EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY AUGUST 29 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day August 29 in 1966 – The Beatles wrapped up their tour with a show at Candlestick Park, San Francisco in front of 25,000 fans. This turned out to be their last paid concert.
1970 – With his rendition of the Norman Whitfield and Barret Strong counterculture song ‘War’, Edwin Starr started a three-week run at number one on the US Hot 100 chart.
1970 – The fourth day of the Isle of Wight Festival took place at Afton Down on this day August 29. It featured performances by the likes of Joni Mitchell, The Who, The Doors, Miles Davis, and Sly and the Family Stone among others.
1976 – American blues musician and songwriter Jimmy Reed died of respiratory failure, aged 50. Best remembered for songs such as ‘Baby What You Want Me to Do’, ‘Bright Lights, Big City’, and ‘Big Boss Man’.
1981 – British reggae band UB40 released their debut studio album ‘Signing Off’ on this day August 29. The album was well received by the public and it peaked at number two in the United Kingdom.
1981 – Rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) started a two-week run at No.1 in the UK with their ninth studio album ‘Time’. Its a concept album that combines elements from multiple genres.
1981 – Scottish singer Aneka topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Japanese Boy’ on this day August 29 in music history. The song was an international hit and it also reached No.1 in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland.
1987 – Hard rock band Def Leppard topped the UK Albums chart with their fourth studio release ‘Hysteria’. The album also reached No.1 in Australia, Norway, New Zealand, and the US, and its the band’s best-selling album with over 20 million records sold worldwide.
1987 – With ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, Rick Astley started a five-week run at number one on the UK Singles chart. The song was big international hit and it topped the charts in sixteen countries.
1987 – Los Lobos started a three-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with their rendition of the Mexican folk song ‘La Bamba’. The song featured in popular film of the same name and it topped the singles charts in 10 other countries, including the UK.
1992 – A compilation album by The Smiths titled ‘Best…I’ reached number one in the United Kingdom on this day August 29.
1994 – English rock band Oasis released their debut studio album ‘Definitely Maybe’ on this day August 29 in music history. It debuted at number one in the UK and became one of the fest-selling albums of all time.
1998 – Rockabilly and country music singer-songwriter Charles “Charlie” Feathers died on this day at the age of 66.
2006 – American singer and songwriter “Jumpin'” Gene Simmons died at the age of 69. Best remembered for his hit rendition of ‘Haunted House’.
2009 – Country music singer-songwriter George Strait topped the Billboard 200 chart with his twenty-sixth album ‘Twang’.
2009 – Calvin Harris‘s second studio album ‘Ready for the Weekend’ debuted at number one in the UK on this day August 29 in music history.
2009 – DJ David Guetta and singer Akon went to number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Sexy Chick’. The single reached No.1 in twelve other countries, including Canada and Australia.
David Guetta ft. Akon – Sexy Chick
2011 – American Delta blues guitarist and singer David “Honeyboy” Edwards died on this day at the age of 96.
2015 – Jamaican singer Omi returned to number one on the US Singles chart with ‘Cheerleader’ on this day August 29.
2015 – Country music singer-songwriter Luke Bryan scored his second No.1 album on the Billboard 200 with his fifth studio release ‘Kill the Lights’.
2019 – Ed Sheeran‘s first compilation album ‘No.6 Collaborations Projects’ went to number one in the UK. The album features guests appearances from musicians such as Eminem, 50 Cent, Camila Cabello, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, and so on. It became a chart-topper in 20 countries worldwide that year.
2021 – American musician and graphic artist Ron Bushy died on this day August 29, aged 79. Best remembered as the drummer of the rock band Iron Butterfly.
BORN ON THIS DAY AUGUST 29 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1920 – Influential jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer Charlie Parker nicknamed Bird was born in Kansas City, Kansas on this day August 29 in music history.
1924 – American singer and pianist Dinah Washington was born Ruth Lee Jones on this day in Chicago, Illinois.
1942 – Founding member and guitarist of the rock band The Velvet Underground, Sterling Morrison was born in East Meadow, New York.
1943 – American musician, songwriter and composer Richard “Dick” Halligan was born on this day August 29 in Troy, New York. Best known as a founding member of the band Blood, Sweat & Tears.
1945 – English multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Chris Copping was born in Middleton, Lancashire. He came to prominence as a member of the rock band Procol Harum.
1956 – Punk rock multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Michael “GG” Allin was born on this day in Lancaster, New Hampshire.
1958 – The ‘King of Pop’ – Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on this day August 29 in music history.
1959 – Scottish singer-songwriter Sadenia “Eddi” Reader was born in Glasgow. She came to prominence as the frontwoman of the band Fairground Attraction.
1963 – Scottish singer and songwriter Elizabeth Fraser was born on this day August 29 in Grangermouth. Best known as the co-founder and vocalist of the dream pop band Cocteau Twins.
1968 – American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michelle Lynn Johnson also known professionally as Meshell Nedegeocello was born in Berlin, Germany.
1975 – Guitarist and vocalist Kyle Cook was born on this day in Frankfort, Indiana. Best known as a member of the rock band Matchbox Twenty.
1993 – English singer Liam Payne was born in Wolverhampton on this day August 29 in music history. He came to prominence as a member of the boy band One Direction.