EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY AUGUST 17 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day August 17 in 1963 – Pop singer Andy Williams became the first artist to top the newly formed US Billboard 200 chart with his eleventh studio album ‘Days of Wine and Roses’.
1968 – The Rascals started a five-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘People Got to Be Free’ on this day August 17.
1968 – Folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel topped the UK Albums chart with their fourth studio release ‘Bookends’. The album also reached No.1 in the US.
1969 – The third and final day of the Woodstock music festival was held on this day on the dairy farm in Bethel, New York. It featured performances by Joe Jocker, Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Band, and others.
1973 – American baritone singer Paul Williams committed suicide at the age of 34. Best remembered as a founding member and lead singer of the vocal group The Temptations.
1974 – Soul group The Three Degrees topped the UK Singles chart with ‘When Will I See You Again’ on this day August 17 in music history.
1974 – Eric Clapton scored his first number one album in the US as a solo artist with ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’. The album topped the Billboard 200 chart for four consecutive weeks.
1974 – With ‘The Night Chicago Died’, pop rock group Paper Lace topped the US Billboard Hot 100. Also a chart-topper in Australia and New Zealand, and a Top 3 hit in the UK and Canada.
1987 – Studio musician Cesario Gurciullo also known as Gary Chester died on this day August 17, aged 62. Best remembered for his work with the bands The Monkees, The Coasters, and The Lovin’ Spoonful.
1987 – Tom Waits released his tenth studio album ‘Franks Wild Years’ through Island Records. The album peaked at No.115 in the US and reached No.14 in Switzerland.
1996 – Hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest reached number one in the US with their fourth studio album ‘Beats, Rhymes and Life’ on this day August 17 in music history.
2002 – With ‘Dilemma’, Nelly and Kelly Rowland started a seven-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2002 – Red Hot Chili Peppers went to number one in the UK with their eighth studio album ‘By the Way’. The album was a worldwide success and it topped the charts in eighteen countries in total.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – By The Way
2002 – Bruce Springsteen topped the US Billboard 200 chart with his twelfth studio album ‘The Rising’ on this day August 17. The album was an international hit that year and it went to No.1 in eleven more countries, including the UK.
2013 – With his sixth studio album ‘Blurred Lines’, singer-songwriter Robin Thicke hit number one in the United States. Also a chart-topper in Canada, the UK, and Switzerland that year.
2013 – Miley Cyrus went to number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘We Can’t Stop’ on this day August 17 in music history.
2017 – Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran started a three-week run at No.1 in the UK with his third studio album ‘÷‘ also known as ‘Divide’.
2017 – ‘Feels’, a song by DJ Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, & Big Sean topped the UK Singles chart.
2019 – Canadian rapper Drake topped the US Billboard 200 chart with his first compilation album ‘Care Package’ on this day August 17.
BORN ON THIS DAY AUGUST 17 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1909 – American musician Larry Clinton was born on this day in Brooklyn, New York. Best known for his work as a bandleader and arranger.
1918 – American jazz singer Frieda Lipschitz also known professionally as Georgia Gibbs was born on this day August 17 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Best known for her chart-topping singles ‘Kiss of Fire’ and ‘Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower)’.
1931 – Session musician and bandleader Floyd Newman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Best known for his work with B.B. King, The Mar-Keys, and Memphis Horns.
1932 – Jazz pianist and record producer Calvin “Duke” Pearson was born in Atlanta, Georgia on this day August 17 in music history.
1933 – Pop music singer Max Dinning also known professionally as Mark Dinning was born in Manchester, Oklahoma. He rose to fame with his chart-topping single ‘Teen Angel’.
1947 – American musician John Seiter was born on this day August 17 in St. Louis, Missouri. Best known for playing drums with Spanky and Our Gang and The Turtles.
1947 – Founding member and lead guitarist of the rock band The Box Trops, Gary Talley was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
1949 – American drummer Thomas “Sib” Hashian was born on this day in Boston, Massachusetts. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band Boston.
1953 – Co-founder and frontman of the pop rock band Dexys Midnight Runners, Kevin Rowland was born in Wednesfield, England on this day August 17 in music history.
1955 – English multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter Colin Moulding was born in Swindon. Best known as a member of the rock band XTC.
1958 – Co-founder and lead singer of The Go-Go’s, Belinda Carlisle was born on this day August 17 in Los Angeles, California.
1962 – American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer Gilbert “Gilby” Clarke was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He rose to fame as a member of Guns N’ Roses.
1964 – American singer-songwriter Maria McKee was born on this day August 17 in Los Angeles, California. Best known as a member of Lone Justice in the 1980s and later for her solo work.
1965 – Drummer and founding member of The Black Crowes, Steve Gorman was born on this day in Muskegon, Michigan.
1966 – American musician and artist Jill Cunniff was born in New York City on this day August 17 in music history. She rose to fame as a member of the alternative band Luscious Jackson.
1969 – Singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer Donald “Donnie” Wahlberg was born today in Boston, Massachusetts. He came to prominence as a founding member of New Kids on the Block.
1969 – Co-founder of the hip hop trio De La Soul, Kelvin Mercer also known professionally as Posdnuos, or Pos was born in New York City on this day August 17 in music history.
1977 – Welsh bassist and guitar player Michael “Mike” Lewis was born in Pontypridd. Best known for his work with bands such as Public Disturbance, Lostprophets, and No Devotion.
2003 – Australian singer, songwriter, and rapper Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard also known by his stage name The Kid Laroi was born on this day August 17 in Waterloo.