The number one single today in 1970 was also the number one single of 1970:

The number one single today in 1976 is the first record I ever purchased, for $1.03 at a Madison drugstore just before it left the WISM radio top 40 list:

Today in 1977,  a member of the audience at a Ray Charles concert tried to strangle him with a rope.

The number one single today in 1981:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebt0BR5wHYs

Birthdays today start with Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a7cHPy04s8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfGYSHy1jQs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptg4do5akw0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAOQkSFTKMw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcndxAyNDYw

Joe South:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5znh58WITU8

Donnie Iris of the Jaggerz:

Ronnie Rosman of Tommy James and the Shondells:

Cindy Wilson of the B-52s:

Ian Stanley played keyboards for Tears for Fears:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajy1xNB-LkI

Phil Gould of Level 42:

Four deaths of note today: Frankie Lymon in 1968 …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96ylFiQK_I

… one-hit-wonder Bobby Bloom in 1974 …

… David Byron of Uriah Heep in 1985 …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4o–q6xuvs

… and drummer George Allen “Buddy” Miles, who had the good taste to record with two of the greatest rock guitarists of all time on the same song, in 2008: