On this day today:
1945 - Deborah Ann Harry, best known as the lead singer of Blondie, was born in Miami, Florida. She was raised in Hawthorne, New Jersey, where she would later rise to fame as an iconic figure in the punk and new wave music scenes.
1949 - John Farnham, born in Dagenham, England, moved to Australia with his family at the age of 10. He went on to become one of Australia's most beloved singers, gaining international fame with his powerful anthem "You're The Voice."
1951 - Fred Schneider, the energetic and charismatic frontman of The B-52s, was born in Newark, New Jersey. His distinctive voice and quirky style helped define the band's unique sound and contributed to their success with hits like "Love Shack" and "Rock Lobster."
1960 - The Shadows released the instrumental hit "Apache," which quickly climbed to the top of the UK charts. The track's distinctive guitar riff and infectious rhythm made it an enduring classic.
1966 - Bob Dylan releases "Blonde on Blonde," a seminal album that introduces the "thin, wild mercury sound" and stands as rock's first double album.
1967 - Scott McKenzie's iconic song "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)," penned by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, reaches its peak on the charts, hitting #4 in America. The song became synonymous with the Flower Power movement, capturing the spirit of the counterculture era of the 1960s.
1971 - Missy Elliott was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. She would go on to become a pioneering figure in the music industry, renowned for her innovative style and contributions to hip hop and R&B.
1971 - Jethro Tull's Aqualung album is certified Gold.
1975 - Lou Reed released the double album Metal Machine Music, a bold departure from his previous work. Consisting entirely of distortion and guitar feedback, the album was divisive among fans and critics. Its experimental nature and lack of traditional song structures marked it as a controversial and pioneering piece in the world of avant-garde music.
1979 - The Sony Walkman made its debut in Japan, revolutionizing how people listened to music by making it portable for the first time. This innovative device allowed users to enjoy their favorite tunes anywhere, marking a significant shift in personal entertainment and setting the stage for the portable music industry we know today.
1982 - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released "The Message," a groundbreaking rap classic. Unlike previous hip-hop tracks, "The Message" featured socially conscious lyrics that vividly depicted life in the inner city.
1987 - Napalm Death released their debut album, "Scum," which is widely acknowledged as the first grindcore album.
1997 - Radiohead released "OK Computer" in the US, captivating listeners with its deeply emotive tracks and compelling music videos for songs like "Karma Police" and "Paranoid Android." The album's innovative sound and poignant lyrics earned it critical acclaim, securing its place on numerous year-end best album lists.
1999 - Jennifer Lopez releases her debut album, On The 6.
2006 - During the short period when American Idol Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks was the top Taylor in music, his debut single "Do I Make You Proud?" reached #1 on the US charts. The song's success marked a high point in his post-Idol career.
2007 - A concert in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, took place at the newly built Wembley Stadium in London. The lineup included her friends Duran Duran and Elton John, alongside artists she enjoyed like Nelly Furtado, Tom Jones, and Kanye West.
