Today in 1957, Egypt banned rock and roll music, calling it “an imperialist plot” and an example of “Western degeneracy.”

Today in 1966, Neil Diamond made his first TV appearance, on ABC-TV’s “American Bandstand”:

There seems to be a blue theme today, starting with the first birthday, Harold Melvin, who had Blue Notes:

Carly Simon:

Ian McDonald played guitar for King Crimson (oops, not blue) and Foreigner:

Alan Lanier of Blue Öyster Cult:

Brian MacLeod of Chilliwack:

Tim Finn of Crowded House:

George Michael: