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Today's Morning Edition music is from a group that was first known as the Detours. 

For a while they were known as the High Numbers. 

Pete Townsend thought they should be called The Hair. 

But 50 years ago today the band began a 16-week engagement at London's Marquee Club with a name that would stick: The Who.  

They would soon release their first single "I Can't Explain," which Townsend says he wrote to sound like the music of another British band they admired: The Kinks. It would make it to No. 8 on the UK pop chart.

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The Who was previously known as the Detours and the High Numbers.  Pete Townsend thought the band should be called The Hair.

Today's Morning Edition music is from a group that was first known as the Detours. For awhile they were known as the High Numbers.  Pete Townsend thought they should be called The Hair. But 50 years ago today the band began a 16-week engagement at London's Marquee Club with a name that would stick: The Who.  They would soon release their first single "I Can't Explain" which Townsend says he wrote to sound like the music of another British band they admired: The Kinks. It would make it to number 8 on the UK pop chart.

Several names later, The Who hit it big

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