History Highlight:

Today in 2006, The Decemberists released their fourth studio album, The Crane Wife. Taking its name from a Japanese folk tale, the album marked the Decemberists’ first for major label Capitol Records. All songs on the album were written by the Decemberists’ Colin Meloy, and drew inspiration from various sources, including the eponymous folk tale, Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, and from people and events in history. The Crane Wife features the songs "O Valencia!", "The Perfect Crime #2" and “Sons & Daughters.” When the year drew to a close, The Current’s listeners voted The Crane Wife No. 1 in the Top 89 of 2006, which ranked the year’s best albums.

Also, Today In: 

1901 - The first record company, The Victor Talking Machine Company, is incorporated, later merging with the Radio Corporation of America to become RCA-Victor. 

1945 - Elvis Presley made his first ever-public appearance in a talent contest at the Mississippi Alabama Dairy Show singing "Old Shep." Elvis was 10 years old at the time and came in second. 

1964 - The Animals' first self-titled album featuring "The House of The Rising Sun" entered the album charts. 

1966 - The Zombies released "She's Not There" in the U.S. 

1967 - American folk icon Woody Guthrie died after a lengthy battle with Huntington’s disease at age 55. During his career, the pioneering artist wrote hundreds of songs, including, most famously, “This Land Is Your Land,” in response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.” An anti-fascist activist, who was associated with several American communist groups, Guthrie often incorporated political and social commentary into his songs. His vast catalog of work would inspire artists across a range of genres and decades, including Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Garcia, and Jeff Tweedy. 

1968 - Working at Trident Studios in London, The Beatles recorded the new George Harrison song "Savoy Truffle."

1975 - The Who released their seventh studio album, The Who by Numbers. It features “Squeeze Box” and “Slip Kid.”

1977 - The Heartbreakers released their only studio album, L.A.M.F.. It features the singles "Chinese Rocks," "Born to Lose," and "Get Off the Phone."

1978 - The members of Aerosmith bailed thirty fans out of jail after they were arrested for smoking pot during an Aerosmith concert at Fort Wayne Coliseum. 

1980 - Paul Simon's semi-autobiographical movie One-Trick Pony, in which he stars, is released in the U.S. 

1980 - The Police released their third album, Zenyatta Mondatta. It features "Don't Stand So Close to Me," "Canary in a Coalmine," and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da."

1981 - Rod Stewart brings out special guest Tina Turner to join him on a performance of the song "Hot Legs" during his appearance on Saturday Night Live. 

1982 - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released their debut studio album, The Message. It features the singles "It's Nasty," "Scorpio," and "The Message."

1987 - Smokey Robinson held the No. 10 spot on the Hot 100 with "One Heartbeat," while a song about him, "When Smokey Sings" by ABC, was at No. 8. 

1988 - Hollywood premiered the acclaimed documentary Imagine: John Lennon. 

1988 - Keith Richards released his debut solo album, Talk Is Cheap. It features the singles "Take It So Hard," "You Don't Move Me," "Struggle," "Make No Mistake," and "I Could Have Stood You Up." 

1991 - M.C. Hammer offered a $50,000 reward for the return of Michael Jackson's white glove, which had been stolen from the Motown Museum. 

1992 - Sinead O'Connor tore up a photograph of the Pope in front of a Saturday Night Live audience in protest of the Vatican. She ripped the photo as she sang the word "evil", then said "Fight the real enemy", and threw the pieces towards the camera. Executive producer Lorne Michaels recalled that "the air went out the studio" after that moment, and after seeing the act, Michaels ordered that the applause sign not be used. NBC received 4,400 calls in total complaining about O'Connor, but NBC was not fined by the Federal Communications Commission. The act aired on the East and West coast broadcasts, but reruns air footage from the singer's dress rehearsal. On September 16, 2025, Margo Price referenced O’Connor’s actions by tearing up a piece of paper bearing the word “Bastards” just before performing her song, “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down” on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC.

1994 - The Cranberries released their second studio album, No Need to Argue. Compared to their debut album released the previous year, No Need to Argue takes on a more emotional and darker tone with songs like “Zombie,” based on a bombing in England that occurred during the Troubles in Northern Ireland; “Ode to My Family,” in which frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan, post fame, reflects fondly on her childhood; and “Ridiculous Thoughts,” inspired by O’Riordan’s dealings with the music press. On a more lighthearted note, the sofa featured on the album’s cover photograph is the same sofa that appears on the cover of the band’s prior album.

1995 - The Dismemberment Plan released their debut album, !.

1995 - Mariah Carey released her fifth studio album, Daydream. It features “Fantasy,” “One Sweet Day,” “Open Arms,” “Always Be My Baby,” and “Forever.”

