On This Day, August 15 in Music History
EVENTS ON AUGUST 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day August 15 in 1960 – Elvis Presley started a five-week run at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘It’s Now or Never’. The song was an international hit and it topped the charts in ten countries.
1964 – With ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’, Dean Martin went to number one on the US Singles chart. Also a chart-topper in New Zealand that year.
1965 – The Beatles performed in front of 55,000 fans at the Shea Stadium in New York City on this day August 15 in music history.
1969 – The now-legendary Woodstock music festival kicked off on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York with a performance by Richie Havens. Over 400,000 people attended the three day event.
1971 – American singer Thomas Wayne Perkins lost his life in a car accident at the age of 31. Best remembered for the hit song ‘Tragedy’.
1981 – Pat Benatar scored her first number one album on the US Billboard 200 chart with her third studio release ‘Precious Time’. The album’s lead single ‘Fire and Ice’ peaked at No.17 on the Hot 100 chart.
1981 – Diana Ross and Lionel Richie started a nine-week run at number one in the US with ‘Endless Love’ on this day August 15. The song became a chart-topped in Australia, Canada, and South Africa as well.
1984 – American musician, record producer and radio station owner Norman Petty died on this day at the age of 57 of leukemia.
1987 – The duet ballad ‘I Just Can’t Stop Loving You’ by Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett topped the UK Singles chart on this day August 15.
1990 – American country music singer, guitarist, and composer Lewis “Lew” DeWitt died at the age of 52. Best remembered as a founding member of The Statler Brothers.
1992 – Australian rock band INXS went to number one in the UK with their eighth studio album ‘Welcome to Wherever You Are’.
1992 – Vocal harmony group Boyz II Men started a thirteen-week run at No.1 on the US Singles chart with ‘End of the Road’ on this day August 15 in music history. The song also reached number one in Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK, and on the European Hot 100 chart.
1992 – Jamaican musician, record producer, and songwriter Wilfred Gerald Edwards also known as Jackie Edwards died at the age of 53.
1998 – With their second studio album ‘Talk on Corners’, family pop rock band The Corrs started a three-week stint at No.1 in the UK.
1998 – Boyband Boyzone scored their fourth number one single in the United Kingdom with ‘No Matter What’ on this day August 15.
2008 – Music producer and journalist Gerald “Jerry” Wexler died at the age of 91. Best known for his work with the likes of Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Aretha Franklin, etc.
2009 – American singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James “Jim” Dickinson died at the age of 67. Best remembered as the frontman of the band Mud Boy and the Neutrons.
2009 – With his fifth studio album ‘Loso’s Way’, rapper Fabolous hit number one in the US on this day August 15.
2009 – Tinchy Stryder and Amelle Berrabah went to number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Never Leave You’.
2015 – American singer Jill Scott scored her second number one album on the US Billboard 200 chart with her fifth studio release ‘Woman’.
2020 – Harry Styles scored his first No.1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Watermelon Sugar’ on this day August 15 in music history. The song earned him a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance as well.
BORN ON AUGUST 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1925 – Singer and founding member of The Drifters, Willie “Bill” Pinkney was born in Dalzell, South Carolina on this day August 15 in music history.
1926 – Canadian jazz music pianist and composer Oscar Peterson was born in Montreal, Quebec. He’s the recipient of seven Grammy Awards.
1932 – R&B and pop music singer Gil Hamilton also known professionally as Johnny Thunder was born in Leesburg, Florida. He rose to fame with his hit single ‘Loop de Loop’.
1933 – Country music singer and guitar player Robert “Bobby” Helms was born on this day August 15 in Helmsburg, Indiana. Best known for his hit song ‘Jingle Bell Rock’.
1941 – American country musician Donald Ulrich also known professionally as Don Rich was born in Olympia, Washington.
1942 – British rock drummer Peter York was born in Redcar on this day August 15 in music history. Best known as a founding member of the Spencer Davis Group, and for his work with the likes of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, etc.
1946 – American songwriter, singer, and composer Jimmy Webb was born in Elk City, Oklahoma. Best known for writing hit songs such as ‘Up, Up and Away’, ‘All I Know’, and ‘Worst That Could Happen’ among many others.
1948 – Founder and frontman of the rock band The Doobie Brothers, Thomas Johnston was born in Visalia, California.
1950 – American singer and songwriter William “Billy” Griffin was born on this day August 15 in Baltimore, Maryland. He came to prominence as the lead singer of The Miracles.
1950 – American drummer Tommy Aldridge was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Best known for his work with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, and others.
1961 – Founder and only constant member of the post-punk band The The, Matt Johnston was born in London, England.
1972 – Irish singer and songwriter Michael “Mikey” Graham was born in Dublin on this day August 15 in music history. He rose to fame as a member of the boy band Boyzone.
1984 – Multi-instrumentalist and founding member of the folk rock band Mumford & Sons, Ted Dwane was born in London, England.
1985 – American rapper Airmiess Joseph Asghedom also known professionally as Nipsey Hussle was born in Los Angeles, California.
1989 – Singer and songwriter Joseph “Joe” Jonas of the siblings pop rock band Jonas Brothers was born on this day August 15 in Casa Grande, Arizona.