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Today in Music

May, 24

  • 1998 The first Native American Music Awards take place at the Fox Theater at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. The show is hosted by Wayne Newton, and presenters include Joe Walsh, Bruce Cockburn, Richie Havens and John Trudell. Lifetime achievement awards go to Robbie Robertson and Frederick Whiteface.
  • 1998 In an official ceremony backstage prior to Van Halen’s show at the CoreStates Spectrum, Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell proclaims May 24th Van Halen Day in Philadelphia. Each member of the band is given a personalized replica of the Liberty Bell.
  • 1996 Musician Barney (Bernard Jean) Wilen dies at the age of 59.
  • 1991 Byrds co-founder and Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Gene Clark dies of a heart attack at the age of 46. He is found unconscious in his Sherman Oaks, Calif., home. The Byrds’ biggest hits are the No. 1 songs “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season).”
  • 1984 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” Deniece Williams. The song is featured in the film “Footloose.” Williams is a member of Stevie Wonder’s backup group, Wonderlove, from 1972-75.
  • 1975 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Shining Star,” Earth, Wind & Fire.
  • 1964 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Love Me Do,” The Beatles.
  • 1955 Rosanne Cash is born, the daughter of Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto. Among her numerous No. 1 country singles are “My Baby Thinks He’s a Train” and “Blue Moon with Heartache.”
  • 1944 Patti LaBelle (Patricia Holt) is born in Philadelphia. She sings with Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles (later shortened to LaBelle), which has the No. 1 hit “Lady Marmalade.” The singer’s solo career takes off in the 1980s and she has a No. 1 duet, “On My Own,” in 1986 with Michael MacDonald.
  • 1941 Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman) is born in Duluth, Minn. His biggest hit is “Like a Rolling Stone,” a No. 2 song in 1965. Three of his albums top Billboard’s album chart in the 1970s: “Planet Waves,” “Blood on the Tracks” and “Desire.” He is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and receives a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1991.