History Highlight:

Marvin Gaye was born today in 1939. First coming to prominence as a session musician for Motown in the 1960s, he had many hit singles when he later went solo, such as "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". He is also known for his popular duets with musicians such as Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Ross and Tammi Terrell. In 1982, he released the Grammy award-winning hit song "Sexual Healing". Gaye died in 1984, one day before his birthday, when his father fatally shot him. His legacy lives on through many posthumus awards and honors including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and inclusion in the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Also, Today In:

1964 - The Beach Boys recorded their next single "I Get Around," which became their first U.S. No. 1 in the summer of that year.

1969 - Bruce Springsteen's early band, Child, made their live debut at the Pandemonium Club in Wanamassa, N.J.

1971 - Janis Joplin was at No. 1 on the U.S. album charts with Pearl.

1977 - Fleetwood Mac went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Rumours. The album is Fleetwood Mac's most successful release; along with winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978, the record has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide.

1987 - One of the greatest jazz drummers of all time, Buddy Rich, died at age 69 due to complications caused by a brain tumor.

1990 - Nirvana went into Smart Studios in Madison, Wis., and started work on demo versions of "In Bloom," "Dive," "Lithium," "Pay To Play," "Imodium," "Sappy," and "Polly", with Butch Vig producing.

2003 - Soul singer Edwin Starr died at age 61 of a heart attack at his home near Nottingham, England. Best-known for his 1970 No. 1 song "War", his songs "25 Miles" and "Stop the War Now" were also major successes in the 1960s.

2004 - Coldplay singer Chris Martin was accused of attacking a photographer after leaving a London restaurant with his then-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow.

2006 - Gnarls Barkley started an eight-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "Crazy." The duo of singer Cee Lo Green and producer Danger Mouse made chart history by becoming the first act ever to reach No. 1 through computer downloads only.

2006 - Marvin Gaye was honored when a park in Washington D.C. that was formerly called Watts Branch Park was officially renamed Marvin Gaye Park on what would have been the singer's 67th birthday. Gaye grew up near the east end of the park that now bears his name.

2011 - LCD Soundsystem played their final ever gig at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The show lasted four hours and featured Arcade Fire and Reggie Watts.

2014 - Recordings by U2, ('The Joshua Tree'), the Everly Brothers, ('Cathy's Clown'), Jeff Buckley, ('Hallelujah'), Linda Ronstadt, ('Heart Like a Wheel') and Creedence Clearwater Revival ('Fortunate Son') were among those newly selected for induction into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

2019 - Electronica, soul, gospel, and house music singer Kim English died at age 48. By 2007, English had earned her sixth, seventh and eighth U.S. dance No. 1s with 'It Makes a Difference', 'C'est La Vie' and 'My Destiny'.

Birthdays:

Serge Gainsbourg was born today in 1928.

Kurt Winter of The Guess Who was born today in 1946.

Leon Wilkeson, Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist, was born today in 1952.

David Robinson, drummer for The Cars and The Modern Lovers, is 71.

Emmylou Harris is 73.

Keren Woodward of Bananarama is 59.

Clifford Smith (Method Man) is 50.

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