It will be 50 years since:

• The Beach Boys' first single, "Surfin'," reached the Billboard singles chart, as well as the band's signing with their longtime label Capitol Records.
• The Beatles' first British hit, "Love Me Do," was recorded and released in Britain.
• The Motortown Revue, the first Motown package tour, spent two months crisscrossing the country with what Berry Gordy tabbed "The Sound of Young America."

It will be 40 years since:

• The Eagles' first hit, "Take It Easy."
• Paul Simon's first solo hit, "Mother and Child Reunion."
• Helen Reddy's feminist anthem "I Am Woman" reached number-one.

It will be 30 years since:

• Michael Jackson's Thriller was released and became the best-selling album of all time.
• Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder joined forces for the brotherhood anthem "Ebony and Ivory."
• The first compact disc was manufactured.

It will be 25 years since:

• CD sales overtook those of LPs.
• Dirty Dancing, the classic coming-of-age tale with a vintage '60s soundtrack, was released.
• An iconic rock and roller inspired a cleverly titled flavor of Ben and Jerry's ice cream -- Cherry Garcia.

And several rock and roll legends have big birthdays this year:

• Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Aretha Franklin, Graham Nash, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, Dave Clark, Felix Cavaliere, Al Jardine, Johnny Rivers and Roger McGuinn are among those who'll turn 70 this year.
• Michael McDonald, Chrissie Hynde, Gerry Beckley and Nile Rodgers reach the big six-oh during 2012.
• Paula Abdul, Jon Bon Jovi and Sheryl Crow will celebrate their 50th birthdays.