough."

2008 - Jazmine Sullivan released her debut studio album, Fearless. It features the singles "Need U Bad," "Bust Your Windows," "Lions, Tigers & Bears," and "Dream Big."

2013 - Mazzy Star released their fourth studio album, Seasons of Your Day. It features the singles "Common Burn," "Lay Myself Down," "California," and "Seasons of Your Day."

2013 - Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, was shut down for a 15-song set by Paul McCartney, who performed on the roof of the El Capitan Theatre. An estimated crowd of 10,000 listened from the street. The show followed his appearance on TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live! late-night program.

2014 - Julian Casablancas + The Voidz released their debut studio album, Tyranny. It features “Human Sadness” and “Where No Eagles Fly.”

2016 - Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam released their collaborative studio album, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine. It features the singles "A 1000 Times," "In a Black Out," and "When the Truth Is..."

2016 - Warpaint released their third studio album, Heads Up. It features the singles "New Song" and "Whiteout."

2016 - According to the Music Business Association, playlists were now a more popular way to listen to music than albums. The report said playlists accounted for 31% of listening time across all demographics, while albums lagged behind on 22%. But single tracks remained the dominant format, according to the study, accounting for 46% of music played.

2019 - Robert Hunter, Grateful Dead lyricist, died at the age of 78. He provided the Grateful Dead with many of their vivid and enduring lyrics for some of the band's signature songs, including “Uncle John's Band,” “Scarlet Begonias” and “Dark Star.”

Birthdays:

Jazz and rhythm-and-blues bandleader and composer Tiny Bradshaw (“Well Oh Well,” “The Train Kept A-Rollin’”) was born today in 1907. Bradshaw’s music was foundational to the development of rock and roll.

Iconic jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader John Coltrane was born today in 1926. He passed away in 1967.

Ray Charles was born today in 1930. He passed away in 2004.

Hilly Kristal, founder of the legendary punk club CBGB in New York, was born today in 1931.

Jazz pianist and singer Les McCann (“Compared to What”) was born today in 1935.

Blues guitarist Roy Buchanan was born today in 1939.

Steve Boone of The Lovin Spoonful is 82.

Julio Iglesias is 82.

Neal Smith, drummer for Alice Cooper, is 78.

Dan Toler of Dickey Betts & Great Southern and a member of The Allman Brothers Band was born today in 1948. He passed away in 2013.

Bruce Springsteen is 76. Born in New Jersey, Springsteen has become one of music’s most significant artists through his vast output — including such iconic albums as Born To Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Nebraska, Born in the U.S.A., and Tunnel of Love — and has sold more than 140 million albums worldwide. He has won 20 Grammy Awards, an Oscar (for Best Original Song, “Streets of Philadelphia”), and in 2016, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Springsteen is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, both of which inducted him in 1999. Known for his energetic and generous live shows, Rolling Stone magazine has described Springsteen as “the embodiment of rock and roll,” while fans simply call him The Boss.

Danielle Dax is 67.

Ani Di Franco is 55.

Lucia Cifarelli of KMFDM is 55.

Jermaine Dupri is 53.

Layzie Bone is 51.

Anya Marina is 49.

Rachel Yamagata is 48.

Benjamin Curtis — of Tripping Daisy, Secret Machines, and School of Seven Bells — was born today in 1978.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.