History Highlight:

Icelandic singer, songwriter and actress Björk was born today in 1965, making her 60. She has had an impressive career over four decades and is known for her eclectic and eccentric music styles. She came onto the scene as lead singer of The Sugarcubes (with the 1987 single "Birthday") and then embarked on a solo career in 1993. Björk has had 31 singles reach the top 40 on pop charts around the world, with 22 top-40 hits in the U.K., including the top-10 hits "It's Oh So Quiet", "Army of Me", and "Hyperballad". She’s had 15 Grammy nominations, the most recent being for the album Fossora for the 2023 Grammys.

Today In:

1960 - Ray Charles had an incredible four hits in the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously with "Georgia On My Mind" at No. 5, "Ruby" at No. 61, "Hard Hearted Hannah" at No. 66 and "Come Rain Or Shine" at No. 95.

1964 - Marvin Gaye made the singles chart for the fourth time in 1964 with "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)," a song successfully revived by James Taylor 11 years later.

1970 - The Partridge Family started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "I Think I Love You". The song was featured in the first episode of The Partridge Family TV series, made by the same company that made The Monkees series for television. (Related history item: see note for 2017, below)

1974 - After swearing up and down that he would never again perform with Grace Slick and Jefferson Starship, Paul Kantner relented and got onstage with the band at Winterland arena in San Francisco.

1976 - Joni Mitchell released her eighth studio album, Hejira. It features the single "Coyote."

1977 - Earth, Wind & Fire released their eighth studio album, All 'n All. It features the singles "Serpentine Fire," "Fantasy," "Jupiter," and "Magic Mind."

1979 - The Raincoats released their debut studio album, The Raincoats. It features the single "Fairytale in the Supermarket" and a cover of the Kinks’ “Lola.”

1980 - REO Speedwagon released their ninth studio album, Hi Infidelity. It features “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It on the Run.”

1980 - Steely Dan released their seventh studio album, Gaucho. It features “Hey Nineteen,” “Time Out of Mind,” and “Babylon Sisters.”

1981 - Olivia Newton John started a 10-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Physical", the singer's fourth U.S. No. 1. The song went on to sell over 2 million copies, a became a No. 7 hit in the U.K.

1982 - Joni Mitchell married her bass player, Larry Klein, at manager Elliot Roberts' home in Malibu, California.

1983 - U2 released their first live album, Under a Blood Red Sky. It features the singles "I Will Follow" and "Gloria."

1983 - Michael Jackson's 14-minute video for "Thriller" premiered in Los Angeles.

1987 - Billy Idol knocked Tiffany from the No. 1 single position on the U.S. singles chart with his version of Tommy James’ "Mony Mony". Coincidentally, Tiffany had been at No. 1 with another Tommy James song, "I Think We're Alone Now."

1988 - My Bloody Valentine released their debut studio album, Isn't Anything. It features the single "Feed Me with Your Kiss."

1988 - Happy Mondays released their second studio album, Bummed. It features the singles "Wrote for Luck" and "Lazyitis – One Armed Boxer."

1989 - Quincy Jones released Back on the Block. It features contributions from Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane, Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Barry White, Chaka Khan, Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge, Ray Charles and a 13-year-old Tevin Campbell. Back on the Block won the 1991 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

1991 - Aerosmith made a guest appearance on The Simpsons. Other acts that have appeared on the show over the years include: Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, U2, The Moody Blues, The B-52s, The Who, R.E.M., Phish, Blink-182, Metallica, and The White Stripes.

1994 - After a five-year wait, The Stone Roses released the single "Love Spreads." In true Roses fashion, the group turned down an appearance on BBC 1's TV show Top Of The Pops to promote the single.

1995 - Bruce Springsteen released his 11th studio album, The Ghost of Tom Joad. It features the title track.

1995 - Billie Joe Armstrong, vocalist for Green Day, was busted for dropping his trousers at a Milwaukee concert. The fine was $141.

1995 - The Beatles released Anthology 1 (including the previously unreleased track "Free As A Bird," and sell 450,000 copies the first day).

1999 - Erykah Badu released her second album, Mama’s Gun. It features “Bag Lady,” “Didn’t Cha Know?” and “Cleva.”

2000 - The New Pornographers released their debut album, Mass Romantic. It features “Letter from an Occupant,” “The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism,” and “Jackie.”

2011 - Kate Bush released her 10th studio album, 50 Words for Snow. It features the singles "Wild Man" and "Snowflake."

2017 - Actor, singer, songwriter, and guitarist David Cassidy died of liver failure aged 67. He was known for his role as Keith Partridge, the son of Shirley Partridge (played by his stepmother Shirley Jones), in the 1970s musical-sitcom The Partridge Family, which led to him becoming one of popular culture's teen idols. The Partridge Family had the 1970 U.S. No. 1 single “I Think I Love You,” and the 1972 U.K. No. 3 single “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.” As a solo artist, Cassidy scored the 1972 U.K. No. 1 single “How Can I Be Sure.” (Related history item: see note for 1970, above)

Birthdays:

Groundbreaking tenor saxophonist Coleman “Hawk” Hawkins was born today in 1904. It was Hawkins who advanced the tenor saxophone as a jazz instrument thanks to his arpeggiated style of improvisation. Hawkins was also vital to the development of bebop music.

Songwriter/producer Buck Ram — who worked with the Platters, the Coasters, the Drifters, and many others — was born today in 1907.

Country singer Jean Shepard, who topped the country charts in 1953 with her song “A Dear John Letter,” was born today in 1933.

Actor and singer Marlo Thomas (Free to Be... You and Me) is 88.

David Porter — hall of fame writer of “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’” — is 84.

Livingston Taylor — singer-songwriter and brother of James Taylor — is 75.

Peter Koppes of the Church is 70.

Brian Ritchie, bassist for Violent Femmes, is 65.

Alex James, bass player for Blur (and professional cheese maker), is 57.

Lissie is 43.

Carly Rae Jepsen is 40.

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