On This Day, May 24 in Music History
EVENTS ON MAY 24 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day May 24 in 1956 – The very first Eurovision Song Contest took place in Lugano, Switzerland. However, unlike the today’s format with over 40 countries, only 14 competed in the first edition.
1957 – With his rendition of the popular song ‘Butterfly’, Andy Williams went to number one on the UK Singles chart. It also became a chart-topper in the US that year.
1962 – Elvis Presley started a five-week run at number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Good Luck Charm’ on this day May 24 in music history.
1963 – American blues guitarist, singer-songwriter and bandleader Elmore James died at the age of 45 from a heart attack. His unique guitar technique earned him the moniker the ‘King of the Slide Guitar’. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him posthumously in 1992.
1965 – Blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter Aleck Miller also known by his stage name Sonny Boy Williamson died on this day May 24 at the age of 52. Best remembered for songs such as ‘Help Me’, Don’t Start Me Talking’, ‘Bring It On Home’, etc.
1968 – The Rolling Stones released ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ as a single in the UK. The song became a chart- topper in the UK, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, and the US.
1969 – With ‘Get Back’, The Beatles ft. Billy Preston started a five-week stint at number on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day May 24. This is the only Beatles song to credit another artist. It was also a hit worldwide reaching No.1 in thirteen more countries.
1969 – Canadian rock band The Guess Who made their debut appearance on US television when they performed their recent chart-topping hit ‘American Woman’ on American Bandstand. However, despite the name, the song is actually a tribute to Canadian women.
1969 – Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan reached No.1 in the UK with his ninth studio album ‘Nashville Skyline’ on this day May 24 in music history for the first of four consecutive weeks.
1971 – American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra Duke Ellington died on this day at the age of 75 from lung cancer. He is one of the most influential jazz composers and bandleaders.
1974 – David Bowie released his eighth studio album ‘Diamond Dogs’ on this day May 24. The album follows a post-apocalyptic theme inspired by George Orwell’s book ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’. It topped the albums charts in the UK and Canada while in the US it peaked at No.5.
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1975 – With ‘Shining Star’, multi-genre band Earth, Wind and Fire went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1991 – American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gene Clark died on this day May 24 from a heart attack at the age of 46. Best remembered as a founding member of the folk rock band The Byrds.
1997 – With their debut single ‘MMMBop’, the sibling pop band Hanson started a three week run at No.1 in the US. The song was a worldwide hit and became a chart-topper in twelve other countries as well.
1997 – The “King of Pop” – Michael Jackson went to No.1 in the UK with his remix album ‘Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix’ on this day May 24 in music history.
1997 – British girl group Spice Girls hit number one in the US with their debut studio album ‘Spice’ for the first of four consecutive weeks.
2000 – American rapper Curtis Jackson better known by his stage name 50 Cent was shot nine times outside his grandmother’s house in South Jamaica on this day May 24. Fortunately, the rapper survived and became one of the biggest names in the music industry a few years later.
2003 – With their 29th studio album ‘Body Kiss’, family musical group The Isley Brothers scored their second chart- topper on the US Billboard 200.
2008 – Barbadian singer Rihanna scored her third chart-topper on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Take a Bow’ on this day May 24.
2008 – Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond topped both the US and UK Albums charts with his twenty-seventh studio release ‘Home Before Dark’.
2008 – English indie pop duo the Ting Tings took the top spot on the UK Singles chart on this day May 24 in music history with their debut track ‘That’s Not My Name’.
2010 – American bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Paul Gray died from an accidental overdose, aged 38. Best known as a founding member the heavy metal band Slipknot
2013 – American swing and jazz drummer Edward ‘Ed’ Shaughnessy died on this day May 24 from a heart attack at the age of 84.
2014 – With ‘I Will Never Let You Down’, pop music singer Rita Ora scored her 4th number one single in the United Kingdom.
2018 – English rock band Arctic Monkeys scored their sixth consecutive chart-topper on the UK Albums chart with ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ on this day May 24.
2023 – American singer Tina Turner dubbed the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” died at the age of 83. She is one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 100 million records sold worldwide and is best remembered for hit songs such as ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’, ‘The Best’, ‘Private Dancer’, ‘River Deep – Mountain High’, and so on.
BORN ON MAY 24 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1938 – Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer Cecil Campbell better known professionally as Prince Buster was born in Kingston, Jamaica.
1941 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Robert Zimmerman also known as Bob Dylan was born in Duluth, Minnesota. He is one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 150 million records sold worldwide.
1944 – American singer, songwriter, and actress Patti LaBelle was born Patricia Louise Hote in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She rose to fame as the frontwoman of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles before starting her successful solo career.
1945 – Bass guitarist and one half of the pop rock duo Chas & Dave, Dave Peacock was born in Enfield, England.
1947 – Drummer and founding member of the hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, Albert Bouchard was born in Watertown, New York. Also known for his work wit the punk rock band The Dictators.
1955 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist Rosanne Cash was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She is the eldest daughter of Johnny Cash.
1956 – Singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and prouder Larry Blackmon was born in New York City. He came to prominence as the frontman of the funk/R&B group Cameo.
1960 – English multi-instrumentalist Guy Fletcher was born in Maidstone. Best known for his work as a keyboardist with Dire Straits with whom he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
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1967 – Jamaican-American rapper and record producer Dwight Arrington Myers also known as Heavy D was born in Mandeville, Jamaica.
1969 – Guitarist and founding member of the rock band The Black Crowes, Richard “Rich” Robinson was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
1988 – American country and pop music singer William “Billy” Gilman was born in Westerly, Rhode Island.