Looking back on this day in music history

In 1952, Stewart Copeland, drummer with the rock band “The Police,” was born in Alexandria, Va. Copeland, previously a member of the progressive rock group “Curved Air,” formed “The Police” in 1977 with vocalist Sting (Gordon Sumner). Guitarist Andy Summers would join soon after. “The Police” broke up in 1986. On March 10, 2003, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and performed live some of their hits including “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” and “Every Breath You Take.” Then Copeland turned to composing movie soundtracks, and performed with “The Doors of the 21st Century.” “The Police” reunited for a worldwide tour in 2007.

In 1959, “The Coasters” recorded “Poison Ivy” in New York.

In 1966, guitarist Eric Clapton, formerly of “John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers” and “The Yardbirds,” joined two ex-members of “The Graham Bond Organisation,” bass guitarist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker, to form “Cream.” The influential blues-rock trio sold more than 15 million albums in their three years together, before differences between the band members broke up the group. “Cream” is remembered for songs such as “Strange Brew,” “White Room” and “Sunshine of Your Love.” They put their differences aside to perform at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. They also played reunion concerts in 2005.

In 1973, Bob Dylan’s “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid” soundtrack LP was released. The album contained the hit single “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

In 1976, “Loggins and Messina” broke up. Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina teamed up for several albums and a top-10 single with “Your Mama Don’t Dance.” They reunited in 2005 and 2009 for tours.

In 1980, “No Nukes,” a film documentary of several anti-nuclear benefit concerts, premiered in New York. Among the performers in the film: “The Doobie Brothers,” “Crosby, Stills and Nash,” Jackson Browne and James Taylor.

In 1981, singer-songwriter Harry Chapin was killed in a car crash on a New York City freeway. Chapin died of a heart attack when his compact car was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer as he was on his way to a benefit concert. He was 39. He was best known for “Taxi,” a top-20 hit in 1972, and “Cat’s in the Cradle,” which hit No. 1 in ‘74.

In 1986, Dolly Parton’s “Dollywood” amusement park opened in Tennessee.

In 1993, “Rolling Stones” frontman Mick Jagger celebrated his 50th birthday with a French revolutionary costume party and banquet on the grounds of a suburban London teaching college.