EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 12 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day December 12 in 1955 – Bill Haley & His Comets recorded ‘See You Later, Alligator’ at Decca Records studios. The song became a hit on on both sides of the Atlantic peaking at No.6 in the US and No.7 in the UK.
1963 – After topping the UK Singles chat for two weeks with ‘She Loves You’, The Beatles extended their run at No.1 for five more weeks but this time with ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’.
1964 – With ‘Mr. Lonely’, Bobby Vinton reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day December 12 in music history.
1970 – Led Zeppelin returned to number one on the UK Albums chart with their third studio release ‘Led Zeppelin III’.
10 Fun Facts About Led Zeppelin
1970 – The Doors played a show at the Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana on this day December 12. This turned out to be the band’s last concert with frontman Jim Morrison who died a few months later.
1970 – With ‘The Tears of a Clown’, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles reached number one on the US Singles chart.
1981 – Synth-pop band the Human League hit number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Don’t You Want Me’ for the first of five consecutive weeks.
1985 – Keyboardist and co-founder of The Rolling Stones, Ian Stewart died on this day December 12 at the age of 47 from a heart attack.
1987 – George Michael scored his second number one single of the year in the US with ‘Faith’ which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks straight.
1992 – With her European compilation album ‘Greatest Hits 1965-1992’, Cher started a six-week stint at the top of the UK Albums chart on this day December 12.
1992 – Whitney Houston hit number one on the US Billboard 200 with the soundtrack album ‘The Bodyguard’ for the first of thirteen consecutive weeks.
2007 – American musician , songwriter, producer, and one half of the musical duo Ike & Tina Turner, Izear Luster “Ike” Turner died on this day December 12 in music history, aged 76.
2009 – Scottish singer Susan Boyle started a six-week stint at number one in the US with her debut studio album ‘I Dreamed a Dream’.
Susan Boyle – I Dreamed a Dream
2015 – With her third studio album ’25’, singer-songwriter Adele hit No.1 on the US Billboard 200 for the first of seven consecutive weeks.
2016 – American singer and songwriter James “Jim” Lowe died on this day December 12 at the age of 93. Best remembered for his chart-topping single ‘The Green Door’.
2017 – Founding member and frontman of the rock band The Smithereens, Patrick “Pat” DiNizio died at the age of 62.
2019 – Singer-songwriter Robbie Williams topped the UK Albums chart with his 12th studio LP ‘The Christmas Present’ on this day December 12 in music history.
2020 – American country and gospel music singer and guitarist Charley Pride died at the age of 86. Best remembered for scoring 30 No.1 singles on the US Country Songs chart. He was also a professional baseball player.
2020 – With his third solo studio album ‘El Último Tour Del Mundo’, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny topped the US Billboard 200 on this day December 12.
BORN ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 12 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1915 – Italian-American singer and actor Frank Sinatra was born Francis Albert Sinatra in Hoboken, New Jersey on this day December 12 in music history.
1918 – American jazz singer Joseph Goreed better known by his stage name Joe Williams was born on this day in Cordele, Georgia.
1923 – Jazz music singer-songwriter, pianist, songwriter, composer, and producer Robert “Bob” Dorough was born on this day December 12 in Cherry Hill, Arkansas.
1929 – Japanese-American jazz bandleader, pianist, composer, and arranger Toshiko Akiyoshi was born in Liaoyang, China.
1937 – American singer Connie Francis was born Concetta Franconero on this day December 12 in Newark, New Jersey. She’s one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 100 million records sold worldwide.
1939 – Co-founder and lead singer of the sunshine pop band The Association, Terry Kirkman was born in Salina, Kansas.
1940 – American singer and actress Dionne Warwick was born in Orange, New Jersey on this day December 12 in music history. Best known for songs such as ‘Walk On By’, ‘Don’t Make Me Over’, and ‘Alfie’.
1941 – Founding member and singer for the group The Manhattan Transfer, Timothy “Tim” Hauser was born in Troy, New York.
1943 – Jazz, funk, and soul music saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. was born on this day December 12 in Buffalo, New York.
1943 – Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, Richard “Dickey” Betts was born in West Palm Beach, Florida.
1944 – American singer and instrumentalist Robert W. Derminer also known as Rob Tyner was born on this day December 12 in Detroit, Michigan. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the band MC5.
1945 – Jazz drummer, composer, producer and bandleader Anthony “Tony” Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois. Best known as a member of Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet.
1946 – Guitarist and founding member of the rock band Steely Dan, Dennis Dias was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on this day December 12 in music history.
1948 – Instrumentalist and founding member of the folk rock group Lindisfarne, Raymond “Ray” Jackson was born in Wallsend, England.
1957 – Co-founder and frontman of the new wave band The Fixx, Cyril “Cy” Curnin was born on this day December 12 in Wimbledon, England.
1957 – American singer and percussionist Sheila “E.” Escovedo was born in Oakland, California. She came to prominence as a member of The George Duke Band before embarking on a successful solo career.
1959 – English singer and songwriter Belouis Some was born Neville Keighley on this day December 12 in London. Best known for songs such as ‘Imagination’ and ‘Some People’.
1964 – British jazz music drummer Mark Mondesir was born in London, England. He’s the brother of fellow jazz musician Michael Mondesir.
1968 – Rapper and art director Daniel O’Connor also known by his stage name Danny Boy was born on this day December 12 in New York City. He came to prominence as the co-founder of the hip hop group House of Pain.
1972 – American multi-genre singer and multi-instrumentalist Shelton Hank Williams was born in Nashville, Tennessee.
1976 – Co-founder and guitarist of the rock band The Darkness, Daniel “Dan” Hawkins was born in Chertsey, England on this day December 12 in music history.
1983 – Country music singer and songwriter Katrina Elam was born on this day in Bray, Oklahoma. Best known for songs such as ‘I Want a Cowboy’ and ‘No End in Sight’.