On This Day, November 18 in Music History
EVENTS ON NOVEMBER 18 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day November 18 in 1971 – American blues singer, songwriter, and harmonica player Herman “Junior” Parker died at the age of 39 from a brain tumor.
1972 – British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens started a three-week run at number one on the US Billboard 200 with his sixth studio album ‘Catch Bull at Four’. Also a chart-topper in Australia and Canada that year, and a No.2 hit in the UK.
1972 – American guitarist and songwriter Danny Whitten died of a drug overdose, aged 29. Best remembered as a member of Neil Young’s backing band Crazy Horse and also for writing the song ‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It’ which became a hit for Rod Stewart.
1978 – Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats started a two-week stint at the top spot on the UK Singles chart with ‘Rat Trap’.
1978 – With his sixth studio album ’52nd Street’, Billy Joel hit number one on the US Albums chart for the first of seven consecutive weeks.
1985 – Influential rapper LL Cool J released his debut studio album ‘Radio’. The album peaked at No.46 on the Billboard 200 and it went on to sell over 1 million copies.
1994 – American singer, bandleader, conductor, and songwriter Cabell “Cab” Calloway died at the age of 86. Best remembered for hit songs such as ‘Minnie the Moocher’, ‘(Help Help!) The Jumpin’ Jive”, ‘The Honeydripper’, and many other.
1995 – With their fifteenth and final studio album ‘Made in Heaven’, rock band Queen topped the UK Albums chart.
1997 – Heavy metal band Metallica released their seventh studio album ‘Reload’ through Elektra Records. The album was a commercial success and it became a chart-topper in the US, Austria, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden.
1999 – American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Douglas “Doug” Sahm died of a heart attack, aged 58.
2000 – Rapper Jay-Z scored his third consecutive number one on the US Billboard 200 with his fifth studio album ‘The Dynasty: Roc La Familia’.
2000 – British-Norwegian boyband A1 scored their second number one single of the year in the UK with ‘Same Old Brand New You’. They previously topped the Singles chart with ‘Take on Me’ back in August.
2001 – Girl group Destiny’s Child hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Independent Women Part I’ for the first of eleven consecutive weeks.
2003 – American film scores composer, songwriter, conductor, arranger, and session musician Michael Kamen died at age 55.
2006 – Acid jazz and funk band Jamiroquai topped the UK Albums chart with their greatest hits compilation ‘High Times: Singles 1992-2006’.
2006 – With their rendition of ‘The Rose’, Irish boyband Westlife topped the UK Singles chart.
2016 – American soul and funk music singer Sharon Jones died at the age of 60. Best remembered as the lead singer of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights
2016 – Heavy metal band Metallica also released their tenth studio album ‘Hardwired…to Self-Destruct’. The album became their sixth consecutive LP to debut at No.1 in America, making them only the second band in history to achieve such a feat. The LP sold over 2 million copies and was a chart-topper in over 20 countries.
2017 – Country music singer and songwriter Kenny Chesney reached No.1 in the US with his second live album ‘Live in No Shoes Nation’.
2017 – Rhythm guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and co-founder of the hard rock band AC/DC, Malcolm Young died at the age of 64.
2020 – English folk singer-songwriter, guitar player, and founding member of the band Strawbs, Anthony “Tony” Hooper died at the age of 81.
2021 – With their first studio album in 40 years ‘Voyage’, pop group ABBA went to number one in the UK. The highly anticipated album was a worldwide hit peaking at No.1 in eighteen other countries that year.
BORN ON NOVEMBER 18 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1909 – American songwriter, lyricist, singer, and co-founder of Capitol Records, John Mercer was born in Savannah, Georgia. Also known for winning four Academy Awards for Best Original Song.
1927 – Singer and songwriter Hank Ballard was born John Henry Kendricks in Detroit, Michigan. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group The Midnighters.
1936 – Multi-instrumentalist and pioneer in world fusion music Donald “Don” Cherry was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1941 – American singer Jackie Ward also known as Robin Ward was born Jacqueline McDonnell in Hawaii. Best known for his 1963 million-selling hit song ‘Wonderful Summer’.
1949 – German musician Herman Rarebell was born Hermann Josef Erbel in Schmelz, West Germany. Best known as the drummer of the rock band Scorpions.
1950 – English singer-songwriter and frontman of Graham Parker & the Rumour, Graham Parker was born in London.
1950 – Cuban-American bassist Rodolfo “Rudy” Sarzo was born in Havana, Cuba. Best known for his work with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, and Quiet Riot among others.
1952 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John Parr was born in Worksop, England. Best known for the hit songs ‘St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)’, and ‘Naughty Naughty’.
1959 – American jazz music drummer and bandleader Cindy Blackman Santana was born in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
1960 – British singer Kim Wilde was born Kim Smith in Chiswick, Middlesex. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Kids in America’, ‘You Came’, ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’, etc.
1962 – American guitarist Kirk Hammett was born in San Francisco, California. Best known for his work with the heavy metal bands Exodus and Metallica.
1969 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Duncan Sheik was born in Montclair, New Jersey.
1977 – American rapper and songwriter John David Jackson better known by his stage name Fabolous was born in New York City.