On This Day, July 19 in Music History
EVENTS ON JULY 19 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day July 19 in 1954 – Elvis Presley released his debut single ‘That’s All Right Mama’ through Sun Records. The single sold 20,000 copies and it failed to chart nationally.
1967 – The Beatles started a three-week stint at number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘All You Need Is Love’. The song topped the singles charts in 10 countries that year, including the US and Canada.
1975 – Paul McCartney and Wings topped both the US and UK Albums charts with their fourth studio album ‘Venus and Mars’. They also topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day July 19 in music history with ‘Listen to What the Man Said’.
1975 – The Bay City Rollers hit number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Give a Little Love’ for the first of three consecutive weeks.
1976 – The manager of Deep Purple, Rob Cooksey announced on this day July 19 that the group was breaking up. They eventually reunited eight years later in 1984.
10 Fun Facts About Deep Purple
1980 – With their eighth studio album ‘The Game’, Queen started a two-week run at No.1 in the UK. The album was an international hit and it also topped the charts in Argentina, Canada, the Netherlands, and the US.
1980 – Billy Joel started a two-week stint at number one in the US on this day July 19 with ‘It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me’. Also a chart-topper in Canada that year.
1986 – Rock band Genesis scored their first and only number one single in the US with ‘Invisible Touch’. The song was a No.1 hit in Canada as well while in the UK it peaked at No.15.
1986 – R&B singer Patti LaBelle scored her first and only number one album in the US with ‘Winner in You’ on this day July 19 in music history.
1997 – Electronic music group the Prodigy hit number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with their third studio album ‘The Fat of the Land’. The album topped nineteen charts around the world and as of July 2023 it has sold over 10 million copies.
1997 – Rock band Oasis scored their third number one single in the UK with ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’ on this day July 19.
Oasis – D’You Know What I Mean?
1999 – German singer Lou Bega released his debut studio album ‘A Little Bit of Mambo’. The album went to No.1 in Austria, Canada, Finland, and Switzerland, while in the US it reached No.3. It features the single ‘Mambo No.5 (A Little Bit of…)’ which became a chart-topper in 23 countries worldwide.
2001 – American soul and gospel singer Judy Clay died on this day July 19 at the age of 62 due to complications following a car crash.
2003 – With her second studio album ‘Chapter II’, Ashanti started a two-week run at No.1 in the US. Also a hit in the UK where it peaked at No.2.
2014 – R&B singer Trey Songz topped the US Billboard 200 chart with his sixth studio album ‘Trigga’ on this day July 19 in music history.
2014 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day was ‘It’s My Birthday’ by rapper will.i.am, featuring singer Cody Wise.
2018 – As per tradition during the FIFA World Cup, Baddiel & Skinner & Lightning Seeds topped the UK Singles chart with the unofficial anthem of English football ‘Three Lions’ on this day July 19.
2020 – American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and audio engineer Emitt Rhodes died at the age of 70.
BORN ON JULY 19 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1925 – Pop and country music singer Sue Thompson was born in Nevada, Missouri on this day July 19 in music history. Best known for her million-selling hit singles ‘Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)’ and ‘Norman’.
1932 – American blues guitarist and singer Arley “Buster” Benton was born in Texarkana, Arkansas. Best known for his work with Willie Dixon and for his solo rendition of ‘Spider in My Stew’.
1937 – American country music singer and guitarist George Hamilton IV was born on this day July 19 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
1940 – Mexican-American singer Florencia Vicenta de Casillas also known professionally as Vikki Carr was born in El Paso, Texas. Best known for her 1967 chart-topping single ‘It Must Be Him’.
1941 – American jazz and blues guitarist Phil Upchurch was born on this day July 19 in Chicago, Illinois. Best known for his work with the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush, BB King, etc.
1944 – Co-founder and leader of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, George Frayne IV was born in Boise, Idaho.
1946 – Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of the Average White Band, Alan Gorrie was born in Perth, Scotland on this day July 19 in music history.
1947 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bernie Leadon was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He came to prominence as a founding member of the rock band Eagles.
1947 – Guitarist, singer and songwriter Brian May was born on this day July 19 in Hampton Hill, England. Best known as the co-founder of the rock band Queen.
1948 – Keyboardist and songwriter Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington. Best known as a member of the rock band Grateful Dead from 1971 until 1979.
1952 – Guitarist and founding member of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allen Collins was born on this day July 19 in Jacksonville, Florida.
1960 – English drummer Kevin Dompe better known as Kevin Haskins was born in Northampton. He rose to fame as a member of the bands Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, and Love and Rockets.
1971 – Swiss singer Urs Buhler was born in Willisau, Switzerland on this day July 19 in music history. Best known as a member of the multi-national classical crossover vocal group II Divo.
1976 – Swedish DJ and producer Eric Prydz also known by his stage names Pryda or Cirez D was born in Taby, Sweden. Best known for his worldwide hit single ‘Call on Me’.
1979 – Singer and stage actress Michelle Heaton was born on this day July 19 in Gateshead, England. She came to prominence as a member of the pop group Liberty X.
1992 – Co-founder, lead singer, and guitarist of the indie rock band Wolf Alice, Ellie Rowsell was born in London, England.