On this day today:
1948 - Leo Sayer is born Gerard Hugh Sayer in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England.
1955 - Chuck Berry records his first single, "Maybellene," at Chess Records in Chicago.
1964 - The Drifters record "Under The Boardwalk" the day after their lead singer, Rudy Lewis, is found dead. Johnny Moore, a former member, steps in to replace him and deliver the lead vocals for what becomes one of the group's most iconic songs.
1972 - The Notorious B.I.G. is born Christopher George Latore Wallace in Brooklyn, New York.
1976 - Blue Öyster Cult release their most popular album, Agents Of Fortune. Propelled by the hit single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," the album sells over a million copies in America, cementing the band's place in rock history.
1977 - Stevie Wonder hits #1 in America with "Sir Duke," a tribute to Duke Ellington, who died in 1974.
1977 - Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album takes over the #1 spot in the US from the Eagles' Hotel California.
1977 - Rod Stewart was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the double A sided single 'I Don't Want To Talk About It / First Cut Is The Deepest.'
1979 - Elton John becomes the first Western act to tour the U.S.S.R., beginning with the first of eight concerts in Leningrad. This groundbreaking tour marks a significant moment in cultural exchange during the Cold War era.
1981 - Reggae star Bob Marley is buried with state honors in St. Ann's, Jamaica.
1982 - The Hacienda Club opened its doors in Manchester, England, becoming a legendary venue that hosted numerous iconic acts including Oasis, Happy Mondays, The Smiths, Charlatans, James, and M People. Madonna even made her UK TV debut at the club during a live broadcast of the C4 music show The Tube. Despite its cultural significance, the club closed its doors in 1997, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the music scene.
1983 - "Little Red Corvette" climbs to #6 in the US, giving Prince his first Top 10 hit on the Hot 100. The video is also notable for being one of the first by a black artist to receive heavy rotation on MTV, marking a significant milestone in the network's history.
1983 - David Bowie's "Let's Dance" hits #1 on the US chart.
1983 - ZZ Top releases their iconic video for "Gimme All Your Lovin'," featuring the debut appearance of the Eliminator, Billy Gibbons' customized 1933 Ford Hot Rod. The car becomes synonymous with the band, appearing in three more ZZ Top videos and becoming an emblem of their image. Gibbons even has another Eliminator built to take on tour, solidifying its status as a legendary symbol of ZZ Top's rock 'n' roll persona.
1993 - Sliver, starring Sharon Stone and William Baldwin, is released in the US. Although the movie is panned by critics, its prominent use of UB40's cover of the Elvis Presley song "Can't Help Falling in Love" helps the band achieve their second #1 hit in the States. The song, originally released as the lead single from their 1993 album Promises and Lies, gains widespread popularity through the film.
1994 - R&B vocal group All-4-One hits #1 on the Hot 100 with "I Swear," a cover of a country song by John Michael Montgomery.
2016 - Following the release of his album Views, Drake achieves a remarkable feat by placing a record-breaking 20 songs on the Hot 100 chart. This surpasses Justin Bieber's previous record of 17 songs, set on December 5, 2015, showcasing Drake's unparalleled dominance in the music industry.
2021 - Olivia Rodrigo releases her highly anticipated debut album, Sour, which features her breakout single, "Drivers License," along with other hits like "Deja Vu," "Good 4 U," and "Brutal." The album showcases Rodrigo's raw talent and emotional depth, solidifying her as a formidable force in the music industry.
