On This Day, January 15 in Music History
EVENTS ON JANUARY 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day January 15 in 1961 – Music history was made as Motown Records signed The Supremes. The female singing group scored 12 number one singles and became the most successful group in America.
1965 – British rock band The Who released their second single ‘I Can’t Explain’. The song reached No.8 in the UK, and it peaked at No.93 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It was written by Pete Townshend and it featured Jimmy Page on rhythm guitar.
1967 – In order to perform on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Rolling Stones had to change the lyrics to their song from ‘Let’s Spend the Night Together’ to ‘Let’s Spend Some Time Together’.
1969 – Due to several disagreements over The Beatles‘ latest projects, George Harrison announced to his fellow band mates that he was leaving the group.
1972 – With ‘American Pie’, Don McLean hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first of four consecutive weeks on this day January 15. Also a hit in the UK where it peaked at No.2.
1976 – Peter Frampton released his debut double live album ‘Frampton Comes Alive!’ through A&M Records on this day January 15. The album became a chart-topper in the US, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, and it went on to sell over 12 million copies worldwide.
1977 – Actor and singer David Soul reached the top spot on the UK Singles chart with ‘Don’t Give Up on Us’ for the first of four consecutive weeks. The song was a chart-topper in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US as well.
1977 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day January 15 was ABBA‘s fourth studio release ‘Arrival’.
1977 – Rock band the Eagles topped the US Billboard 200 chart with their fifth studio album ‘Hotel California’. The album was an international hit and it also reached No.1 in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Spain.
1977 – British singer Leo Sayer scored his first number one single in the US with ‘You Make Me Feel Like Dancing’ on this day January 15 in music history.
1983 – Australian pop rock band Men at Work hit number one in the US with ‘Down Under’ for the first of three weeks. The song was a worldwide hit and it became a chart-topper in six other countries.
1983 – With his rendition of The Supremes‘ song ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’, Phil Collins topped the UK Singles chart
1994 – With his greatest hits compilation ‘So Far So Good’, Canadian musician Bryan Adams reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart.
1994 – American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson died on this day January 15 at the age of 52 from a heart attack. Best remembered for his hit renditions of songs such as ‘Without You’, ‘Coconut’, and ‘Everybody’s Talkin’.
1994 – American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg topped the US Billboard 200 chart with his debut studio album ‘Doggystyle’.
2000 – The number one single in the United States on this day January 15 in music history was ‘What a Girl Wants’ by Christina Aguilera. She topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks straight.
2000 – Scottish rock band Travis started a five-week stint at number one on the UK Albums chart with ‘The Man Who’.
2000 – With his fourth studio album ‘Vol.3…Life and Times of S. Carter’, rapper Jay-Z reached No.1 in the US on this day January 15.
2005 – Nearly half a century after he originally topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Jailhouse Rock’, Elvis Presley returned at No.1 in Britain with the same song.
2005 – Glam rock band Scissor Sisters went to number one in the UK on this day January 15 in music history with their self-titled debut studio album.
2011 – With ‘What’s My Name’, singer Rihanna and rapper Drake went to number one on the UK Singles chart.
2018 – Irish singer and songwriter Dolores O’Riordan died at the age of 46. Best remembered as the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band The Cranberries.
2022 – The soundtrack album to Disney’s animated musical film ‘Encanto’ reached number one in the United States.
BORN ON JANUARY 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1909 – American composer, jazz drummer, and bandleader Eugene “Gene” Krupa was born in Yonkers, New York. Best known for his drum solo on the 1936 jazz song ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ that revolutionized drumming.
1930 – American blues guitarist Earl Hooker was born in Chicago, Illinois. Best known for his side guitar playing and collaborations with artists such as John Lee Hooker and Junior Wells.
1941 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Don Van Vliet also known as Captain Beefheart was born in Glendale, California. He released 13 studio albums and had a cult following despite his lack of commercial success due to his mysterious personality.
1948 – Founding member, lead vocalist, and lyricist of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd – Ronald “Ronnie” Van Zant was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
1951 – Singer and songwriter Peter “Biff” Byford was born in Honley, England. Best known as the frontman of the heavy metal band Saxon.
1952 – English musician and cellist Melvyn Gale was born in London. Best known for his work with the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
1952 – Musician and artist Boris Blank was born in Bern, Switzerland. He rose to fame as a member of the musical duo Yello.
1959 – English musician Peter Trewavas was born in Middlesbrough, UK. Best known for his work as bassist for the rock band Marillion.
1961 – Lead guitarist of the pop-punk band The Undertones – Damian O’Neill was born in Derry, Northern Ireland.
1965 – Founding member and guitarist for the rock band Tool – Adam Jones was born in Park Ridge, Illinois.
1981 – American rapper and singer Armando Perez better known by his stage name Pitbull was born in Miami, Florida.
1988 – American disc jockey, musician, and record producer Sonny Moore also known as Skrillex was born in Los Angeles, California.