On this day today:
1956 - Elvis Presley released "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel" as a double-A-side single on July 13, 1956. Both songs became massive hits, showcasing Presley's versatility and cementing his status as a rock 'n' roll icon. "Hound Dog," originally recorded by blues singer Big Mama Thornton, was given a new, electrifying rockabilly treatment by Presley.
1966 - Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep – Mountain High," produced by Phil Spector, initially peaked at a disappointing #88 on the US charts in 1966. However, the song found greater success in the UK, where it climbed to #3. This success in the UK led to Ike & Tina Turner being invited to open for The Rolling Stones on their 1966 British tour, significantly boosting their international profile and leading to increased recognition and acclaim.
1967 - Benny Benassi, an influential figure in electronic music, was born in Milan, Italy. He gained prominence as a DJ, record producer, and remixer, often credited with pioneering the electro house genre. His breakthrough came in 2002 with the summer club hit "Satisfaction," which propelled him into the mainstream and became a defining track of its genre.
1974 - During a concert at Madison Square Garden, Eric Clapton invited Todd Rundgren to join him on stage for the encore. When Rundgren's guitar rig malfunctioned, Clapton graciously took off his own guitar, handed it to Rundgren, and stepped aside to listen as Rundgren played.
1974 - R&B singer Deborah Cox is born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and grows up in Scarborough. She begins her music career in the early '90s, initially working as a backup singer for Celine Dion. Cox eventually finds success as a solo artist, known for her powerful voice and hit songs like "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" and "We Can't Be Friends."
1985 - Tears for Fears withdraw from performing at Live Aid, Bob Geldof's star-studded charity concert for famine relief in Africa, after two members of their band quit. The band, known for hits like "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," had been scheduled to be part of the historic event.
1985 - The Live Aid concerts take place in Philadelphia and London to raise money for the hungry in Africa. This star-studded event features performances by The Beach Boys, The Four Tops, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Elton John, David Bowie, The Who, Queen, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan.
1985 - Duran Duran made history by becoming the first artists to top the US singles chart with a James Bond theme song when "A View To A Kill" reached number one.
1991 - INXS plays to a crowd of 72,000 at Wembley Stadium in London, exactly six years after Live Aid was held at the same venue. The concert is a monumental event for the band, showcasing their energetic performance and solidifying their status as one of the leading rock bands of the era.
1991 - Bryan Adams achieved his first UK number one single with "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," which was prominently featured on the soundtrack of the film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."
1997 - The Prodigy's third album, "The Fat of the Land," achieved remarkable success upon its release, topping the UK album chart for five consecutive weeks. Known for its groundbreaking fusion of electronic music genres like techno, rave, and breakbeat with punk and rock influences, the album resonated widely with audiences worldwide. To date, "The Fat of the Land" has sold over 10 million copies globally, solidifying The Prodigy's legacy as pioneers in the electronic music scene of the 1990s and beyond.
2022 - Harry Styles' third studio album, "Harry's House," made a significant impact upon its release in 2022. Debuting at No. 1 on both the UK chart and the US Billboard 200, the album quickly became the fastest-selling and best-selling album of the year in the UK. Its success was further solidified at the 65th Grammy Awards, where "Harry's House" garnered three prestigious awards: Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album.
