On this day today:
1942 - Brian Wilson, the musical genius behind The Beach Boys, is born in Inglewood, California.
1945 - Anne Murray, born Morna Anne Murray in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada, is a celebrated Canadian singer known for her smooth alto voice and numerous hits across various genres, including pop, country, and adult contemporary.
1949 - Lionel Richie is born in Tuskegee, Alabama. He rises to fame initially as a member of the Commodores, a prominent funk and soul band known for hits like "Brick House" and "Easy." Richie later embarks on a highly successful solo career, becoming one of the best-selling artists of all time with chart-topping singles such as "Hello," "All Night Long," and "Endless Love." His smooth voice and heartfelt lyrics have earned him numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards, and a lasting legacy in the music industry.
1960 - John Taylor, born Nigel John Taylor in Solihull, Warwickshire, England, co-founds the iconic new wave band Duran Duran. As the bassist, he helps drive the band to international stardom with hits like "Rio," "Hungry Like the Wolf," and "Save a Prayer." Beyond Duran Duran, Taylor also finds success with the rock supergroup The Power Station, known for their hit "Some Like It Hot."
1969 - Inspired by Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, David Bowie records "Space Oddity." This iconic song, which tells the story of fictional astronaut Major Tom, becomes one of Bowie's most enduring hits, marking a pivotal moment in his career and solidifying his reputation as a visionary artist in the music industry.
1975 - John Travolta makes his film debut in The Devil's Rain, a horror flick where he plays a Satanist alongside William Shatner. Just two years later, Travolta's career takes a dramatic turn as he becomes a cultural icon with his role in Saturday Night Fever, showcasing his dance moves and propelling him to stardom.
1978 - Foreigner releases their second album, Double Vision, featuring hits like the energetic "Hot Blooded" and the powerful title track.
1981 - "Stars on 45" reached No. 1 on the US singles chart with its medley of Beatles songs set to a disco beat. This success marked the beginning of a series of "Stars On" hits, which included medleys of Stevie Wonder songs, punk songs, Status Quo hits, and even tracks by Chas & Dave.
1988 - MCA Records releases two landmark albums from their hottest young R&B acts: Bobby Brown's Don't Be Cruel and New Edition's Heart Break. Both albums become significant hits, shaping the sound of R&B in the late '80s.
1992 - Mariah Carey secured her sixth chart-topping single in the US with "I'll Be There," a track that reached No. 2 in the UK. The song had previously topped the US charts for The Jackson Five in 1970.
1995 - Michael Jackson's ninth album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, is released to considerable fanfare. MTV even rebrands as "MJTV" for a week to honor the iconic singer's impact and legacy.
1999 - Jamiroquai reached the top spot on the UK album chart with their album "Synkronized," marking their second album to achieve this feat.
2003 - On his 54th birthday, Lionel Richie receives a memorable gift: a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his legacy as a music icon and celebrating his remarkable contributions to the industry.
2004 - Paul McCartney reaches a monumental milestone by performing his 3,000th live show in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
2014 - The BBC airs the documentary Billy Joel: The Bridge To Russia, chronicling his groundbreaking 1987 tour in the Soviet Union, which marked a significant cultural exchange during the Cold War era.
2014 - Researchers from the University of Amsterdam conducted a study using songs by Elvis Presley, ABBA, the Spice Girls, and others to investigate how memory functions. They created an online game where participants identified song clips and compared their catchiness, aiming to understand why certain tunes become earworms—songs that get stuck in your head. This research sought to uncover insights into the mechanisms of memory and how music impacts our cognitive processes.
2019 - David Gilmour's guitar collection made headlines when nearly 130 instruments were auctioned at Christie's in New York. Among the standout sales was Gilmour's iconic "Black Strat," which fetched an impressive $3,975,000. Another significant item was a 1954 Fender Stratocaster, serial number 0001, used in the recording of "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2," which sold for over $1.8 million. Additionally, a 1958 Gretsch White Penguin and a 1955 Gibson Goldtop Les Paul, both also used in recording sessions, sold for $447,000 each. These sales set world auction records, highlighting the enduring legacy and cultural impact of Gilmour and Pink Floyd's music.
