On this day today:
1948 - Cat Stevens was born Steven Demetre Georgiou in Marylebone, London, England. In 1977, he converted to Islam and adopted the name Yusuf Islam, marking a significant shift in both his personal life and career.
1955 - Swing entertainer Taco was born Taco Ockerse in Jakarta, Indonesia. Known for his distinctive style and memorable performances, Taco rose to fame with his unique renditions of classic swing and pop songs, leaving a lasting impression on the music world.
1969 - Blind Faith, a supergroup featuring Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech, released their self-titled debut album in the United States.
1969 - Emerson Hart, the lead singer of Tonic, was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, and later grew up in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey.
1970 - The Carpenters' "(They Long to Be) Close to You" reached #1 on the charts. This song, with its soothing melody and heartfelt lyrics, became an enduring classic and solidified The Carpenters' status as one of the most beloved musical duos of their time.
1971 - Carole King's "It's Too Late" reached #1 in America. This soulful and introspective song, from her iconic album Tapestry, resonated deeply with listeners, earning King widespread acclaim and cementing her legacy as one of the foremost singer-songwriters of her era.
1983 - Diana Ross performed a free concert in New York City's Central Park on a rainy day, maintaining a positive attitude despite the weather. She embraced the rain, claiming it "feels good" and confidently stating, "It took me a lifetime to get here, I ain't going nowhere." However, despite her optimism, the show was ultimately stopped due to the rain and rescheduled for the following day.
1987 - Guns N' Roses released their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, marking a groundbreaking moment in rock music. The album, which includes iconic hits such as "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child O' Mine," established the band as a major force in the genre and became a defining release of the late 80s rock scene.
1989 - During a stop on the Club MTV tour in Bristol, Connecticut, Milli Vanilli's performance encountered a major mishap when their backing tracks malfunctioned while they were lip-syncing to "Girl You Know It's True." As the line "girl you know it's..." repeated endlessly, the duo panicked and fled the stage. This incident later led to the revelation that Milli Vanilli had not actually sung on their album, sparking a major controversy and scandal in the music industry.
1997 - Jewel, a pioneering figure in the new era of women in rock, became the first Atlantic Records artist to be featured on the cover of TIME magazine.
1999 - MP3.com, a groundbreaking website that allowed users to download music files for free, went public and rapidly attained a valuation of $6.9 billion. However, the company's success was soon challenged as it faced lawsuits from various record companies and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2001, after a tumultuous period, MP3.com was sold to Vivendi for $372 million.
2001 - Madonna launched the North American leg of her 47-date Drowned World Tour at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This marked her first world tour in eight years, following The Girlie Show in 1993. The tour was a major success, drawing over 730,000 attendees across North America and Europe and grossing over $75 million.
2015 - When Drake failed to promote Meek Mill's album on Twitter, Meek Mill took to social media to accuse him of using a ghostwriter. In a tweet, Mill charged, "Stop comparing drake to me too.... He don't write his own raps! That's why he ain't tweet my album because we found out!" This accusation ignited a high-profile feud between the two rappers and sparked widespread discussion about authenticity in hip-hop.
2023 - American singer Tony Bennett passed away at his home in New York City, just two weeks shy of his 97th birthday. His death followed a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, marking the end of a storied career that spanned decades and left a profound impact on the world of music.
