On this day today:
1953 - Alex Lifeson, the guitarist for Rush, was born Aleksandar Zivojinovic in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada, to Serbian immigrant parents. He grew up in Toronto, Ontario, where he developed his passion for music and eventually became a key member of the legendary rock band Rush.
1956 - Glen Matlock, the original bass guitarist for The Sex Pistols, was born in Paddington, London, England. He played a crucial role in the formation of the band's sound and contributed to many of their early songs before leaving the group in 1977.
1964 - Disney releases Mary Poppins, a musical featuring the Sherman Brothers' iconic songs and starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. The film becomes a classic, celebrated for its innovative blend of live-action and animation, and its memorable soundtrack.
1965 - Elvis Presley and The Beatles met for the first time at Elvis's mansion in Los Angeles. The meeting was arranged by their mutual manager, Brian Epstein, and took place during The Beatles' second U.S. tour. During the visit, they talked about music, exchanged stories, and even had a casual jam session. John Lennon later expressed the profound influence Elvis had on The Beatles, famously stating, "If it hadn't been for him, The Beatles would be nothing."
1986 - Tina Turner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1986 - R&B singer Mario was born Mario Dewar Barrett on, in Baltimore, Maryland. Known simply as Mario, he rose to fame in the early 2000s with his smooth vocals and hit singles like "Let Me Love You," which became a defining track of his career.
1988 - At 20 years old, Kylie Minogue became the youngest female artist to reach #1 on the UK Albums Chart with her debut album, Kylie. Released in 1988, the album featured hit singles like "I Should Be So Lucky" and "The Loco-Motion," catapulting Minogue to international stardom and marking the beginning of her successful music career.
1988 - Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut album climbs to #1 on the US charts, buoyed by the critical and commercial success of her single "Fast Car," which peaks at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album's deep, reflective lyrics and Chapman's emotive performance make a significant impact, introducing her as a compelling new talent in the music industry.
1988 - George Michael scores his eighth US No. 1 single of the 1980s with "Monkey," setting a record for the most chart-toppers in the decade by any artist, surpassed only by Michael Jackson.
1991 - Pearl Jam release their debut album, Ten, which propels them to stardom and establishes them as a leading force in the Seattle grunge scene. The album's raw energy and emotionally charged lyrics, featured in tracks like "Alive," "Even Flow," and "Jeremy," resonate deeply with audiences and help define the grunge movement of the early '90s.
2002 - Queens Of The Stone Age released their third album, Songs For The Deaf, known for its intense, heavy sound that's jokingly described as "so heavy even deaf people can hear it." The album features Dave Grohl on drums, who joined the band while taking a break from his main gig with Foo Fighters. The record is acclaimed for its raw energy and standout tracks like "No One Knows" and "Go with the Flow," solidifying the band's reputation in the rock scene.
2013 - Madonna tops Forbes' list of the world's highest-earning celebrities, raking in an estimated $125 million (£80 million) over the past year. At 55 years old, her impressive earnings are driven by the success of her MDNA tour, as well as her lucrative clothing and fragrance lines.
2017 - Kendrick Lamar took home the Video of the Year award at the MTV Video Music Awards for his visually striking and powerful video for "HUMBLE." The night was also notable for Taylor Swift, who used the event to debut the video for her much-anticipated single "Look What You Made Me Do," marking a significant moment in her career and stirring up conversation with its bold imagery and themes.
2021 - American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo achieves a major milestone with her debut studio album SOUR, topping both the US and UK album charts. The album's raw, confessional lyrics and genre-blending sound resonate widely, establishing Rodrigo as a powerful new voice in pop music.
