On this day today:
1917 - Lena Horne was born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. She would go on to become a celebrated singer, actress, and civil rights activist, known for her work in jazz and popular music, as well as her performances in film and on Broadway.
1949 - Andy Scott, the lead guitarist for the band Sweet, was born in Wrexham, Wales. Scott played a pivotal role in the glam rock movement of the 1970s, contributing to Sweet's signature sound and success with hits like "Ballroom Blitz" and "Fox on the Run."
1975 - The Jackson 5 announce their departure from Motown Records to sign with Epic Records. Due to Motown's ownership of their original name, the group will be rebranded as The Jacksons.
1977 - Marvel Comics releases a special Kiss comic book featuring a unique twist: a vial of the band's own blood is mixed into the ink used for printing. This unconventional move adds an extra layer of authenticity and intrigue for fans, making it a highly collectible item.
1984 - Huey Lewis & the News' album Sports reached #1 on the US charts for a week in 1984. It was one of only five albums to achieve the top spot that year, alongside Michael Jackson's Thriller, Prince's Purple Rain, Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A., and the Footloose soundtrack.
1992 - The soundtrack for Cameron Crowe's Singles was released, playing a crucial role in spreading the Seattle music scene across the US. Featuring tracks from Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, and more, it was instrumental in igniting the '90s "grunge revolution." The music's raw energy and authenticity captured the spirit of the era, making the soundtrack even more influential than the movie itself.
1998 - System Of A Down unleashed their intense self-titled debut album, marking the start of their influential career. The singles "Sugar" and "Spiders" gained significant airplay on rock radio and MTV, helping the band amass a dedicated following. As they toured extensively, the album's popularity soared, eventually selling over a million copies in America.
2009 - U2 kicked off their groundbreaking 360 tour in Barcelona, setting the stage for a historic run. After 109 shows, the tour amassed $735 million in earnings, shattering the previous record of $558 million held by The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang tour. This monumental achievement stood until 2019 when Ed Sheeran's ÷ (Divide) tour surpassed it with a staggering $775 million.
2012 - In Kiev, Queen embarked on their first tour with American Idol alumnus Adam Lambert as lead vocalist. This marked a new chapter for the band, which had previously toured with Paul Rodgers.
2015 - Apple launches a new streaming service, Apple Music.
2019 - Taylor Swift's former label, Big Machine, is sold to Scooter Braun's company for around $300 million, granting him control of her master recordings. Swift responds by accusing Braun of years of bullying and announces plans to re-record her old albums to reclaim her music and undermine his investment.
2023 - English singer-songwriter Maisie Peters achieved her first No.1 on the UK album chart with her second studio album, "The Good Witch." Peters made history as the youngest solo British female artist to top the UK album charts in nearly a decade.
