On This Day, November 20 in Music History
EVENTS ON NOVEMBER 20 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day November 20 in 1955 – Bo Diddley appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show . However, instead of playing the agreed upon song ‘Sixteen Tons’ by Ernie Ford, he played his own hit ‘Bo Diddley’. Ed Sullivan did not appreciate the act and banned him from the show.
1957 – The Silhouettes released “Get A Job”, which became their biggest hit. It went to No.1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart that year.
1961 – Bob Dylan began recording his debut album. “You’re No good”, “Song To Woody” and “Fixing To Die” are some of the songs he recorded that day.
1965 – The Supremes scored their fourth number one single of the year in the US with ‘I Hear a Symphony’ which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks straight. They previously topped the chart with ‘Come See About Me’, ‘Stop! In the Name of Love’, ‘Back in My Arms Again’.
1967 – The Beach Boys released their 12th studio album “Smiley Smile” which was co-produced by Paul McCartney. However, the album was a failure for the band’s standards as it failed to reach the Top 40 in the US.
1970 – Progressive rock band Emerson, Lake and Palmer released their self-titled debut studio album. The LP was a commercial success and a Top 10 hit in the UK, Australia, Netherlands, and West Germany, in the US it peaked at No.18.
1971 – With the ‘Theme from Shaft’ which featured in the crime action film ‘Shaft’, Isaac Hayes topped the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also won him an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
1973 – American singer, producer, and song parodist Allan Sherman died at age 48. Best remembered for the hit single ‘Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh’ and for his chart-topping album trilogy ‘My Son – the Folk Singer’/’the Celebrity’/’the Nut’.
1973 – The Who drummer Keith Moon collapsed on stage and was replaced by 19-year-old fan Scott Halpin. Scott played three songs before becoming exhausted and unable to continue playing the drums.
Watch Pete Townshend ask if someone can play the drums
1976 – English guitarist Bert Weedon went to number one on the UK Albums chart with his greatest hits compilation ’22 Golden Guitar Greats’.
1984 – Michael Jackson was awarded a star on the Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and set a record for having the largest crowd ever present on such an event.
1991 – The Rolling Stones signed a $20 million deal with Virgin Records that obliged them to release three studio albums in the next six years.
1993 – With his fifth solo studio album ‘Both Sides’, Phil Collins went to number one on the UK Albums chart.
1998 -Jamaican tenor saxophonist Roland Alphonso died at the age of 67. Best remembered as a founding member of the ska band The Skatalites.
1999 – Singer-songwriter Robbie Williams reached number one on the UK Singles chart with the double A-side ‘She’s the One’/’It’s Only Us’.
1999 – With their third studio album ‘The Battle of Los Angeles’, Rage Against the Machine topped the US Billboard 200 chart.
2004 – American rapper Eminem scored his third consecutive number one album in the UK with his fifth studio LP ‘Encore’.
2004 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day was ‘Vertigo’ by the Irish rock band U2.
2005 – Robbie Williams broke a Guinness World Record by selling more than 1.6 million tickets for his 2006 World Tour in one day.
2005 – American blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Christopher “Chris” Whitley died of lung cancer, aged 45.
2010 – With ‘What’s My Name’, Rihanna featuring Drake went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2010 – Scottish singer Susan Boyle topped the UK Albums chart with her second studio album ‘The Gift’.
2021 – Singer-songwriter Summer Walker scored her first number one album on the US Billboard 200 with ‘Still Over It’, her second studio LP.
BORN ON NOVEMBER 20 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1925 – American cool jazz singer June Christy was born Shirley Luster in Springfield, Illinois. She gained popularity as a member of The Stan Kenton Orchestra before establishing herself as a solo artist.
1940 – Multi-instrumentalist and session musician Jim Horn was born in Los Angeles, California. Best known for his work with artists such as John Denver, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, and others.
1941 – American multi-genre singer, songwriter, and pianist Malcolm John Rebennack also known as Dr. John was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1942 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist Norman Greenbaum was born in Malden, Massachusetts. Best known for his 1969 hit song ‘Spirit In The Sky’.
1946 – Founder, guitarist and leader of the Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee.
1947 – Singer-songwriter and guitarist Joseph “Joe” Walsh was born in Wichita, Kansas. Best known as a member of the James Gang, the Eagles, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, and for his solo work.
1950 – British musician Gary William Green was born in North London, England. He came to prominence as the guitarist for the rock band Gentle Giant.
1954 – Canadian guitarist and songwriter Francesco “Frank” Marino was born in Montreal, Quebec. Best known as the leader of the hard rock band Mahogany Rush.
1962 – American bass guitarist, songwriter and session musician Gail Ann Dorsey was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Best known for her longtime collaboration with David Bowie.
1965 – Rapper, instrumentalist, producer and founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys, Michael “Mike” Diamond was born in New York City.
1975 – American singer David Marchand also known by his stage name Davey Havok was born in Rochester, New York. Best known for his work with bands such as AFI, XTRMST, Dreamcar, and Blaqk Audio.
1986 – Singer-songwriter and record producer Oliver Sykes was born in Ashford, England. He came to prominence as the co-founder and frontman of the band Bring Me the Horizon.