EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 27 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day December 27 in 1963 – Paul McCartney and John Lennon were named ‘The Outstanding Composers of 1963′ by the music critics of The Times.
1964 – The Supremes made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show where they sang the chart-topping single ‘Come See About Me’.
1967 – Bob Dylan released his eighth studio album ‘John Wesley Harding’ through Columbia Records on this day December 27 in music history. The album was a commercial success and it reached No.1 in the UK while in the US it peaked at No.2.
1967 – Leonard Cohen released his debut album ‘Songs of Leonard Cohen’ through Columbia Records. The album stalled at No.83 on the Billboard 200 but in the UK it reached No.13.
1969 – After a one-week break from the top, The Beatles returned for a six-week run at No.1 on the UK Albums chart with ‘Abbey Road’ on this day December 27.
1969 – Dianna Ross & the Supremes topped the US Billboard Hot 100 with their rendition of ‘Someday We’ll Be Together’.
1969 – With ‘Led Zeppelin II’, Led Zeppelin reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart on this day December 27. The album was a hit worldwide and it also peaked at No.1 in eight other countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia.
10 Interesting Led Zeppelin Facts
1975 – The disbandment of the group Faces became official when Rod Stewart left the band to pursue a solo career. Drummer Kenny Jones joined The Who, Ronnie Lane formed Slim Chance while Ronnie Wood became a permanent member of the Rolling Stones.
1975 – The number one single in the United States on this day December 27 in music history was ‘Let’s Do It Again’ by the vocal group The Staple Singers.
1975 – With their fourth studio album ‘A Night at the Opera’, rock band Queen hit No.1 in the UK. The album also became a chart-topper in Australia, the Netherlands, and Finland.
1978 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist Christopher “Chris” Bell died in a car accident on this day December 27 at the age of 27.
1980 – With ‘There’s No One Quite Like Grandma’, the St. Winifred’s School Choir reached the top spot on the UK Singles chart.
1980 – Three weeks after his death, John Lennon‘s fifth solo studio album ‘Double Fantasy’ started an eight-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard 200. While ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ started a five-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
1983 – Frontman of the band Bob Kuban and The In-Men, Walter Scott was murdered by his wife’s lover on this day December 27 in music history, aged 40. His body however, wasn’t found until 4 years later in a cistern.
1986 – Almost three years after his death, Jackie Wilson topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Reet Petite’. The song was originally released in 1957 when it peaked at No.6. He was at No.1 for four consecutive weeks.
1989 – Chuck Berry was sued by a former cook of his restaurant who claimed that the rockstar had installed hidden cameras in the ladies restrooms and collected the videos.
1997 – Girl group Spice Girls scored their sixth chart-topping single in the United Kingdom with ‘Too Much’ on this day December 27.
2003 – One half of the musical duo Dick and Dee Dee – Dick St. John died on this day December 27 at the age of 63 after falling from the roof of his house.
2003 – The winner of the second edition of American Idol – Ruben Studdard topped the US Billboard 200 with his debut studio album ‘Soulful’.
2003 – With their rendition of the Tears for Tears song ‘Mad World’, Michael Andrews and Gary Jules topped the UK Singles chart on this day December 27. The song featured in the popular 2021 film ‘Donnie Darko’.
Michael Andrews & Gary Jules – Mad World
2004 – American guitarist and songwriter Walter Louis Garland better known by his stage name Hank Garland died at the age of 74.
2008 – Singer-songwriter, guitarist and one half of the musical duo Delaney & Bonnie, Delaney Bramlett died on this day December 27, aged 69.
2008 – With her version of Leonard Cohen‘s ‘Hallelujah’, Alexandra Burke started a three-week stint at number one on the UK singles chart.
2008 – Taylor Swift returned for a seven-week stint at No.1 in the United States on this day December 27 in music history with her second studio album ‘Fearless’.
2014 – The winner of the eleventh edition of The X Factor – Ben Haenow topped the UK Singles chart with his version of the OneRepublic song ‘Something I Need’.
2014 – American rapper J. Cole reached the top spot on the US Billboard 200 chart with his third studio album ‘2014 Forest Hills Drive’ on this day December 27.
2015 – Stephen Carlton Wright, also known as Little Stevie died on this day in music history at the age of 68.
2018 – British blogger and musician LadBaby went to number one on the UK Singles chart with a parody version of the Starship hit song ‘We Built This City’ on this day December 27.
BORN ON THIS DAY, DECEMBER 27 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1931 – Guitarist and recording engineer Scotty Moore was born in Gadsden, Tennessee on this day December 27 in music history. He came to prominence as a co-founder of Elvis Presley’s backing band The Blue Moon Boys.
1941 – British pianist and saxophonist Leslie “Les” Maguire was born on this day in Wallasey, England. He rose to fame as a member of the band Gerry and the Pacemakers.
1941 – Keyboardist and founding member of the rock band The Moody Blues, Michael “Mike” Pinder was born on this day December 27 in Birmingham, England.
1942 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael “Mike” Heron was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Best known as a member of the folk group the Incredible String Band.
1943 – English musician, songwriter, and poet Peter Sinfield was born on this day December 27 in Fulham, London. He came to prominence as the co-founder and lyricist of the progressive rock band King Crimson.
1944 – Guitarist, keyboardist, and songwriter Michael “Mick” Jones was born on this day in Portsmouth, England. Best known as a founding member of the rock band Foreigner and for his work with Spooky Tooth.
1948 – Country and blues music singer Tracy Nelson was born in Madison, Wisconsin on this day December 27 in music history.
1948 – Guitarist and songwriter Larry Byrom was born on this day in Huntsville, Alabama. Best known as a member of the rock band Steppenwolf.
1952 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist David Knopfler was born on this day December 27 in Glasgow, Scotland. Best known for co-founding the rock band Dire Straits.
1960 – Multi-instrumentalist, producer, and founding member of the band Killing Joke, Martin Glover also known as Youth was born in Slough, England. He’s also known as one half of the experimental music duo Fireman, along with Paul McCartney.
1972 – American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter Matt Slocum was born on this day December 27 in Bristol, Rhode Island. He rose to fame as a member of the band Sixpence None the Richer.
1988 – Co-founder, lead vocalist, keyboardist and songwriter of the pop rock band Paramore, Hayley Williams was born in Meridian, Mississippi on this day December 27 in music history.