On this day today:
1925 - B.B. King, born Riley B. King in Berclair, Mississippi, was a seminal blues guitarist known for his expressive vibrato and fluid style. Starting his career in Memphis in the 1940s, he gained fame with his iconic guitar "Lucille" and hits like "The Thrill Is Gone." A 15-time Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, King’s influence extended across genres.
1963 - Richard Marx was born in Chicago, Illinois. He became a successful singer-songwriter known for hits like "Right Here Waiting," "Endless Summer Nights," and "Hazard." Marx's career took off in the late 1980s and continued through the '90s with his blend of pop, rock, and ballads.
1968 - Salsa artist Marc Anthony was born Marco Antonio Muñiz in New York City. He is widely recognized as one of the most successful salsa performers of all time, known for hits like "Vivir Mi Vida" and "Valió la Pena." Marc Anthony has also ventured into pop and Latin ballads, becoming a global music icon.
1969 - Justine Frischmann, frontwoman of Elastica, was born in London. As one of the leading female voices of the Britpop movement, Elastica gained prominence with their hit single "Connection," which became an anthem of the era.
1970 - Led Zeppelin won 'Best Group' in the Melody Maker Readers Poll, marking the first time in eight years that The Beatles hadn't secured the title.
1977 - Marc Bolan, the charismatic frontman of T. Rex and a pioneer of the glam rock movement, tragically died in a car accident, at the age of 29. The car, driven by his girlfriend Gloria Jones, veered off the road and struck a tree in Barnes, London. Bolan's untimely death marked the end of an influential career that left a lasting legacy in rock music, with hits like "Get It On" and "Children of the Revolution" cementing his place as an iconic figure of the 1970s.
1977 - Talking Heads release their debut album, Talking Heads: 77, which features their first chart hit, "Psycho Killer." The song was originally written four years earlier at the Rhode Island School of Design.
1978 - Boston's second album, Don't Look Back, reached #1 on the US album chart, marking a major achievement for the band. The album followed their massively successful self-titled debut, which sold over 17 million copies but never reached the top spot on the charts.
1979 - Flo Rida, born Tramar Lacel Dillard in Carol City, Florida, grew up to become one of the most recognizable names in hip hop and pop. Known for his catchy, club-ready hits like "Low," "Right Round," and "Good Feeling," Flo Rida's music blends rap with dance-pop, creating anthems that dominate the charts and party playlists.
1979 - "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang is released and becomes the first rap song to chart on the Hot 100. This track is often credited with bringing hip-hop music into the mainstream.
1984 - Miami Vice premiered with a two-hour episode that prominently featured Phil Collins' hit "In the Air Tonight." The song's atmospheric sound and moody vibe became closely associated with the show, helping to cement its place in the series' iconic aesthetic.
1985 - Kate Bush's Hounds of Love overtook Madonna's Like a Virgin to claim the #1 spot on the UK album chart. The album, which includes the standout single "Running Up That Hill," marked Bush's second chart-topping album in the UK.
1988 - Phil Collins took on his first leading role in the 1988 film Buster, playing Buster Edwards, a real-life criminal involved in the 1963 Great Train Robbery. While the film itself was a box-office disappointment, Collins' contributions to the soundtrack were a major success. The soundtrack produced two #1 hits: "A Groovy Kind of Love" and "Two Hearts," both performed by Collins.
1992 - Nick Jonas, known for his role in the Jonas Brothers, was born in Dallas, Texas. He, along with his brothers Kevin and Joe, formed the popular pop-rock band known for hits like "S.O.S" and "Burnin' Up."
2014 - At a pop-up shop in New York City celebrating the 20th anniversary of Friends, Danny Wilde and Phil Solem of The Rembrandts reunited to perform the iconic theme song, "I'll Be There for You." The event recreated the beloved Central Perk coffee shop from the show.
2014 - Ariana Grande's second studio album, My Everything, topped the US album chart and also debuted at No.1 in Australia and Canada. It reached the top ten in twenty other countries worldwide.
2022 - Robbie Williams surpassed Elvis Presley as the solo artist with the most UK No.1 albums when his album XXV topped the UK chart. With this achievement, Williams has achieved 14 UK No.1 albums, leaving him just behind The Beatles, who hold the record with 15 No.1 albums.