1995 - For Squirrels released their second studio album, Example. It features “Mighty K.C.”

1997 - Sugar Ray are grounded when lead singer Mark McGrath hurts his leg in Bologna, Italy on the first date of their European tour, which is postponed. 

1999 - Akio Morita, founder of Sony electronics, died at age 78. The 1979 Sony Walkman transformed both Sony and consumers across the world. 

2000 - The Cars' singer and bass player Benjamin Orr died of cancer at home in Atlanta at the age of 53. 

2000 - Green Day released their sixth studio album, Warning. It features “Minority,” “Warning,” and “Waiting.”

2002 - Original Iron Butterfly guitarist/vocalist Darryl DeLoach died of liver cancer at the age of 56.

2003 - School of Rock opened in theaters, starring Jack Black as a musician who poses as a substitute teacher and forms a band with the students. Classic rock abounds in the film, with teachable moments soundtracked to "Highway to Hell," "Smoke on the Water" and even "Immigrant Song" — a track secured after Black made a video begging Led Zeppelin to let them use it. 

2004 - 17-year-old Joss Stone became the youngest female artist to top the U.K. Album charts with Mind Body & Soul. Across the pond, Stone’s sophomore LP earned her three Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Female Pop Performance (for “You Had Me”). 

2004 - VH1 holds its first Hip-Hop Honors, giving awards to DJ Hollywood, DJ Kool Herc, KRS-One, Public Enemy, Rock Steady Crew, Run-D.M.C., Tupac and The Sugarhill Gang. 

2005 - Ladytron released their third studio album, Witching Hour. It features “Sugar,” “Destroy Everything You Touch,” “Weekend,” and “Soft Power.”

2006 - The Hold Steady released their third studio album, Boys and Girls in America. It features the singles "Chips Ahoy!" and "Stuck Between Stations."

2006 - Beck released his tenth studio album, The Information. It features the singles "Nausea," "Cellphone's Dead," and "Think I'm in Love."

2006 - Beach House released their debut studio album, Beach House. It features the singles "Apple Orchard," "Master of None," and "Childhood."

2011 - According to new scientific research, Queen's “We Are The Champions” was found to be the catchiest song ever written, based on listeners’ instinct to sing along. Musicologist Dr. Alisun Pawley from the University of London, England, conducted research into what makes a song memorable and compiled a list of the 10 catchiest songs of all time. During the research, Pawley discovered that sing-along songs contain four key elements: long and detailed musical phrases, multiple pitch changes in a song's “hook,” male vocalists, and higher male voices making a noticeable vocal effort. 

2014 - A mint-condition copy of The Beatles' Please Please Me album, signed by George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr sold for $36,655 at an auction held in the U.S. 

2014 - Seventeen years after its release, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album is certified Double Diamond by the RIAA for sales of over 20 million in the U.S. It is the ninth album to achieve the certification 

2016 - Nickelodeon premieres the animated series Kuu Kuu Harajuku, produced by Gwen Stefani, about a group of girls who make music and fight evil. Stefani introduced her "Harajuku Girls," inspired by the neighborhood in Tokyo, on her solo debut, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and has integrated her love of the culture in her clothing and perfume lines. 

Birthdays: 

George Wein, co-founder of the Newport Folk Festival, was born today in 1925.

Pioneering minimalist composer Steve Reich is 89.

Rock and roll singer-songwriter Eddie Cochran ("Twenty Flight Rock," "Summertime Blues," "C'mon Everybody," and "Somethin' Else") was born today in 1938 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. 

Singer-songwriter Alan O’Day, who had a No. 1 hit in 1977 with “Undercover Angel,” was born today in 1940.

Chubby Checker is 84.

Soul singer P.P. Arnold, whose chart hits include “The First Cut Is the Deepest” and “Angel of the Morning,” is 79.

Ben Cauley of the Bar-Kays was born today in 1947.

Lindsey Buckingham is 76.

Keb’ Mo’ is 74.

Ronnie Laws, saxophone player from Earth, Wind and Fire, is 74. 

Stevie Ray Vaughan was born today in 1954. 

Allen Woody, bassist for Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule, was born today in 1955.

Tommy Lee is 63. 

Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne is 58. 

Dan Miller of They Might Be Giants is 58. 

Gwen Stefani of No Doubt is 56. 

Jimmy Ray is 55.

Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson is 54.

G. Love is 53.

Guy Oseary — manager for Madonna and Red Hot Chili Peppers — is 53.

India Arie is 50.

Talib Kweli is 50. 

Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters is 47.

Josh Klinghoffer of Red Hot Chili Peppers is 46.

Danny O'Donoghue of the Script is 45.

Jonna Lee of iamamiwhoami is 44.

Ashlee Simpson is 41.

ASAP Rocky is 37. 

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