On This Day, May 29 in Music History
EVENTS ON MAY 29 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day May 29 in 1942 – Bing Crosby recorded Irving Berlin‘s song ‘White Christmas’. It was released in July and it became the world’s best-selling single of all time with estimated sales of over 50 million copies sold worldwide. For instance, the second best-selling single is Elton John‘s ‘Candle in the Wind’ with “only” 33 million copies sold worldwide. A truly remarkable achievement.
1961 – With ‘Travelin’ Man’, Ricky Nelson scored his second and last number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also reached No.1 in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, and it was his biggest hit in the UK where it peaked at No.2.
1962 – The 4th Annual Grammy Awards were held on this day May 29 in music history. Among the big winners that night – Henry Mancini, Judy Garland, Chuby Checker, and Ray Charles.
1965 – Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan replaced his own album ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’ at No.1 in the UK with his latest studio release ‘Bringing It All Back Home’.
1965 – With ‘Help Me, Rhonda’, The Beach Boys scored their second number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day May 29.
1969 – Folk rock supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash released their self-titled debut studio album on Atlantic Records. The album peaked at No.6 in the US and earned the band a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. As of May 2024, it has been certified 4x platinum by the RIAA.
1971 – The Rolling Stones scored their sixth No.1 single in the US with ‘Brown Sugar’ on this day May 29. The song also topped the charts in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Canada, and peaked at No.2 in the UK.
1976 – Diana Ross topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for the fourth time with ‘Love Hangover’ and broke the record for most No.1 singles by a solo female artist.
1977 – Joy Division made their live debut at the Electric Circus in Manchester, England on this day May 29 in music history billed as Warsaw, a name they came up with just before the concert. This was a reference to David Bowie‘s song ‘Warszawa’. They were the opening act for the punk rock band The Buzzcocks
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1982 – Ska and pop band Madness reached the top spot on the UK Singles chart with ‘House of Fun’ for the first of two weeks straight. Their first and only No.1 single in the UK.
1982 – With his third solo studio album ‘Tug of War‘, Paul McCartney topped the US Billboard 200 chart on this day May 29. Also a chart-topper in Norway, Germany, Japan, the UK, Sweden, Netherlands, and Canada that year.
1984 – After a five year hiatus, Tina Turner released her fifth solo studio album ‘Private Dancer’ on Capitol Records. The album was an international hit and reached the Top 10 on every chart it entered.
1989 – American guitarist John Cipollina died on this day May 29 at the age of 45. Best remembered as a founding member and lead guitarist of the psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service
1993 – With her fifth studio album ‘Janet’, singer Janet Jackson reached No.1 in the UK for the first of two weeks. It also topped the charts in the US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
1996 – American jazz pianist, composer, and vocalist James Hunter better known professionally as Jimmy Rowles died on this day May 29 in music history, aged 77.
1997 – Singer, songwriter and guitarist Jeff Buckley drowned while swimming in the Wolf River in Tennessee, aged 30. His body was found a week later on June 4.
1999 – With his self-titled fifth studio album, Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin topped the US Billboard 200 chart on this day May 29. The album features his big international hit single ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca’.
1999 – Garage music duo Shanks and Bigfoot started a two-week stint at number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Sweet Like Chocolate’.
Shanks and Bigfoot – Sweet Like Chocolate
2005 – American singer-songwriter, poet, playwright and actor Oscar Brown Jr died on this day May 29 at the age of 78.
2010 – The Rolling Stones topped the UK Albums chart with a re-issued version of their 1972 album ‘Exile on Main St.’, nearly 38 years to the week it originally topped the chart.
2010 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day May 29 in music history was ‘Nothin’ on You’ by the rapper B.o.B. featuring singer Bruno Mars.
2013 – Founding member and lead vocalist of the R&B group The Dells, Marvin Junior died at the age of 77 due to complications from kidney failure.
2021 – With his sixth studio album ‘The Off-Season’, rapper J. Cole scored his sixth chart-topper on the US Billboard 200 chart on this day May 29.
2021 – Singer and songwriter Olivia Rodrigo scored her second number one single of the year in the US with ‘Good 4 U’. She previously topped the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Drivers License’ for eight weeks straight, starting January 23.
BORN ON MAY 29 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1922 – American jazz tenor saxophonist David Kenneth Brooks also known professionally as Bubba Brooks was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
1928 – American jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, and actor Freddie Redd was born in Harlem, New York City.
1941 – Guitarist and founding member of Freddie & the Dreamers, Roy Crewdson was born in Manchester, England.
1942 – American musician Joseph Montanez better known as Monti Rock III was born in the Bronx, New York City. Best known as the leader o the group Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes.
1945 – English singer-songwriter and pianist Gary Brooker was born in London. He rose to fame as the founder and frontman of the rock band Procol Harum.
1947 – American singer, songwriter and record producer of popular music Joey Levine was born in New York City.
1949 – Co-founder, lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Status Quo, Francis Rossi was born in Forest Hill, London.
1950 – American singer and the eldest child of the Jackson family, Rebbie Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana.
1953 – Film composer, producer, singer and songwriter Danny Elfman was born in Los Angeles, California. He rose to fame as the frontman of the new wave band Oingo Boingo.
1955 – American bass guitarist Michael ‘Mike’ Porcaro was born in Windsor, Connecticut. Best known as a member of the rock band Toto.
1956 – Another member of the Jackson family – La Toya Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. She is a TV personality and singer.
1960 – English drummer Mel Gaynor was born in London. He came to prominence as a member of the rock band Simple Minds.
1963 – English singer Blaze Bayley was born in Birmingham. Best known as the frontman of the heavy metal bands Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden.
1967 – Singer-songwriter and guitarist Noel Gallagher was born in Manchester. Best known as the co-frontman of the rock band Oasis.
1969 – Co-founder and guitarist of the rock band Blues Traveler, Chandler “Chan” Kinchla was born in Hamilton, Canada.
1975 – English singer, songwriter and TV personality Melanie Brown better known professionally as Mel B was born in Leeds. She rose to international fame as a member of the Spice Girls.