History Highlight:

Today in 1976, the Ramones released their eponymous debut album. Recorded in 17 days for $6,400 (about $37,000 in 2026), Ramones features such punk-rock mainstays as “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Beat on the Brat,” “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,” and a cover of Chris Montez’s “Let’s Dance.” Although the album and the band enjoyed only limited commercial success, the Ramones heavily influenced the 1970s punk movement in both the United States and United Kingdom. Recognition of the band's importance developed over time, and they are now considered among rock's all-time greats; as such, the Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. “The Ramones democratized rock & roll,” wrote Dr. Donna Gaines at the Ramones’ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2002. ”You didn’t need a fat contract, great looks, expensive clothes or the skills of Clapton. You just had to follow Joey’s credo: ‘Do it from the heart and follow your instincts.’”

Also, Today In:

1971 - The Rolling Stones released their classic album, Sticky Fingers. The cover was designed by Andy Warhol, who was paid $15,000 for his efforts. Although it's widely assumed the cover model is Mick Jagger, the jeans in the photo were actually worn by actor Joe Dallesandro.

1976 - The Rolling Stones released their 15th U.S. studio album, Black And Blue.

1977 - Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way," originally recorded by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1975, hit No. 1 in America.

1978 - Sex Pistols bass player Sid Vicious filmed his version of "My Way" for the Sex Pistols' film, The Great Rock n Roll Swindle.

1979 - ABBA released their sixth studio album, Voulez-Vous. It features the singles "Chiquitita," "Does Your Mother Know," "Voulez-Vous," "I Have a Dream," and "Angeleyes."

1982 - Modern English released their second studio album, After the Snow. It features the singles "Life in the Gladhouse," "Someone’s Calling," and "I Melt with You."

1983 - "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners went to No. 1 in the U.S. It was the only American hit for the English group.

1987 - Carole King sued her former label head and mentor, Lou Adler, for $400,000 in royalties and the publishing rights to some of her older recordings from the late-'60s.

1986 - Songwriter Harold Arlen, whose compositions include such Great American Songbook entries as "Over The Rainbow" and "Stormy Weather," died at age 81.

1988 - Whitney Houston smashed a chart record held by The Beatles and The Bee Gees when "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" became her seventh consecutive U.S. No. 1.

1991 - Founder and member of the New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders (John Anthony Genzale, Jr), died of a drug overdose. The band's first two albums — New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974) — became among the most popular cult records in rock. Thunders later played with The Heartbreakers and as a solo artist.

1991 - Fishbone released their third studio album, The Reality of My Surroundings. It features the singles "Fight the Youth," "Sunless Saturday," and "Everyday Sunshine."

1991 - fIREHOSE released their fourth studio album, Flyin’ the Flannel. It features the singles "Down with the Bass" and "Can't Believe."

1994 - Pink Floyd's album The Division Bell went to No. 1 in the U.S., where it stayed for four weeks.

1996 - Spoon released their debut studio album, Telephono. It features the single "Not Turning Off."

2001 - Yann Tiersen released the soundtrack album Amélie (also known as Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain). It features instrumental tracks including "J'y suis jamais allé," "La valse d'Amélie," and "Comptine d'un autre été: L'après-midi."

2001 - Zero 7 released their debut studio album, Simple Things. It features the singles "Destiny," "In the Waiting Line," and "Distractions."

2002 - Wilco released Yankee Hotel Foxtrot on Nonesuch Records. The release was not without controversy — the band made the album in 2001, but Reprise Records, a Warner Music Group label, refused to release it. Then Wilco left the label, got the rights to the album, and released it for free on their website. Wilco signed with Nonesuch Records (another Warner label) in November of that year, and the album was officially released on April 23 of 2002. It includes the tracks, "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart," "Jesus, Etc.," "Heavy Metal Drummer," and "I'm the Man Who Loves You." Yankee Hotel Foxtrot became Wilco's best-selling work up to that point in their career, reaching No. 13 on the Billboard 200 chart. As of 2026, Wilco’s highest-charting albums to date are 2007’s Sky Blue Sky and 2009’s Wilco (The Album), each of which peaked at No. 4.

