On This Day, December 23 in Music History
EVENTS ON DECEMBER 23 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day December 23 in 1964 – Brian Wilson had a mental breakdown while on tour with the Beach Boys and couldn’t continue performing with the group. Glen Campbell replaced him for the remaining shows.
1967 – The Beatles made a third comeback at number one (two-weeks) on the UK Albums chart with ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. Originally the LP topped the chart for 23 consecutive weeks starting June 10 and returned for a week at the top on November 25.
1967 – A legendary connection was made on this day December 23 in music history when Elton John met songwriter Bernie Taupin. The duo went on to collaborate on over 30 albums producing 40 Top 10 hit singles and selling more than 250 million records worldwide.
1972 – 9-year old Little Jimmy Osmond became the youngest artist to top the UK Singles chart when ‘Long Haired Lover From Liverpool’ hit No.1 for the first of five weeks straight. Also a hit in Australia where it peaked at No.2.
1977 – British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cat Stevens converted to Islam on this day December 23 and changed his name to Yusuf Islam.
1989 – Phil Collins hit number one on the US Singles chart with ‘Another Day In Paradise’ for the first of two weeks straight, the last chart-topper of the decade. The song was also a big hit worldwide and it reached No.1 in ten other countries, including as many Top 10 entries.
1989 – Due to several disagreements with his bandmates, rapper Ice Cube left N.W.A. on this day December 23 in music history in order to pursue a solo career.
1989 – The number one single in the UK on this day December 23 was ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ by the charity supergroup Band Aid II.
1992 – Guitarist and singer Edward “Eddie” Hazel died on this day at the age of 42. Best remembered as a member of the funk band Parliament-Funkadelic and for his 10-minute guitar solo on “Maggot Brain”.
2000 – The theme song ‘Can We Fix It?’ of the children’s TV show Bob the Builder started a three-week run at the top of the UK Singles chart on this day December 23.
2006 – With her second studio album ‘Ciara: The Evolution’, R&B singer Ciara went to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
2007 – Influential Canadian jazz musician and composer Oscar Peterson died on this day December 23 in music history, aged 82.
2017 – With ‘Perfect’, Ed Sheeran hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the first of six consecutive weeks. The song was a hit worldwide and it also reached No.1 in 25 other countries.
2017 – The number one album in the United States on this day December 23 was ‘Songs of Experience’ by the Irish rock band U2.
BORN ON DECEMBER 23 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1929 – American jazz trumpeter and singer Chesney “Chet” Baker was born in Yale, Oklahoma. Best known as one of the pioneers of the cool jazz subgenre which earned him the nickname ‘Prince of Cool’.
1933 – American jazz alto and soprano saxophone player Frank Morgan was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1935 – R&B and blues music singer Esther Phillips was born Esther Mae Jones in Galveston, Texas. Best known for the hit songs ‘Double Crossing Blues’, ‘What a Diff’rence a Day Makes’, and ‘Mistrustin’ Blues’.
1935 – Singer-songwriter Frederick Albert Heath better known by his stage name Johnny Kidd was born in North London, England. Best known as the leader of the band Johnny Kidd & the Pirates.
1940 – Co-founder and lead vocalist of the quartet The Chi-Lites, Eugene Record was born in Chicago, Illinois.
1940 – American guitarist Jorma Kaukonen was born in Washington, D.C. Best known for his work with the bands Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.
1941 – American drummer Ron Bushy was born in Washington, D.C. He came to prominence as a member of the rock band Iron Butterfly.
1946 – British guitarist Luther James Grosvenor also known as Ariel Bender was born in Evesham, England. Best known for his work with the bands Spooky Tooth and Stealers Wheel.
1946 – Founding member of rock band Aerosmith, Ray Tabano also known as Crazy Raymond was born in The Bronx, New York.
1947 – Metal and rock singer-songwriter Graham Bonnet was born Skegness, England. Besides his solo work he’s also known for his work with bands such as Alcatrazz, Rainbow, and Impellitteri.
1949 – Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Adrian Belew was born Robert Steven Belew in Covington, Kentucky. Best known as a longtime member of the progressive rock band King Crimson.
1951 – Founding member and guitarist of the rock band Genesis, Anthony Phillips was born in Chiswick, England.
1951 – American musician Douglas “Doug” Stegmeyer was born in New York City. Best known for his work as bassist and backing vocalist for Billy Joel and Hall & Oates.
1956 – Heavy metal guitarist and songwriter David “Dave” Murray was in Edmonton, England. He came to prominence as a member of the band Iron Maiden.
1958 – American singer, songwriter and guitar player Victoria Williams was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1959 – American jazz pianist, songwriter, composer, and producer Laurence Hobgood was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. Best known for his two-decades collaboration with singer Kurt Elling.
1964 – Founding member, lead vocalist and guitarist of Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder was born Edward Louis Severson III in Evanston, Illinois.
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1975 – Australian singer and songwriter Katie Underwood was born in Adelaide. Best known as member of the girl group Bardot.
1978 – Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, and arranger Jenny-Bea Englishman better known by her stage name Esthero was born in Toronto, Ontario.
1985 – Founding member and drummer of the pop rock band McFly, Harry Judd was born in Chelmsford, England.