History Highlight:

Today in 1993, 40,000 people turned out in Ames, Iowa, for Farm Aid VI, a benefit for family farmers in the United States, organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Alongside Nelson and Young, other performers on the bill included Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett, Ringo Starr, Martina McBride, and The Jayhawks.

Also, Today in:

1961 - Bob Dylan appeared on Harry Belafonte's album The Midnight Special, playing harmonica on the track "Calypso King". Dylan was paid a $50 session fee for this his first-ever recording.

1961 - Del Shannon started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Runaway".

1968 - The Beatles' new company, Apple Records, turned down an offer to sign a new artist by the name of David Bowie.

1971 - Crosby Stills Nash & Young went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with "4 Way Street."

1976 - Wings At The Speed Of Sound went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart. Paul McCartney's fifth No. 1 album after The Beatles became his most successful American chart album, spending seven non-consecutive weeks at No. 1.

1979 - Ray Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" was proclaimed the state song of Georgia. Originally written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell, many assume the song is a Ray Charles original due to his close association with the song — widely regarded as the definitive rendition.

1981 - New Order started work on their first album at Strawberry studios in Stockport, England.

1992 - David Bowie married Somali-born supermodel and actress Iman in Switzerland.

2012 - Sinead O'Connor cancelled the remaining dates of her world tour, saying she was still recovering from a "very serious breakdown". In a statement on her official website, she said she had canceled all concerts that year due to her bipolar disorder. Her website was also deleted along with her Twitter account.

2016 - Papa Wemba, the King of Rumba Rock, died at age 66 during a show. He was one of the most popular musicians of his time in Africa and played an important role in world music.

2016 - American soul singer Billy Paul died at his home in New Jersey, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 81. He was best known for his 1972 hit "Me and Mrs. Jones", which won a Grammy and reached No. 1 in the U.S.

Birthdays:

Barbra Streisand is 75.

Kelly Clarkson is 35.

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