History Highlight:

Paul Rodgers — a defining singer in the genre of what’s now known as a classic rock — is 76. Born in Middlesborough, England, Rodgers moved to London in 1968 where he was a co-founding member of the rock band, Free. Best-known for their 1970 hit song, “All Right Now” (which was co-written by Rodgers and his bandmate Andy Fraser), the song had amassed more than one million plays on U.S. radio stations by 1990. Free broke up in 1971, but Rodgers bounced back quickly by helping to launch the band Bad Company in 1973. Bad Company cranked out a raft of rock hits that have become staples on classic-rock radio, including "Can't Get Enough," "Feel Like Makin' Love," "Young Blood," "Bad Company," "Shooting Star" and "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy." On November 8, 2025, Bad Company were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rodgers was unable to attend the ceremony due to health concerns, but he did share a video message from his home in British Columbia, Canada, where he has lived since 2007.

Also, Today In:

1955 - With their song "Only You" already at No. 2, The Platters' "The Great Pretender" debuted on the R&B chart at No. 13.

1963 - James Carroll at WWDC in Washington, D.C., became the first disc jockey to broadcast a Beatles record on American radio. Carroll played "I Want To Hold Your Hand", which he had obtained from his stewardess girlfriend, who brought the single back from the U.K.

1969 - Tiny Tim married his first wife, Victoria Budinger, aka “Miss Vicki,” on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

1971 - David Bowie released his fourth album, Hunky Dory, which opens with the anthemic "Changes." Regarded as one of Bowie's best works, it also features singles "Oh! You Pretty Things", "Life on Mars?" and "Queen Bitch". Bowie considered the album to be one of the most important of his career. In a 1999 Uncut interview, he said, "Hunky Dory gave me a fabulous groundswell. I guess it provided me, for the first time in my life, with an actual audience - I mean, people actually coming up to me and saying, 'Good album, good songs.' That hadn't happened to me before. It was like, 'Ah, I'm getting it, I'm finding my feet. I'm starting to communicate what I want to do."

1977 - At the last minute, Elvis Costello And The Attractions were scheduled to appear on Saturday Night Live in place of the Sex Pistols, who were unable to gain a visa to enter the country. SNL Producer Lorne Michaels asked Costello not to play "Radio, Radio" (because of the song's critique of '70s corporate rock radio). Costello launched into a few seconds of "Less Than Zero," then abruptly broke into a full version of "Radio, Radio". Michaels was not amused and banned Costello from SNL for years.

1982 - The Who performed at what was billed as the last concert of their farewell tour at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The show was simulcast nationally on pay-per-view satellite/cable TV to closed-circuit arena outlets.

1982 - Karen Carpenter made her last live appearance with The Carpenters when she performed Christmas carols for her godchildren and their classmates at a school in Sherman Oaks, California. She died at the age of 32 from heart failure on February 4, 1983, caused by complications related to anorexia.

1984 - Run-DMC's self-titled debut album was certified Gold, making it the first rap album to do so.

1986 - Paul and Linda McCartney were not injured after their limo caught fire as they were headed to a TV taping in Newcastle, England.

1989 - The Simpsons debuted on Fox with the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." The show quickly attracted big-name guest stars, including many musicians. In Season 3, for example, Michael Jackson, Sting and Aerosmith appeared.

1991 - Green Day released their second studio album, Kerplunk. It features the single "2000 Light Years Away."

1999 - Keith Richards decided to keep a guitar from an autograph seeker at his birthday party at the Russian Tea Room in New York. The owner of the guitar shrugged it off with, "It's Keith, man."

2000 - Eminem was the subject of an internet hoax after MTV reported that the rapper had been killed in a car crash on the way to a party.

2006 - Leona Lewis started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "A Moment Like This", also a U.S. No. 1.

2012 - Adele was named Billboard's top artist of 2012, while her hit record 21 was named top album of the year in the music magazine's annual review. The 24-year-old became the first to receive both accolades two years in a row.

Birthdays:

English jazz musician and composer Ray Noble, best known for his 1934 song, “The Very Thought of You,” was born today in 1903.

Tommy Steele, billed as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star (1957 hit "Singing the Blues"), is 90.

Art Neville, of the Meters and the Neville Brothers, was born today in 1937.

James Booker — known as “the Black Liberace” who had a hit with “Gonzo” — was born today in 1939.

Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations was born today in 1939.

Paul Butterfield, founder of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, was born today in 1942.

Jim Bonfanti, drummer for the Raspberries, is 77.

Paul Rodgers — singer for Free, Bad Company, and more — is 76.

Wanda Hutchinson of The Emotions (single "Best of my Love") is 71.

Mike Mills, R.E.M bassist, is 67.

Bob Stinson, The Replacements' guitarist, was born today in 1959.

Sara Dallin of Bananarama is 64.

Tracy Byrd is 59.

Mick Quinn, Supergrass bassist and member of Swervedriver, is 56.

Mikky Ekko (“Stay” with Rihanna) is 42.

Taylor York of Paramore is 36.

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