On this day today:
1927 - Andy Williams, the beloved singer known for his smooth baritone voice and timeless hits like "Moon River", is born in Wall Lake, Iowa.
1948 - John Michael Osbourne—better known as Ozzy Osbourne—was born in Birmingham, England. Rising from humble beginnings, Ozzy became the iconic lead singer of Black Sabbath, a band that pioneered heavy metal and redefined rock music in the 1970s. With hits like Paranoid and Iron Man, Black Sabbath carved their place in music history, while Ozzy’s dark, theatrical persona earned him the nickname “The Prince of Darkness.” Beyond Sabbath, Ozzy built a wildly successful solo career, releasing classics like Crazy Train and cementing his legacy as a rock legend.
1968 - Montell Jordan was born in Los Angeles, California. Best known for his 1995 smash hit "This Is How We Do It," Jordan became a pivotal figure in the '90s R&B scene, blending smooth melodies with upbeat party vibes. The song, which topped the charts for seven weeks, became an anthem for a generation and remains a staple on playlists to this day. Happy birthday to the man who showed us how it’s done!
1971 - Deep Purple arrived in Montreux, Switzerland, ready to record their legendary Machine Head album at the Montreux Casino. But fate had other plans. The day after their arrival, during a Frank Zappa concert, the casino burned down in a fiery spectacle that would later inspire one of rock’s most iconic tracks. Forced to improvise, the band recorded in a nearby hotel using the Rolling Stones’ mobile studio. The chaos and drama of the event became the story behind "Smoke on the Water," with its unforgettable riff immortalizing the night the lake “burned with fire.” A true rock 'n' roll legend was born!
1976 - ABBA's upcoming concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall generated an overwhelming response, with an estimated 3.5 million people applying for tickets. However, there were only 11,000 tickets available for the highly anticipated shows, leading to a frenzy of fans vying for a chance to see the Swedish pop superstars live.
1979 - An unlikely backstage mishap took place during a show in Bristol, England, where The Cure were opening for Billy Idol's band, Generation X. After a long night of performing, The Cure drummer Lol Tolhurst found himself in the men's room, a bit too far gone after a few lagers. In a comically disastrous moment, he accidentally peed on Billy Idol's leg—who was busy entertaining a young lady in a stall at the time. The result? A mortified Idol and an enraged tour manager. The very next day, The Cure were unceremoniously kicked off the tour, their brief stint with Generation X ending in a blaze of rock 'n' roll misfortune. A lesson in what happens when rock stars collide... with accidents!
1979 - Daniel Bedingfield was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Known for his hit songs like "Gotta Get Thru This" and "If You're Not the One," Daniel became a prominent figure in the early 2000s pop scene. What many may not know is that he’s also the older brother of fellow successful singers Natasha Bedingfield, known for "Unwritten", and Nikola Rachelle, who also made waves in music.
1979 - Tragedy struck before a The Who concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio. In a chaotic rush to enter the venue, 11 people were tragically trampled to death and dozens more were injured. The concert, which featured festival seating—a practice where there are no reserved seats, and fans rush to the front when doors open—was marred by this devastating incident. The disaster led to a public outcry and sparked lawsuits, prompting concert promoters and venues to rethink and eventually abandon the practice of festival seating. The event marked a turning point in concert safety, leading to stricter regulations and better crowd control measures for large events. The tragedy remains one of the darkest moments in rock concert history.
1984 - The groundbreaking charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was released in the UK. Organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in response to the devastating famine in Ethiopia, the song featured a supergroup of the era's biggest stars, including Bono, George Michael, David Bowie, Sting, and many more. This first major charity single set the standard for future efforts, with all proceeds going to famine relief. The track became an anthem of generosity and marked a significant moment in music history, showing the power of music to unite for a cause. The impact of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" still resonates today, inspiring countless charity projects worldwide.
1992 - Mick Jagger and Keith Richards officially confirmed the rumors that Bill Wyman, the legendary bassist who had been with The Rolling Stones since 1962, would be leaving the band. Wyman had played a pivotal role in shaping the Stones' sound and history, contributing to classics like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Paint It, Black."
1994 - Adam Sandler performed his now-iconic "The Chanukah Song" during the Weekend Update segment of Saturday Night Live. The comedic song, which humorously pointed out that celebrities like Harrison Ford, Paul Newman, and David Lee Roth are Jewish, quickly struck a chord with audiences. Released as a single the following year, "The Chanukah Song" reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became an enduring holiday classic. Its lighthearted celebration of Jewish culture and humor turned it into a seasonal favorite, often played on radio and during Hanukkah celebrations, solidifying Sandler’s place in holiday music tradition.
1994 - Boyz II Men made history by knocking themselves off the Billboard Hot 100's top spot. Their ballad "On Bended Knee" started a six-week reign at No. 1, following the success of their previous hit "I'll Make Love to You."
1999 - U2's lead singer Bono had his missing laptop returned after it had been stolen earlier that year. The laptop, which contained unreleased tracks from U2's forthcoming album, had been purchased by a young man for £300. Upon realizing the laptop's significance, the buyer contacted the authorities, leading to its return.
2014 - Ed Sheeran was crowned the most-streamed artist in the world by Spotify, having amassed an incredible 860 million streams. At just 23 years old, Sheeran surpassed Eminem and Coldplay, who ranked second and third, respectively. In the female artist category, Katy Perry took the top spot, with Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey rounding out the top three.
2016 - Leonard Cohen's timeless classic "Hallelujah" made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at #59, a posthumous achievement for the legendary singer-songwriter. The song, originally released in 1984, experienced a significant surge in popularity following Cohen's death in November 2016, propelled by covers from artists like Jeff Buckley and John Cale, as well as its widespread use in TV and film. This marked Cohen's first-ever entry on the Hot 100, solidifying "Hallelujah" as one of the most enduring songs in modern music history—a poignant reminder of Cohen's profound impact on songwriting and popular culture.
2022 - SZA made an unforgettable appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing two tracks from her critically acclaimed album SOS. While both performances were celebrated, it was the skit "Big Boys"—a hilarious tribute to hefty boyfriends—that brought unexpected viral success. In the skit, SZA performed a song called "Cuffing Season", which quickly caught fire on TikTok, sparking a new trend. The catchy, playful tune became a fan favorite and generated millions of streams and social media posts, solidifying SOS as a cultural moment. "Cuffing Season" was embraced for its relatable lyrics and infectious vibe, becoming yet another hit in SZA's ongoing rise to superstardom.
