EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day December 15 in 1943 – American jazz multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller died at the age of 39 from pneumonia.
1944 – American trombonist, composer, and big band leader Glenn Miller died at the age of 40 when the aircraft he was traveling with disappeared over the English Channel.
1955 – Singer-songwriter Johnny Cash released ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ on this day December 15 in music history. The song became a Top 5 hit on several US Singles charts.
1973 – Rock band Slade scored their sixth and last number one single in the United Kingdom with ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’. Also a chart-topper in Ireland.
1973 – With his third solo studio album ‘Dreams are Nuthin’ More than Wishes’, David Cassidy reached number one in the UK on this day December 15.
1973 – With ‘The Most Beautiful Girl’, country music singer Charlie Rich scored his first No.1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Also a chart-topper in Canada and a No.2 hit in the UK and Ireland.
1979 – Pink Floyd hit number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)’ on this day December 15 for the first of five consecutive weeks.
1979 – American singer and saxophonist Jackie Brenston died on this day at the age of 51. Best remembered for his work with Ike Turner.
1984 – The charity supergroup Band Aid started a five-week stint at the top of the UK Singles chart with ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ on this day December 15 in music history.
1992 – American rapper and producer Dr. Dre released his seminal debut studio album ‘The Chronic’ through Death Row Records.
2001 – With ‘U Got It Bad’, R&B singer Usher scored his second chart-topping single of the year in the US on this day December 15. He previously topped the Billboard Hot 100 in July for four weeks straight with ‘U Remind Me’.
Usher – U Got It Bad
2001 – American multi-genre singer-songwriter and DJ Rufus Thomas died on this day at the age of 84. Best remembered for songs such as ‘Walking the Dog’, ‘(Do the) Push and Pull’, and ‘Do the Funky Chicken’.
2012 – The winner of the ninth series of The X Factor – James Arthur topped the UK Singles chart with his rendition of ‘Impossible’ on this day December 15.
2012 – With her fifth studio album ‘Girl on Fire’, singer and songwriter Alicia Keys went to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
2016 – The number one album in the UK on this day December 15 in music history was ‘Blue & Lonesome’ by The Rolling Stones. It was the band’s first studio album to feature only cover songs.
2018 – With his fourth studio LP ‘Championships’, American rapper Meek Mill reached the top spot on the US Albums chart. Also a chart-topper in Canada that year.
2021 – American singer and dancer Wanda Young also known as Wanda Rogers died on this day December 15, aged 78. Best remembered as the lead vocalist of the group The Marvelettes.
BORN ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1911 – Pop and jazz music pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger Stanley “Stan” Kenton was born in Wichita, Kansas on this day December 15 in music history.
1921 – American disc jockey and music promoter Albert James “Alan” Freed was born on this day in Windber, Pennsylvania.
1927 – Jazz saxophonist Eugene “Gene” Quill was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Best known for his work with musicians such as Phil Woods, Quincy Jones, Buddy DeFranco, and others.
1928 – Country music singer and broadcaster Ernest Ashworth was born on this day December 15 in Huntsville, Alabama. Best known for the chart-topping single Talk Back Trembling Lips’.
1929 – American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader Barry Doyle Harris was born in Detroit, Michigan.
1931 – American drummer and bandleader Daniel “Dannie” Richmond was born on this day December 15 in New York City. Best known for his work with artists such as Charles Mingus, Elton John, and Joe Cocker.
1936 – Grammy Award-winning Latin jazz musician, composer and bandleader Eddie Palmieri was born in New York City.
1939 – Drummer, songwriter, vocalist, and leader of the band Dave Clark Five, David Clark was born in Tottenham, England on this day December 15 in music history.
1939 – R&B and soul music singer Cynthia “Cindy” Birdsong was born on this day in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey. She rose to fame as a member of The Supremes.
1946 – American drummer Carmine Appice was born on this day December 15 in New York City. Best known as a member of the bands Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, and Beck, Bogert & Appice.
1955 – Bassist, backing vocalist, and founding member of the punk rock band The Clash, Paul Simonon was born in Thornton Heath, England.
1956 – British musician and one half of the pop rock duo Marshall Hain, Kit Hain was born on this day December 15 in Cobham, England.
1957 – Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Tim Reynolds was born in Wiesbaden, Germany. Best known as a member of the Dave Matthews Band.
1979 – Irish singer and songwriter Edele Lynch was born in Dublin on this day December 15 in music history. She came to prominence as the lead vocalist of the girl group B*Witched.