On This Day, February 25 in Music History
EVENTS ON FEBRUARY 25 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day February 25 in 1956 – With ‘I Forgot to Remember To Forget’, Elvis Presley scored his first number one single on the US Billboard National Country chart.
1957 – With his band The Crickets, Buddy Holly began recording ‘That’ll Be The Day. The single was released on September 2 and it became a chart-topper in the UK whilst in the US it peaked at No.2
1961 – For the first time since 1958, Elvis Presley played in front of a live audience on this day February 25 in music history. It was a two-nights charity concert in Memphis, Tennessee.
1964 – At Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles finished recording ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ and the B-side track ‘You Can’t Do That’. The A-side became a chart-topper in eight countries worldwide that year.
1965 – With ‘I’ll Never Find Another You’, pop quarter The Seekers scored their first number one single in the UK on this day February 25.
1966 – Nancy Sinatra received her first Gold Disc for ‘These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ which reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart the very next day on February 26.
1968 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed At the Civic Opera House in Chicago on this day February 25. However, the more interesting event occurred backstage between shows when Jimi Hendrix got his “male reproductive organ” molded by a groupie named Cynthia Plaster Caster.
1972 – In front of 25 thousand fans in Auckland, New Zealand, Led Zeppelin played their first-ever gig on the island. The show set a record for the biggest audience at a concert in New Zealand at the time.
10 Interesting Facts About Led Zeppelin
1982 – Southern rock band Alabama released their sixth studio album ‘Mountain Music’ through RCA Nashville on this day February 25 in music history. The album topped the Billboard Country chart and reached No.14 on the Billboard 200.
1984 – With ‘Jump’, Van Halen hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the first of five consecutive weeks. Also a chart-topper in Canada and a Top 10 hit in several other countries that year.
1984 – New wave band Thompson Twins went to number one in the UK on this day February 25 with their fourth studio album ‘Into the Gap’.
1986 – The 28th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The charity single ‘We Are The World’ won four awards. Phil Collins, Sade, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston also among the winners that night.
1989 – With ‘Belfast Child’, Simple Minds topped the UK Singles chart on this day February 25. The song was an international hit that peaked within the Top 10 in ten other countries, including No.1 in Ireland and the Netherlands.
1989 – Pop and soul band Simply Red started a four-week stint at number one on the UK Albums chart with ‘A New Flame’ on this day February 25.
1992 – The 34th Annual Grammy Awards were held at Radio City Musical Hall in New York City. Natalie Cole was the big winner with three awards and James Brown was awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.
1993 – American guitarist and songwriter Toy Caldwell died on this day February 25, aged 45 of a cardio-respiratory failure caused by cocaine use. Best remembered as a founding member of the southern rock group The Marshall Tucker Band.
1995 – With ‘Take a Bow’, Madonna hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first of seven consecutive weeks.
1995 – Aged 79, Frank Sinatra sang for the last time in front of a live audience on this day February 25 in music history at a private party with selected guests.
1998 – The 40th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Bob Dylan, Elton John, John Fogerty, Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker among the winners that night. Bo Diddley and Roy Orbison received Lifetime Achievement Awards.
2006 – The number one album in the United States on this day February 25 was the soundtrack ‘Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George’ by Jack Johnson & Friends.
2006 – George Michael was found unconscious in a car in Hyde Park, London. After being treated by the paramedics, he was arrested for drug possession, but was later released on bail.
2011 – American musician Erik Michael Coonce also known professionally as Rick Coonce died on this day February 25, aged 64. Best remembered for playing drums with The Grass Roots from 1966 until 1972.
2012 -American blues guitarist, singer, and harmonica player Iverson Minter also known as Louisiana Red died at the age of 79. Best remembered for the song ‘Sweet Blood Call’.
Louisiana Red – Sweet Blood Call
2012 – With ‘Hot Right Now’, DJ Fresh and singer Rita Ora went to number one on the UK Singles chart on this day February 25 in music history.
2012 – Scottish singer Emeli Sande went to number one in the United Kingdom with her debut studio album ‘Our Version of Events’.
2017 – With his fourth studio album ‘I Decided’, rapper Big Sean topped the US Billboard 200 chart on this day February 25.
2021 – British rapper Slowthai scored his first domestic chart-topping album with his second studio release ‘Tyron’.
BORN ON FEBRUARY 25 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1932 – Country music producer, guitarist, and songwriter Faron Young was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1937 – American keyboardist, songwriter, and bandleader Don Randi was born in New York City. Best known as a member of the Wrecking Crew.
1943 – Singer, songwriter and guitarist George Harrison was born in Liverpool, England. He is best known as a member of The Beatles and also for his solo work.
1948 – English multi-genre singer Elkie Brooks was born in Salford, Lancashire. Best known for the Top 10 hit singles ‘Pearl’s a Singer’ and ‘Sunshine After the Rain’.
1949 – American multi-instrumentalist Frank “Poncho” Sampedro was born in Welch, West Virginia. Best known as a member of the band Crazy Horse and for his work with Neil Young.
1957 – American drummer and founding member of The Smithereens, Denis Diken was born in New Jersey.
1957 – Scottish instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Stewart John Wood nicknamed Woody was born in Edinburgh. He came to prominence as the guitarist of the band Bay City Rollers.
1959 – Welsh singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mike Peters was born in Prestatyn, Wales. Best known as the frontman of the rock band The Alarm.
1971 – Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter was born in Vernon, British Columbia. Best known for his 2005 chart-topping single ‘Bad Day’.
1982 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist Meiko was born Melissa McAllister Sheppard on this day in Roberta, Georgia.
1993 – American rapper and singer Kathryn-Leigh Beckwith also known professionally as Kitty was born in Plantation, Florida.