On This Day, March 18 in Music History
EVENTS ON MARCH 18 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day March 18 in 1965 – The Rolling Stones hit number one on the UK Singles chart for the first of three consecutive weeks with ‘The Last Time’.
1967 – With ‘Penny Lane’, The Beatles scored their thirteenth number one single in the United States.
1972 – With ‘Heart of Gold’, Neil Young reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Also a chart-topper in Canada that year and a Top 10 hit in the UK, West Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and South Africa.
1972 – Paul Simon went to number one in the United Kingdom with his self-titled second solo studio album on this day March 18 in music history.
1976 – A science fantasy drama film starring David Bowie called ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’, premiered in the theaters in London.
1977 – Punk rock band The Clash released their debut single ‘White Riot’ through CBS Records. The song featured on their self-titled debut studio album and it peaked at No.38 on the UK Singles chart.
1978 – With ‘Night Fever’, the Bee Gees hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the first of eight consecutive weeks. This was the group’s third chart-topper of the year in America. They previously were at No.1 with ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ and ‘Stayin’ Alive’. And on top of that, their younger brother Andy Gibb also reached the top spot on March 4. A total Gibb domination.
1982 – Lead singer of the vocal group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass suffered heavy injuries in a car accident which left him paralyzed from the waist down.
1992 – LaDonna Adrian Gaines also known as Donna Summer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1995 – Scottish singer Annie Lennox scored her second consecutive number one album in the UK as a solo artist with ‘Medusa’.
1995 – With his first compilation album ‘Greatest Hits’, Bruce Springsteen topped the US Billboard 200. The album was a hit worldwide and it also reached No.1 in sixteen other countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia.
2000 – Electronic music artist Chicane featuring singer Bryan Adams reached No.1 in the UK with ‘Don’t Give Up’.
2000 – With ‘Say My Name’, R&B group Destiny’s Child started a three-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2001 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist John Phillips died on this day March 18, aged 65 of a heart failure. Best remembered as the leader of the group The Mamas and The Papas.
2002 – Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Isaac Hayes, Brenda Lee, Talking Heads, Gene Pitney, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Ramones.
2006 – The number one single in the United States on this day was ‘So Sick’ by the R&B singer Ne-Yo.
2006 – Singer-songwriter and guitarist David Gilmour scored his first number one album as a solo artist in the UK with ‘On an Island’.
2009 – American singer and pianist Edwin Bocage also known professionally as Eddie Bo died at the age of 78.
2011 – English bass guitarist Terence “Jet” Harris died at the age of 71. Best remembered for his work with the instrumental rock group The Shadows.
2014 – American drummer, vocalist, and co-founder the rock band Blues Image, Joseph Lala died on this day March 18 in music history, aged 66.
2017 – After topping the US Billboard 200 the week before with his self-titled fifth studio album, rapper Future continued his run at No.1 on the chart but this time with his sixth studio album ‘Hndrxx’.
2017 – American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry died on this day March 18 at the age of 90. Best remembered for hit songs such as ‘Johnny B. Goode’, ‘Rock and Roll Music’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, and ‘Maybellene’.
2021 – American rock band Kings of Leon topped the UK Albums chart with their eighth studio release ‘When You See Yourself’.
BORN ON MARCH 18 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1934 – Country and gospel music singer and guitarist Charley Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi. He was also a professional baseball player.
1941 – American soul and R&B singer-songwriter Wilson Pickett was born in Prattville, Alabama. Best known for hit songs such as ‘In the Midnight Hour’, ‘Don’t Knock My Love’, ‘Land of 1,000 Dances’, ‘Mustang Sally’, etc.
1943 – Songwriter, singer, and instrumentalist Dennis Linde was born in Abilene, Texas. Best known for writing over 250 songs, including hit songs such as ‘Burning Love’, The Love She Found in Me’, ‘Walkin’ a Broken Heart’, ‘I’m Gonna Get You’, and so on.
1944 – British guitarist Robert “Bob” Johnson was born in London. Best known as member of the folk rock band Steeleye Span.
1947 – British drummer Barry James Wilson was born in Edmonton, England. Best known as a member of the rock band Procol Harum.
1950 – Drummer and founding member of the Doobie Brothers, John Hartman was born in Falls Church, Virginia.
1959 – Singer, songwriter, piano player, and actress Irene Cara Escalera was born in The Bronx, New York City.
1961 – American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, and singer Grantzberg “Grant” Hart was born in South Saint Paul, Minnesota. He came to prominence as a member of the punk rock band Hüsker Dü.
1963 – American multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey “Jeff” LaBar was born in Darby, Pennsylvania. Best known for playing guitar with the glam rock band Cinderella.
1964 – British jazz multi-instrumentalist and founder of the band Jazz Warriors, Courtney Pine was born in London.
1966 – Lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist, songwriter, and co-founder of Alice in Chains, Jerry Cantrell was born in Tacoma, Washington.
1967 – Singer-songwriter and guitarist Miki Brenyi was born in London, England. Best known as a member of the rock bands Lush and Piroshka.
1970 – American rapper, singer, and actress Dana Elaine Owens also known professionally as Queen Latifah was born in Newark, New Jersey.
1974 – English bass guitarist Stuart Zender was born in London. He came to prominence as a member of the band Jamiroquai.
1979 – Co-founder and frontman of the pop rock band Maroon 5, Adam Levine was born in Los Angeles, California.