Today in Music History - 1979: The instrumental "Rise" by Herb Alpert goes to #1 in America, thanks to its use on the soap opera General Hospital. According to Billboard's Fred Bronson, "British club DJs failed to notice the imported American 12-inch pressings were recorded at 33 rpm, and played 'Rise' at the wrong speed, making it sound much faster than even Randy had intended. As the song was instrumental, there were no clues to suggest they were wrong and 'Rise' became a U

Today in Music History - 2014: Raphael Ravenscroft, who played the famous saxophone solo on "Baker Street," died at age 60.(Now there's trivia that might come in handy someday)

Today in Music History - 1998: "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies hits #1 in the US, where it stays for...well....one week.

Today in Music History - 1976: Disc jockey Rick Dees (and his cast of idiots) hit #1 with "Disco Duck," a goofy number that envisions Donald Duck enjoying the spoils of the disco era. It is the last novelty song to top the Hot 100. (This just goes to show why DJs should just stay behind the microphone)

Today in Music History - 1977: Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" hits #1 for the first of 10 weeks, the longest consecutive chart run in the history of the Hot 100 at the time. It also became the song of the decade! Since this song is trash, and I'm not going to be mean to you. Here's another song with Light in the title!

Happy Birthday!!! 1978: Usher is born, Usher Raymond IV, in Dallas, Texas. He relocates to Atlanta and puts out his first album when he's 15. He rules the charts in the '00s with seven #1 hits, including the club banger "Yeah!" I saw him open for Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope tour in Rochester. No idea who he was, and I remember saying, " He's pretty good!." Little did we know at the time.

Today in Music History - 2022: Following years as a featured vocalist for the likes of Jonas Blue, Jax Jones, and David Guetta, Raye releases her breakthrough single, "Escapism," a song about "running away from reality as fast as you possibly can." Months later, it's included on her debut album, My 21st Century Blues.

Happy Birthday to John Lennon AND Sean Lennon. Sean was born on his father's 35th Birthday in 1975. (Mom was Yoko.) Here's John's 1974 song that went #1, his only one while he was alive. If you pay attention, that's Elton John doing harmony and piano. While in the studio, Elton bet Lennon that the song would top the charts, and such was Lennon's skepticism that Elton secured from him a promise to appear on stage at one of his performances, should the record indeed hit #1. Whe

Today in Music History - 1980: Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album is released in the US. It includes a bit called "Rock Notes," which begins: "Rex Stardust, lead electric triangle with Toad the Wet Sprocket, has had to have an elbow removed." Seven years later, a real band forms with that name in California. They have hits in the '90s with "Walk on the Ocean" and "All I Want."

1970: The Public Broadcasting Service officially went on the air, beginning its mission to provide educational, cultural, and high-quality non-commercial programming to American households. In a related note, a year earlier 1969, the BBC aired the very first episode of the iconic British surreal sketch comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus. Which I watched on PBS as a kid. The name "Monty Python" didn't mean anything. The group came up with it when they were commissioned

Today in Music History - 1971: Soul Train makes its debut, with guests Gladys Knight & the Pips, Eddie Kendricks, and Honey Cone. It stays on the air an astonishing 35 years. Here is the original theme song from 1971 in 1974 TSOP and the Three Degrees recorded a version of the theme that won a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. It charted #1 Hot 100, R&B, and Easy Listening.

Today in Music History - 1977: #1 on the Hot 100 is "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" by Meco. Go listen to the 15-minute song made up of Star Wars music set to a disco beat. There's even an R2-D2 bleeping. This is the radio edit that you heard on the radio. (well, I did) We were all obsessed with all things Star Wars!

Today in Music History - 1995: Mariah Carey's "Fantasy" becomes just the second single to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 where it stays for eight weeks. The first to debut at #1 was Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone."

Today in Music History - 1984: "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince and the Revolution hits #1 for the first of two weeks. From the movie Purple Rain. I have to do this, since it might be my favorite song ever!

Today in Music History - 1974: Andy Kim's "Rock Me Gently" hits #1 in America. He was one of the co-writers and singers of The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar.." This was his only #1 by his real name. Enjoy your Earworm!

Today in Music History - It's a great weekend for Pink! 2008: Pink earns her first solo #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "So What" from her fifth studio album, Funhouse. It holds the position for one week. 2012: Pink, aka "P!nk," lands her first #1 album in America with The Truth About Love. Her sixth studio album, it features the hits "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" and "Just Give Me A Reason."

Today in Music History - 1975: The Rocky Horror Picture Show opens in Westwood, California. Featuring a young Meat Loaf along with Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, the movie tanks but later becomes a cult classic, with audience members shouting back at the screen and bringing toast, toilet paper, and other assorted items to enhance the viewing experience. I wanted both The Time Warp and Sweet Transvestite, but will settle for this in memory of Tim Curry! (he absolutely owns this

Today in Music History - 1970: The Partridge Family's self-titled TV show debuts on ABC. Two months later, their song "I Think I Love You" hits #1 in America. Here's your ear worm for the day!

Today in Music History - It would have been Jim Henson's 90th birthday today. He originally built his very first puppets out of an old winter coat belonging to his mother and some discarded ping-pong balls cut in half for eyes. He also had 2 chart hits "Rubber Duckie" (as Ernie - #16 in 1970) and "Rainbow Connection" (as Kermit the Frog - #25 in 1979).

Today in Music History - 2010: Katy Perry's appearance on Sesame Street is edited out after viewers complain about her revealing dress. SNL poked fun at it with Katy (way worse) and it's hilarious!!! It's actually starts at 2:50 in.