On this day today:
1919 - Jazz pianist George Shearing was born in Battersea, London, England. A blind musician known for his unique playing style, Shearing composed the classic jazz standard "Lullaby of Birdland," which became one of the most famous and frequently recorded jazz tunes. He later moved to the United States, where he achieved great success and became a significant figure in the jazz world.
1964 - The Supremes recorded "Baby Love" at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. studios in Detroit. Written and produced by the legendary team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, "Baby Love" became one of the group's most iconic hits.
1965 - The Beatles released their album Help! in the US. This album served as the soundtrack to their second feature film of the same name and marked a significant moment in their career as they continued to evolve their sound. The album features the iconic title track "Help!" as well as "Ticket to Ride," both of which became major hits.
1973 - Lynyrd Skynyrd released their debut album, Pronounced 'L?h-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd, on August 13, 1973. The album made an immediate impact, showcasing the band's Southern rock sound with a powerful blend of blues, rock, and country influences. It features some of Skynyrd's most iconic tracks, including "Tuesday's Gone," "Simple Man," and the epic "Free Bird," which became one of the band's signature songs.
1989 - In August 1989, the Scorpions performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival, an event aimed at promoting peace and ending the Cold War tensions. As they floated down the Moskva River and passed Gorky Park, the atmosphere of change in the Soviet Union left a profound impact on the band, particularly lead singer Klaus Meine. This experience inspired him to write "Wind of Change," a power ballad that would become an anthem of the era, symbolizing the hope for a new beginning in Eastern Europe.
1993 - Steely Dan, known for their sophisticated jazz-rock sound, re-formed in 1993 after breaking up in 1981. They kicked off their US tour at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The band's reformation was partly motivated by financial necessity, as Walter Becker humorously explained, "We spent all the money from the last tour. We made $800 each and it's all gone now." This tour marked a significant comeback for Steely Dan, leading to new recordings and a resurgence in their popularity, eventually culminating in their 2000 album Two Against Nature, which won four Grammy Awards.
2004 - During the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Icelandic singer Björk delivers a captivating performance of her song "Oceania." In a striking visual display, she wears a custom-made dress that dramatically unfurls as she sings, revealing about 10,000 feet of fabric. The fabric stretches across the vast viewing area, transforming into a massive canvas where a world map is projected.
2004 - In a VH1 poll, Robbie Williams' "Angels" was voted as the best single that should have been a #1 but never achieved that position. Despite its popularity and critical acclaim, the song reached a peak position of #4 on the UK singles chart upon its release in 1997. "Angels" is considered one of Williams' signature hits and has been widely praised for its emotional depth and lyrical content.
2014 - Magic!'s debut single, "Rude," reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it held the top spot for several weeks. Released in 2014, the song became a massive hit with its catchy reggae-infused pop sound and lyrics about a man asking his girlfriend's father for permission to marry her.
2017 - In the revival of the cult TV series Twin Peaks: The Return, David Bowie makes a posthumous appearance, continuing his role as the enigmatic and deranged FBI agent Phillip Jeffries. Bowie originally played the character in the 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. He was slated to reprise his role in the new series, but his untimely death in 2016 prevented him from filming new scenes. To honor his involvement and maintain continuity, director David Lynch creatively used archival footage from Fire Walk With Me to bring Bowie’s character back to life in the episode, preserving his legacy in the Twin Peaks universe.
2022 - Beyoncé's album Renaissance debuts at #1 on the US Billboard 200 chart, marking a historic achievement. With this release, Beyoncé becomes the first female solo artist to have her first seven studio albums reach the top of the chart.
