On This Day, August 14 in Music History
EVENTS ON AUGUST 14 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day August 14 in 1953 – Mantovani and his Orchestra topped the UK Singles chart with ‘It’s April Again’ also known as ‘The Song from Moulin Rouge’.
1964 – Rockabilly and pop music singer-songwriter Johnny Burnette died in a boat crash at the age of 30. Best remembered as a member of the Rock and Roll Trio.
1965 – Husband and wife pop duo Sonny & Cher started a three-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘I Got You Babe’. Also a chart-topper in the UK, Canada, and New Zealand that year.
1965 – The Beatles started a nine-week run at number one in the UK with their fifth studio album ‘Help!’. Also a chart-topper in Australia, Finland, and the US that year.
1968 – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown went to number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Fire’ on this day August 14.
1971 – With their seventh studio album ‘Every Good Boy Deserves Favour’, The Moody Blues went to No.1 in the UK on this day August 14 in music history.
1976 – Peter Frampton returned for a three-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard 200 chart with his double live album ‘Frampton Comes Alive!’.
1985 – Michael Jackson bought the rights to The Beatles‘ 250 song catalog for $47.5m, outbidding Paul McCartney in the process which soured their relationship.
1988 – South African musician, writer, and poet Robert Calvert died on this day August 14, aged 43 of a heart attack. Best remembered as the frontman of the rock band Hawkwind.
1988 – Blues music guitarist, songwriter and pioneer of the Telecaster sound, Leroy “Roy” Buchanan died at the age of 48 on this day August 14 in music history.
1992 – American doo-wop singer Tony Williams died at the age of 64. Best remembered as the lead vocalist of The Platters from 1953 until 1960.
1993 – With a remixed version of Freddie Mercury‘s song ‘Living on My Own’, No More Brothers started a two-week run at No.1 in the UK.
Freddie Mercury – Living on My Own
1999 – Rap rock band Limp Bizkit returned to number one in the US with their second studio album ‘Significant Other’ on this day August 14 in music history. The LP reached No.1 in Canada as well.
2000 – English singer Craig David released his debut studio album ‘Born to Do It’. The album was a commercial success with over 7 million copies sold worldwide, and it debuted at No.1 in the UK.
2002 – American singer David Williams died on this day August 14 at the age of 30 from heart failure. Best remembered as the frontman of the metal band Drowning Pool.
2004 – The sixteenth edition of the US Now! series ‘Now That’s What I Call Music! 7’ topped the US Albums chart. It’s a compilation album released by Universal Records and it features various artists such as D12, OutKast, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Lenny Kravitz, etc.
2010 – With their fifth studio album ‘Nightmare’, heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold went to No.1 in the US on this day August 14 in music history.
2010 – Indie rock band Arcade Fire topped the UK Albums chart with their third studio release ‘The Suburbs’. The album debuted at No.1 in Ireland, the US, and Canada, and it won the band a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
2010 – American R&B singer Ne-Yo scored his third number one single on the UK Singles chart with ‘Beautiful Monster’.
2010 – Founding member and drummer of the rock band Little Feat, Richard “Richie” Hayward died on this day August 14, aged 64.
2013 – Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Allen Lanier died at the age of 67. Best remembered as a founding member of the rock band Blue Oyster Cult.
2016 – American keyboardist James Wooley died at the age of 49. Best remembered for his work with the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails.
2018 – Heavy metal singer Jill Janus committed suicide at the age of 42. Best remembered as the lead vocalist of the band Huntress.
2021 – Billie Eilish started a three-week run at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with her second studio album ‘Happier Than Ever’ on this day August 14. The album was an international hit and it topped the charts in over 20 countries worldwide.
2021 – The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber topped the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Stay’. The song was a huge worldwide hit and it went to No.1 in over 20 countries.
BORN ON AUGUST 14 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1926 – American jazz pap music singer and pianist Joseph “Buddy” Greco was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Best known for his hit singles ‘The Lady Is a Tramp’, ‘Around the World’, and ‘Up, Up and Away’.
1941 – Country music singer and songwriter Constance June Meador also known professionally as Connie Smith was born in Elkhart, Indiana. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Once a Day’, ‘Then and Only Then’, and ‘Ain’t Had No Lovin”.
1941 – Singer-songwriter and guitarist David Crosby was born in Los Angeles, California on this day August 14 in music history. Best known as a founding member of Crosby, Stills & Nash, and The Byrds.
1946 – American bassist and singer Larry Graham was born on this day August 14 in Beaumont, Texas. Best known for his work with the bands Sly and the Family Stone and Graham Central Station.
1947 – English folk singer Madelaine “Maddy” Prior was born in Blackpool. She rose to fame as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.
1948 – English rock bassist Bruce Thomas was born in Stockton. He rose to fame as a member of Elvis Costello’s backing band The Attractions.
1951 – Guitarist and singer-songwriter Bob “Slim” Dunlap was born in Plainview, Minnesota on this day August 14 in music history. He came to prominence as a member of The Replacements.
1956 – American R&B singer Sharon Bryan was born in Westchester County, New York. She rose to fame as the lead singer of Atlantic Starr.
1960 – Classical crossover soprano singer and actress Sarah Brightman was born in Berkhamsted, England.
1964 – American guitarist and singer Keith Howland was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. Best known as a member of the rock band Chicago.
1970 – Founding member of the rock band Third Eye Blind, Kevin Cadogan was born in Oakland, Oklahoma.
1974 – American singer Ana Kirby also known professionally as Ana Matronic was born in Portland, Oregon. Best known as a member of the band Scissor Sisters.
1977 – English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Edward “Ed” Harcourt was born on this day August 14 in London.