October 20

2003: Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, the star of the movie The Harder They Come, is awarded Jamaica’s Order of Merit, honoring his work in music and film.

1977: Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd are killed when their plane crashes in a swamp near Gillsburg, Miss.

1973: The Rolling Stones get their first #1 with Angie.

1971: Rapper Snoop Dogg (Calvin Broadus) is born.  California Gurls (with Katy Perry) is his biggest hit.

1967: The Beatles record the flute part for The Fool On The Hill.

1965: The Beatles record We Can Work It Out.

1961: Bob Dylan’s self-titled first album is released.  Song To Woody is its best-known tune.

1953: Singer-songwriter Tom Petty of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers is born. His hits include I Won’t Back Down, Free Fallin’ and American Girl. He also was a member of the Traveling Wilburys.  The Willburys had a big hit with Handle Me With Care.

Songs Of The Day:

American Girl (Tom Petty); I Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty); Free Fallin’ (Tom Petty); Handle me With Care (Travelling Wilburys); Gold Digger (Kanye West); The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff); You Can Get It If You Really Want (Jimmy Cliff); Angie (Rolling Stones); California Gurls (Snoop Dogg/Katy Perry); The Fool On The Hill (Beatles); We Can Work It Out (Beatles); Song To Woody (Dylan)