On This Day, February 11 in Music History
EVENTS ON FEBRUARY 11 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day February 11 in 1963 – The Beatles had a prolific recording session at Abbe Roads studios in London where they recorded 10 songs for their debut studio album ‘Please Please Me’. They recorded songs such as ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘Hold Me Tight’, ‘Baby It’s You’, and ‘Twist and Shout’ among others.
1964 – Two days after appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Beatles made their debut live concert in the US at the Washington Coliseum.
1967 – The Rolling Stones released their seventh studio album ‘Between the Buttons’ in America on this day February 11 in music history. The album became a Top 3 hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
1967 – After topping the US Billboard 200 for thirteen weeks straight with their self-titled debut studio album, The Monkees extended their run at No.1 for eighteen more weeks on the chart with their second studio album ‘More of the Monkees’.
1978 – Pop group Brotherhood of Man went to number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Figaro’ on this day February 11. It also became a chart-topper in Ireland.
1979 – Over 40 million viewers tuned in to watch ‘Elvis’, a biographical film about the King of Rock and Roll directed by John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russel.
1989 – Electronic rock band New Order went to number one in the UK with their fifth studio album ‘Technique’ on this day February 11.
1989 – Paula Abdul scored her first number one single in the US with ‘Straight Up’ which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks straight. It also reached No.1 in Norway and Canada, while in the UK it peaked at No.3.
1989 – The number one album in the United States on this day February 11 was ‘Appetite for Destruction’ by the hard rock band Guns N’ Roses.
1992 – Vince Neil was fired from Motley Crue, the band he co-founded and fronted for a decade because of his lack of commitment to the group. But eventually Vince and Motley Crue reunited a few years later.
1995 – With their tenth studio album ‘Balance’, hard rock band Van Halen reached the top spot on the US Billboard 200 chart on this day February 11.
2005 – The 49th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Country music group Dixie Chicks won five awards and artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Stevie Wonder also didn’t go emptyhanded home that night.
2006 – Multi-national classical crossover vocal group Il Divo went to No.1 in the US on this day February 11 with their third studio album ‘Ancora’.
2009 – American singer Estelle Bennett died at the age of 67 of colon cancer. Best remembered as a member of the girl group The Ronettes.
2012 – With her second studio album ‘Born to Die’, singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey reached No.1 in the UK on this day February 11.
2012 – Singer and actress Whitney Houston accidentally drowned in her bathtub at the age of 48. She is one of the best-selling artists in music history with over 200 million records sold worldwide.
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2012 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day February 11 was ‘Titanium’ by DJ David Guetta and singer-songwriter Sia.
2013 – English bassist and founding member of the Dave Clark Five (DC5), Richard “Rick” Huxley died at the age of 72.
2016 – One month after his death, David Bowie‘s 2002 greatest hits compilation ‘Best of Bowie’ reached No.1 in the UK on this day February 11 in music history.
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2016 – With his debut solo single ‘Pillowtalk’, singer and songwriter Zayn reached the top spot on the UK Singles chart.
2021 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day February 11 was the debut studio LP ‘Not Your Muse’ by singer-songwriter Celeste.
BORN ON FEBRUARY 11 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1914 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist Joshua White also known by his stage names Pinewood Tom and Tippy Barton was born in Greenville, South Carolina.
1914 – American singer, songwriter, pianist, and arranger Matthew “Matt” Dennis was born in Seattle, Washington. Best known for songs such as ‘Angel Eyes’, ‘Everything Happens to Me’ and ‘Violets for Your Furs’.
1935 – Rockabilly and rock and roll music pioneer Vincent Eugene Craddock also known as Gene Vincent was born in Norfolk, Virginia. Best known for his 1956 hit single ‘Be-Bop-a-Lula’.
1938 – Singer and songwriter Robert Pickett also known professionally as Bobby “Boris” Pickett was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. Best known for co-writing and singing the 1962 chart-topping single ‘Monster Mash’.
1939 – American lyricist Gerald Goffin was born in Brooklyn, New York. He penned over 100 hit singles for various artists, including 8 number one songs which earned him an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1942 – American soul and R&B singer Otis Clay was born in Waxhaw, Mississippi. Best known for songs such as ‘Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You’ and ‘She’s About a Mover’.
1943 – Blues and soul singer Little Johnny Taylor was born Johnny Lamont Merrett in Gregory, Arkansas.
1943 – Multi-instrumentalist Alan Rubin also known by his stage name Mr. Fabulous was born in Brooklyn, New York City.
1947 – Scottish singer and multi-instrumentalist Derek Shulman was born in Glasgow. He rose to fame as the frontman of the rock band Gentle Giant from 1970 until 1980.
1962 – Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress Sheryl Crow was born in Kennett, Missouri. She has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
1974 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Eugene Archer also known as D’Angelo was born in Richmond, Virginia.
1977 – Rapper, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer Michael “Mike” Shinoda was born in Agoura Hills, California. He came to prominence as the co-founder of the rock band Linkin Park
1981 – American singer and songwriter Kelendria “Kelly” Rowland was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Best known as a member of the girl group Destiny’s Child.