On This Day, February 15 in Music History
EVENTS ON FEBRUARY 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day February 15 in 1962 – Ray Charles recorded his rendition of Don Gibson‘s popular song ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’. It was released in April and it became a chart-topper in Australia, the UK, Sweden, and the US that year.
1964 – The Beatles hit number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with ‘Meet the Beatles’ for the first of eleven consecutive weeks.
1965 – American jazz pianist and singer Nathaniel Adams Coles also known professionally as Nat King Cole died on this day February 15 in music history, aged 45 of lung cancer.
1965 – The Beatles released ‘Eight Days a Week’ in the United States. It became their seventh number one single in the US and it also topped the charts in Belgium, Canada, and the Netherlands.
1968 – Blues music singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Marion Walter Jacobs also known as Little Walter died on this day February 15, aged 37. Best remembered for his revolutionary way of playing the harmonica which earned him an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1969 – Soul band Sly and the Family Stone hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Everyday People’ for the first of four consecutive weeks.
1969 – With the collaborative album ‘Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations’, Diana Ross & The Supremes with The Temptations started a four-week at No.1 in the UK on this day February 15.
1974 – Hard rock pioneers Deep Purple released their eighth studio album ‘Burn’ through their own record label Purple. The album peaked at No.1 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Norway, and was a Top 10 hit in the UK, US, and Canada.
10 Fun Facts About Deep Purple
1975 – Linda Ronstadt dominated the US Music charts on this day February 15 in music history when her fifth studio album ‘Heart Like a Wheel’ reached No.1 on the Billboard 200 while her single ‘You’re No Good’ topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1975 – Progressive rock band Rush released their second studio album ‘Fly by Night’ through Mercury Records. It’s the first album to feature drummer and songwriter Neil Peart.
1979 – The 21st Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on this day February 15. Billy Joel, the Bee Gees, Kool & the Gang, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, among the winners that night.
1981 – American guitarist and composer Michael “Mike” Bloomfield died at the age of 37 from an accidental overdose. Best known for his collaborations with musicians such as Bob Dylan and Paul Butterfield.
1984 – American singer and actress Ethel Zimmermann also known as Ethel Merman died on this day, February 15, aged 76. Best remembered for her leading roles in Broadway musicals.
1986 – With their second studio album ‘Promise’, English band Sade started a two-week stint at the top of the US Billboard 200 chart.
1986 – The number one single in the United States on this day February 15 in music history was ‘How Will I Know’ by Whitney Houston.
1997 – With ‘Discotheque’, Irish rock band U2 topped the UK Singles chart. The song became a chart-topper in seven other countries as well, including Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.
1997 – Scottish rock band Texas went to number one in the UK on this day February 15 with their fourth studio album ‘White on Blonde’.
1997 – The soundtrack album ‘Gridlock’d’to the black comedy crime film of the same name went to number one in the US.
Gridlock’d – Wanted Dead or Alive
2003 – R&B singer Kelly Rowland reached number one in the UK with her debut solo studio album ‘Simply Deep’ on this day February 15.
2003 – With their sixth studio album ‘Home’, country music band Dixie Chicks reached the top spot on the US Billboard 200 chart.
2005 – French singer and songwriter Pierre Bachelet died on this day February 15 in music history, aged 60 of long cancer.
2014 – With their fourth studio album ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’, indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club hit No.1 in the UK.
2016 – The 58th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on this day February 15. Biggest winner of the night was rapper Kendrick Lamar with eleven nominations and five awards.
2020 – Rapper Lil Wayne scored his fifth number one album in the United States with ‘Funeral’ on this day February 15.
BORN ON FEBRUARY 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1905 – American composer Hyman Arluck also known professionally as Harold Arlen was born in Buffalo, New York. Best known for composing the soundtrack for the fantasy film ‘The Wizard of Oz’, including ‘Over the Rainbow’.
1918 – Country music singer and songwriter Hankins “Hank” Locklin was born in McLellan, Florida. Best known for his two chart-topping singles ‘Please Help Me, I’m Falling’ and ‘Let Me Be the One’.
1941 – Songwriter and record producer Brian Holland was in Detroit, Michigan. Best known as a member of Motown‘s trio Holland-Dozier-Holland which produced numerous hits for music acts such as The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, etc.
1944 – English musician Michael “Mick” Avory was born in London. He rose to fame as the drummer and percussionist for the rock band The Kinks.
1945 – English multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist John Helliwell was born in Todmorden. Best known as a longtime member of the rock band Supertramp.
1947 – American bassist and songwriter David Brown was born in New York City. Best known as a member of the rock band Santana with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
1951 – American singer-songwriter and actress Melissa Manchester was born in New York City.
1955 – Influential record producer and audio engineer Hugh Padgham was born in Amersham, England. Best known for winning four Grammy Awards and for his collaborations with artists such as Phil Collins and Sting.
1959 – Co-founder and frontman of the reggae band UB40, Alistair “Ali” Campbell was born in Birmingham, England.
1960 – Co-founder and bassist of the new wave band Culture Club – Mikey Craig was born in London, England.
1974 – Finnish singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Tomi Putaansuu also known by his stage names Mr Lordi or Mr L was born in Rovaniemi.
1976 – Founding member and frontman of the rock band Incubus, Brandon Boyd was born in Van Nuys, California.
1977 – American drummer Brooks Wackerman was born in Long Beach, California. He came to prominence as a member of the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold.