On This Day, January 27 in Music History
EVENTS ON JANUARY 27 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day January 27 in 1956 – Elvis Presley released ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ through RCA Records. The song became a number one hit in the United States and Presley’s first million-selling single.
1962 – Riding the popularity wave of the ‘Twist” dance craze, Joey Dee and the Starliters started a three-week stint No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Peppermint Twist’.
1966 – With their rendition of The Beatles song ‘Michelle’, The Overlanders hit number one in the UK on this day January 27 in music history for the first of three consecutive weeks.
1970 – John Lennon recorded ‘Instant Karma’ at Abbey Road Studios. Lennon wrote, recorded, and released the song in less than ten days. The single was a Top 10 hit in thirteen countries worldwide.
1972 – American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson died on this day January 27 at the age of 60 from heart failure. She sold over 20 million records and played a vital role in popularizing gospel blues music.
1973 – With ‘Superstition’, Stevie Wonder scored his second number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single also won him two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance.
1973 – Glam rock band the Sweet started a five-week stint at number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Block Buster!’ on this day January 27.
1979 – Ian Dury and The Blockheads scored their first and only number one single in the UK with ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’. The song was also a Top 3 hit in Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
1990 – With their second studio album ‘Colour’, soul group The Christians reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart on this day January 27 in music history.
1990 – Phil Collins returned for a two-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard 200 with his fourth studio album ‘…But Seriously’. The LP was also a huge international hit, topping 22 charts in total.
1990 – With her pop rendition of the 1958 doo-wop song ‘Tears on My Pillow’, Kylie Minogue topped the UK Singles chart on this day January 27.
1996 – Rock band Babylon Zoo had the number one single in the UK with ‘Spaceman’. They topped the chart for five weeks straight.
2001 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day January 27 was ‘Rollin” by the rap rock group Limp Bizkit.
2006 – American singer-songwriter and record producer Gene McFadden died at the age of 56. Best known as one half of the R&B duo McFadden & Whitehead.
2007 – British singer Mika scored his first domestic number one single with ‘Grace Kelly’ on this day January 27 in music history. He topped the UK Singles chart for five consecutive weeks.
2014 – American folk singer Peter Seeger died at the age of 94. He was revered for his social activism and protest music.
2018 – With ‘Havana’, Camila Cabello went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on this day January 27. The song was a worldwide hit that year reaching No.1 in 23 countries and selling over 10 million copies. She also topped the US Billboard 200 on this day with her debut studio album ‘Camila’.
2022 – The theme song ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ to the computer-animated musical film by Disney ‘Encanto’ started a seven-week stint at No.1 in the UK.
2022 – The number one album in the UK on this day January 27 was ‘Fix Yourself, Not the World’ by the rock band Wombats.
BORN ON JANUARY 27 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1756 – Classical music composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Holy Roman Empire.
1908 – American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and singer Oran Thaddeus “Hot Lips” Page was born in Dallas, Texas.
1918 – The ‘King of the Slide Guitar’ – Elmore James was born in Richland, Mississippi. In 1992 he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his contributions to music.
1918 – Composer, pianist, and conductor Lyle Russell Henderson also known as Skitch was born in Birmingham, England.
1919 – Singer-songwriter and record producer Ross Bagdasarian also known professionally as David Seville was born in Fresno, California. Best known for the chart-topping hits ‘Witch Doctor’ and ‘The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)’.
1930 – American blues singer Robert Bland also known by his stage name Bobby “Blue” Bland was born in Barretville, Tennessee.
1944 – Drummer and founding member of Pink Floyd, Nicholas “Nick” Mason was born in Birmingham, England.
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1946 – American singer Nedra Talley was born in New York City. She came to prominence as a founding member of the girl group The Ronettes.
1948 – British bass guitarist Kim Gardner was born in London, England. Best known as one third of the rock trio Ashton, Gardner & Dyke and also for his work with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart.
1951 – Irish musician Brian Downey was born in Dublin. Best known as a founding member and drummer of the hard rock band Thin Lizzy.
1951 – American musician Seth Justman was born in Washington, D.C. Best known as the keyboardist of The J. Geils Band.
1961 – Canadian singer Margo Timmins was born in Montreal, Quebec. Best known as the lead vocalist of the alternative band Cowboy Junkies.
1953 – American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer, and arranger Robert “Bob” Mintzer was born in New Rochelle, New York.
1957 – Guitarist Janick Gers was born in Hartlepool, England. He rose to fame as a member of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden.
1961 – Lead singer of the folk rock band Cowboy Junkies, Margo Timmins was born in Montreal, Canada.
1961 – Co-founder and frontman of the new wave band Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Martin Degville was born in Walsall, England.
1961 – Multi-instrumentalist, singer, and co-founder of the band New Order, Gillian Gilbert was born in Manchester, England.
1967 – Canadian folk music singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark was born in Churchill, Manitoba. Best known for her chart-topping single ‘O Siem’.
1968 – American singer Michael “Mike” Patton was born in Eureka, California. He rose to fame as the frontman of the metal band Faith No More.
1968 – Record producer, instrumentalist, rapper, and co-founder of the band Massive Attack, Adrian “Tricky” Thaws was born in Bristol, England.
1972 – Singer-songwriter and founding member of the pop group Take That, Mark Owen was born in Oldham, England.