On This Day, March 13 in Music History
EVENTS ON MARCH 13 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day March 13 in 1948 – Jazz and pop music singer-songwriter Peggy Lee started a nine-week stint at No.1 in the US with ‘Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)’.
1953 – Pop singer Guy Mitchell became the sixth artist to top the newly formed UK Singles chart with ‘She Wears Red Feathers’ which stayed at No.1 for four weeks straight.
1965 – The soundtrack album ‘Marry Poppins’ to the film of the same name reached the top spot on the US Billboard 200 chart.
1965 – With ‘Eight Days A Week’, The Beatles scored their second number one single of the year in the US on this day March 13. The previously topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early January with ‘I Feel Fine’.
1976 – With their first compilation album ‘Their Greatest His (1971-1975)’, the Eagles hit No.1 on the US Billboard 200 chart for the first of four consecutive weeks.
1976 – With ‘December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)’, The Four Seasons started a three-week stint at No.1 in the US on this day March 13. The song also became a chart-topper in Canada, South Africa, and the UK.
1980 – The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded Pink Floyd a Platinum Disc for their eleventh studio album ‘The Wall’ which sold over 1 million units.
1993 – Canadian reggae musician and rapper Snow started a seven-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Informer’ on this day March 13 in music history. The song was a worldwide hit and it became a chart-topper in ten other countries.
1993 – With his live album ‘Unplugged’, Eric Clapton hit number one on the US Billboard 200 for the first of three consecutive weeks.
1993 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day March 13 was ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’ by Lenny Kravitz.
1995 – English rock band Radiohead released their second studio album ‘The Bends’ through Parlophone records. The album was a commercial success and it peaked at No.4 in the UK.
1999 – Irish boy band Boyzone hit number one in the UK on this day March 13 with their version of Billy Ocean‘s song ‘When the Going Gets Tough’.
1999 – With ‘Believe’, Cher scored her fifth US Billboard Hot 100 No.1 single and became the oldest female artist to top the chart, aged 52. The song was a huge hit worldwide and it reached No.1 in eighteen other countries.
1999 – Girl group TLC started a four-week stint at number one in the US on this day March 13 in music history with their third studio album ‘FanMail’.
2004 – After more than four four decades of performing on stage, Luciano Pavarotti performed live for the last time in an opera at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
2004 – With ‘Toxic’, Britney Spears scored her fourth number one single in the UK on this day March 13. The song became a chart-topper in eight other countries that year, including Australia and Canada.
2006 – The 21st annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place in New York. Inductees: Blondie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Miles Davis, The Sex Pistols and Black Sabbath.
May interest you: Metal Bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2007 – Amy Winehouse released her second studio album ‘Back To Black’ in the US through Universal Republic on this day March 13 in music history. The album peaked at No.2 on the Billboard 200 and it topped over 20 music charts worldwide.
2010 – Pop singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart with her debut studio release ‘Lights’.
2010 – British rapper Tinie Tempah reached number one in the United Kingdom with his debut single ‘Pass Out’ on this day March 13.
2015 – Australian guitarist, bassist, and vocalist David “Daevid” Allen also known as Divided Allien died at the age of 77. Best remembered as the co-founder of the rock groups Soft Machine and Gong.
2018 – American guitarist and actor Nole Floyd “Nokie” Edwards died at the age of 82 from complications of a hip surgery. Best remembered for his work with the instrumental rock group The Ventures.
BORN ON MARCH 13 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1933 – Songwriter and producer Mike Stoller was born in Queens, New York. Best known for his partnership with Jerry Leiber. The duo produced and wrote dozens of hit songs for artists such as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Cliff Richard, The Monkees, etc.
1937 – British drummer Terry Cox was born in High Wycombe, England. Best known for his work bands and artists such as The Pentangle, Humblebums, Bee Gees, David Bowie, Elton John, etc.
1939 – American singer-songwriter and pianist, Neil Sedaka was born in Brooklyn, New York. Best known for writing over 500 songs, including hits like ‘Laughter in the Rain’, ‘Bad Blood’, ‘Stupid Cupid’, ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’, ‘Oh! Carol’, and so on.
1940 – American singer and songwriter Canzetta “Candi” Staton was born in Hanceville, Alabama. Best known for her hit renditions of ‘Stand by Your Man’, ‘Young Hearts Run Free’, and ‘You Got the Love’.
1942 – Prolific singer and pianist John Paul Larkin also known professionally as Scatman John was born in El Monte, California.
1959 – Bass guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band Hüsker Dü, Gregory Norton was born in Davenport, Iowa.
1960 – Irish bass guitarist and songwriter Adam Clayton was born in Chinnor, England. Best known as a founding member of the rock band U2.
1973 – American singer and songwriter David Draiman was born in New York City. Best known as the frontman of the heavy metal band Disturbed.
1973 – Lead singer, guitarist, and co-founder of the rock band Crossfade, Edward ‘Ed’ Sloan was born in Columbia, South Carolina.