History Highlight:

Today in 1980, Blondie released "Call Me", the main theme song of the 1980 film "American Gigolo". It peaked at No. 1 in the U.S. for six consecutive weeks and also hit No. 1 in the U.K. and Canada, where it became their fourth and second chart-topper respectively. The song was the top-selling single of the year in the U.S. in 1980, and in 1981 it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Also, in:

1963 - 17-year-old Neil Young performed his first professional gig at a country club in Winnipeg.

1964 - The Beatles started a seven-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "I Want To Hold Your Hand".

1965 - At the Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, James Brown recorded "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag".

1967 - At Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles started work on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

1969 - Tommy James and the Shondells started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Crimson And Clover".

1986 - Diana Ross married Norwegian shipping magnate Arne Naess in Geneva and Stevie Wonder performed at the reception. The couple divorced in 2000.

1992 - George Michael and Elton John went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", which was also a No. 1 in the U.K. All proceeds from the single went to AIDS charities.

2008 - NASA announced that "Across the Universe" by The Beatles was to become the first song ever to be beamed directly into space.

2012 - Don Cornelius, the host of "Soul Train" from 1971 until 1993, who helped break down racial barriers and broaden the reach of Black culture, died. He was 75.

Birthdays:

Don Everly, guitarist/singer with The Everly Brothers, is 80.

Rick James was born today in 1948.

Mike Campbell, guitarist with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is 67.

Lisa Marie Presley is 49.

Patrick Wilson, drummer for Weezer, is 48.

Big Boi (Antoine Patton) of Outkast is 42.

Harry Styles is 23.

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