EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 28 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day December 28 in 1937 – French composer, conductor, and pianist Maurice Ravel died at the age of 62.
1959 – With ‘Why’, Frankie Avalon scored his second and final number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1961 – The Tokens were at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ on this day December 28 in music history.
1961 – With his rendition of the 1961 song ‘Moon River’, Danny Williams went to number one on the UK Singles chart.
1968 – The Doors released the single ‘Touch Me’ on this day December 28. The song peaked at No.3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached No.1 on the Canadian Singles chart while in the UK it failed to chart.
1968 – The Beatles hit number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with their self-titled ninth studio album also known as ‘The White Album’ for the first of six weeks straight. The album was a hit worldwide and it reached No.1 in nine other countries.
1968 – Pink Floyd replaced The Jimi Hendrix Experience at a two day festival in Utrecht, Netherlands. Jeff Beck and Jethro Tull also performed at the festival on this day December 28.
1974 – Helen Reddy topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Angie Baby’ on this day December 28. The single also reached No.1 in Canada and was a Top 5 hit in the UK and Ireland.
1975 – A lunatic tried to assassinate Ted Nugent during a concert in Washington. But luckily the security with the help of the fans managed to tackle the assassin on time and take away his weapon.
1976 – American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist Freddie King died on this day December 28 at the age of 42. Best remembered for songs such as ‘Hide Away’ and ‘Have You Ever Loved a Woman’.
1983 – Singer-songwriter and co-founder of The Beach Boys, Dennis Wilson drowned at the age of 38 after diving into the cold Pacific ocean.
1985 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day December 28 was ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ by the Welsh singer-songwriter Shakin’ Stevens.
1996 – The Spice Girls became the first girl group to have their first three singles reach No.1 on the UK Singles chart when ‘2 Become 1’ took the top spot on this day.
2002 – American singer-songwriter, guitarist and model Meri Wilson died in a car crash at the age of 53 on this day December 28.
2002 – With their debut single ‘Sound of the Underground’, girl group Girls Aloud hit No.1 in the UK for the first of four consecutive weeks.
Girls Aloud – Sound of the Underground
2009 – Drummer, vocalist, and co-founder of the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan died on this day December 28 at the age of 28 of an accidental overdose.
2013 – With her eponymous fifth studio album, singer Beyonce started a three-week run at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
2013 – The winner of the tenth edition of The X Factor – Sam Bailey topped the UK Singles chart with her rendition of the Demi Lovato song ‘Skyscraper’.
2015 – Four days after celebrating his 70th birthday, Motörhead‘s frontman and founder Lemmy Kilmister died on this day December 28 in music history.
10 Lemmy Kilmister Facts You May Have Not Known
2017 – American rapper Eminem scored his seventh number one album in the United Kingdom with ‘Revival’, his ninth studio release.
2019 – British singer-songwriter Harry Style scored his second consecutive number one album in the US with ‘Fine Line’ on this day December 28.
BORN ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 28 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1914 – Gospel and R&B musician Roebuck “Pops” Staples was born in Winona, Mississippi on this day December 28 in music history. Best known as the leader/patriarch of the family vocal group The Staple Singers.
1921 – American singer, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, producer, and composer Johnny Otis was born Ioannis Veliotes in Vallejo, California.
1932 – Singer and founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio, Dorsey Burnette was born on this day December 28 in Memphis, Tennessee.
1936 – Multi-genre singer Obediah Donnell “Obie” Jessie also known by his stage name Young Jessie was born on this day in Dallas, Texas.
1938 – American saxophonist Charles Neville was born on this day December 28 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Best known as a member of the family group The Neville Brothers.
1943 – Singer, multi-instrumentalist, and one half of the pop rock duo Chas & Dave, Charles “Chas” Hodges was born in Edmonton, England.
1946 – American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Edgar Winter was born on this day December 28 in Beaumont, Texas.
1947 – Dutch bassist and founding member of the rock group The Easybeats, Dick Diamonde was born Dingerman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs in Hilversum, the Netherlands.
1950 – Lead singer of the rock bands Box Trops and Big Star, Alexander “Alex” Chilton was born in Memphis, Tennessee on this day December 28 in music history.
1953 -French pianist Richard Clayderman was born Philippe Pages in Paris. He has sold over 70 million records worldwide.
1961 – British singer and songwriter Christine Collister was born on this day December 28 in Douglas, Isle of Man.
1962 – Grammy Award-winning jazz and rock music keyboardist Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo also known professionally as Rachel Z was born in New York City.
1978 – American singer-songwriter and pianist John Legend was born John Roger Stephens in Springfield, Ohio on this day December 28 in music history. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Ordinary People’, ‘All of Me’, and ‘Green Light’.