Today in Rock Music History

2005
- R.L. Burnside, a blues guitarist and singer who found fame working with the John Spencer Blues Explosion dies at age 78 in Memphis

2004
- Tim McGraw sells 765,000 copies of Live Like You Were Dying to top US album chart. In at #1 is R. Kelly's double album Happy People/You Saved Me. G-Unit rapper Young Buck makes his debut at #3 with Straight Outta Cashville
-Alejandro Sanz dominates the Latin Grammys, winning Male Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year for No Es Lo Mismo. The title track is named Song of the Year and Record of the Year
-OutKast's Andre 3000 visits Republican National Convention in New York to convince young people to vote.

2003
-Sir Elton John tops U.K. singles chart with Are You Ready for Love.
-Australian rockers Jet deny they signed to Elektra for $3 million

2000
-A federal judge awards Herb Reed of The Platters an injunction against another group Reed described as "these phony people going around calling themselves The Platters."

1998
-David Bowie unveils his Bowienet online community

1989
-U2 bassist Adam Clayton pleads guilty to a charge of marijuana possession. But Irish judge lets him off the hook in return for donation to a Dublin women's center

1981
-Bob Dylan releases his Heart of Mine single in Europe only.

1980
-Fleetwood Mac wrap up 9 month tour at Hollywood Bowl with Lindsey Buckingham telling audience "This is our last show for a long time."

1979
- In Sydney, INXS make their live debut at Oceanview Hotel. It's 4 years before they have their 1st U.S. Top 40 hit with The One Thing.
-U2 release their first record, the U2-3 EP

1977
- New York's Blondie signs with Chrysalis label

1976
-L.A. music force Lou Adler and employee Neil Silver are kidnapped.

1972
-David Bowie releases "John, I'm Only Dancing" in the U.K. The lyrics "He turns me on" don't refer to Iggy Pop

1967
-Boz Scaggs joins Steve Miller Band on guitar

1965
-James Brown introduces the funk of Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, then Booker T & the MG's perform on Shindig

1957
-Gloria Estefan is born in Havana, Cuba

1956
-Elvis Presley buys his mother Gladys a pink Cadillac.

1955
-Bruce Foxton, bassist with The Jam, is born

1946
-The Bee Gees Barry Gib is born in Manchester, England

1944
-Archie Bell, who led to The Drells #1 hit with Tighten Up is born in Henderson, Texas.

1933
-Country star Conway Twitty is born in Friar's Point, Miss.

1931
-Boxcar Willie is born in Sterret, Texas