2002 - Paul Westerberg released the album Stereo. It was issued alongside a companion album, Mono, under the alias Grandpaboy. Notable tracks from Stereo include "Baby Learns to Crawl," "Boring Enormous," and "Call That Gone?"

2003 - Goldfrapp released their second studio album, Black Cherry. It features the singles "Train," "Strict Machine," and "Twist."

2007 - Arctic Monkeys released their second studio album, Favourite Worst Nightmare. It features the singles "Brianstorm" (not a typo), "Fluorescent Adolescent," and "Teddy Picker."

2010 - Hole released their fourth album, Nobody’s Daughter. It features “Skinny Little B*tch,” “Pacific Coast Highway,” and “Letter to God.”

2012 - Jack White released his debut solo album, Blunderbuss. It features the singles "Love Interruption," "Sixteen Saltines," "Freedom at 21," and "I'm Shakin'."

2012 - Country rock bass guitarist Chris Ethridge died at age 65 from pancreatic cancer. He was a member of the International Submarine Band and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Ethridge also worked with Nancy Sinatra, Leon Russell, Delaney Bramlett, Johnny Winter, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Jackson Browne, and Willie Nelson.

2012 - Thomas "Tommy" Marth, the touring and studio saxophonist for the Killers, died at his Las Vegas home. The 33-year-old musician joined the band in 2005 and played on the live tours between 2008 and 2010.

2012 - Neil Diamond married his longtime manager Katie McNeil. At the time, Diamond was 71 and McNeil was 42. As of 2026, the couple reside primarily in Los Angeles.

2016 - Beyoncé released her sixth studio album, Lemonade. It features the singles "Formation," "Sorry," and "Hold Up."

2016 - Bruce Springsteen saluted the recently deceased Prince by opening his show in Brooklyn with a rendition of "Purple Rain" (Nils Lofgren takes the guitar solo). The E Street Band wore purple for the show, deviating from their usual black. On March 31, 2026, Springsteen reprised his cover of “Purple Rain” at a concert at Target Center in Minneapolis.

2017 - Kerry Turman, bassist for The Temptations, died at age 59 following a performance in Missouri.

2017 - Bananarama announced their intention to reunite with a U.K. tour. Aside from a brief regroup for a Eurovision special years earlier, the original trio hadn't performed together since Siobhan Fahey's departure in 1988.

2021 - Dinosaur Jr. released their 12th studio album, Sweep It Into Space. It features the singles "I Ran Away" and "Garden."

Birthdays:

Roy Orbison was born today in 1936.

Pop singer Ray Peterson, best known for the song, “Tell Laura I Love Her,” was born today in 1939.

Dale Houston of Dale & Grace was born today in 1940.

Glenn Cornick, bassist for Jethro Tull, was born today in 1947.

David Cross, electric violinist for King Crimson, is 77.

Ray “Captain Sensible” Burns of The Damned is 72.

Steve Clark of Def Leppard was born today in 1960.

David Gedge of The Wedding Present is 66.

Matt Freeman — Operation Ivy, Rancid, Devil’s Brigade — is 60.

Simon Matthews of Jesus Jones is 62.

Stan Frazier of Sugar Ray is 58.

Identical twin brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner of the National are 50 today. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aaron is a founding member of the National, and Bryce joined the group for its second album, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers. Both of them work closely with frontman Matt Berninger on the band’s compositions. But that’s not all! The Dessners have many other projects. Aaron has collaborated with Taylor Swift in recent years, as well as Justin Vernon for Big Red Machine. Aaron’s other credits include songs by Michael Stipe, Sharon Van Etten, Local Natives, Frightened Rabbit, and many others. As for Bryce, he has busied himself collaborating with Swift, Sufjan Stevens, Paul Simon, Jonny Greenwood, and several world-class symphony orchestras. In 2023, the Dessners were No. 243 on Rolling Stone’s 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list.

Laufey is 27.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts, U.S. Inflation Calculator, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Billboard, and Wikipedia.