On this day today:
1944 - Joe Cocker is born John Robert Cocker in Sheffield, England.
1946 - Cher is born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, California.
1965 - The Rolling Stones debuted "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" on the American variety show Shindig! This landmark performance helped solidify their status as rock legends. They also made sure their musical hero, blues legend Howlin' Wolf, was on the show. The Stones introduced his performance of "How Many More Years," paying tribute to the blues influence on their music and bringing Howlin' Wolf's powerful sound to a broader audience.
1970 - George Harrison met producer Phil Spector at Abbey Road Studios to play demos of the songs for his debut album, "All Things Must Pass." This meeting marked the beginning of a significant collaboration, as Spector's production style would help shape the iconic sound of Harrison's triple album, which became a critical and commercial success.
1972 - Rapper Busta Rhymes is born Trevor George Smith Jr. in Brooklyn, New York.
1981 - Rachel Platten is born in New York City. She grows up in Newton, Massachusetts.
1989 - Paula Abdul notches her second #1 US hit with "Forever Your Girl," the title track to her debut album.
1991 - The first album from an MTV Unplugged performance is released when Paul McCartney issues Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) in the UK.
1997 - Foo Fighters release their second album, The Colour And The Shape, with the hits "Everlong" and "My Hero."
1998 - Frank Sinatra's funeral in Beverly Hills drew 400 invited guests and numerous onlookers, underscoring his immense impact on the entertainment world. Among the attendees were Tony Bennett, Angie Dickinson, Joey Bishop (the only surviving member of the Rat Pack), Liza Minnelli, Jack Nicholson, Tony Danza, and Tom Selleck, all gathering to pay their respects to the legendary singer and actor.
2006 - The Finnish band Lordi win the Eurovision Song Contest - the first heavy metal band ever to do so.
2007 - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z started a 10 week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Umbrella'.
2009 - Kris Allen wins season 8 of American Idol, defeating Adam Lambert in a surprise victory.
2015 - The Rolling Stones played a surprise gig at the 1,300-capacity Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, where they performed the entire "Sticky Fingers" album. This intimate show gave fans a rare opportunity to experience the iconic album live in its entirety.
2016 - The BPI reported that in 2015, British artists accounted for one in every six albums sold worldwide, thanks to the immense success of stars like Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, One Direction, and Adele. Adele was the standout, selling 17.4 million copies of her third album, "25," in just six weeks, driving this impressive achievement.
2017 - At the Palladium in London, The Cranberries play their last show with lead singer Dolores O'Riordan.
2022 - Harry Styles released his third solo album, "Harry's House," which debuted at #1 in the US, UK, and numerous other countries. The album features hits such as "As It Was" and "Late Night Talking," further cementing Styles' status as a leading figure in contemporary music.
