EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY FEBRUARY 10 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day February 10 in 1942 – Glenn Miller and His Orchestra received the first gold record in music history for their hit song ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ which sold over 1 million copies.
1956 – Little Richard recorded ‘Long Tall Sally’. The song was released in March the same year and it topped the US R&B chart. Now the song is considered a rock standard and has been covered by hundreds of artists.
1958 -With ‘Don’t’/’I Beg of You’, Elvis Presley started a five-week stint at No.1 on the US Singles chart on this day February 10 in music history.
1958 – Frank Sinatra started a five-week stint at the top of the US Albums chart with his fourteenth studio LP ‘Come Fly with Me’.
1967 – Aretha Franklin released her now-career defining song ‘I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)’ through Atlantic Records on this day February 10. The single topped the US R&B chart and it peaked at No.9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1968 – With their compilation album ‘Greatest Hits’, The Four Tops hit number one in the UK. Also a hit in the US where it peaked at No.4.
1968 – Paul Mauriat became the first French artist to have a No.1 single in the US when he hit No.1 on this day February 10 with ‘Love is Blue’. He topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks.
1971 – Singer and songwriter Carole King released her second studio album ‘Tapestry’. The album won four Grammy Awards and became one of the best-selling albums of all time with over 25 million copies sold worldwide. It also reached No.1 in Canada, Japan, the US, and Spain.
1973 – Elton John scored his first number one album in the UK on this day February 10 in music history with ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player’ which topped the chart for six weeks straight. Also a big hit worldwide topping seven music charts in total, including the US Billboard 200.
1975 – Founding member and bassist of the proto-punk band The Stooges, Dave Alexander died at the age of 27 from pulmonary edema.
1978 – Hard rock band Van Halen released their debut self-titled studio album on this day February 10 through Warner Bros. Records.
1979 – Rod Stewart hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?’ for the first of four weeks straight. He also topped the Billboard 200 on this day with his ninth album ‘Blondes Have More Fun’.
Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
1990 – With ‘Opposites Attract’, Paula Abdul and The Wild Pair started a three-week stint at No.1 in the US on this day February 10. The song became a chart-topper in Canada and Australia as well, while in the UK it peaked at No.2.
1997 – Rock band Blur released their self-titled fifth studio album through Food Records. The album and it’s lead single ‘Beetlebum’ both topped their respective UK music charts.
2001 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day February 10 was Dido‘s debut studio release ‘No Angel’. She topped the chart for six consecutive weeks.
2001 – With her second studio album ‘J.Lo’, Jennifer Lopez topped the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was an international hit that year and it reached No.1 in eight other countries.
2001 – British girl group Atomic Kitten started a four-week stint at No.1 on UK Singles chart with ‘Whole Again’ on this day February 10.
2004 – American rapper Kanye West released his first studio album ‘The College Dropout’. The album debuted at No.2 on the US Billboard 200 chart and won the rapper a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
2006 – American rapper and record producer James Yancey also known professionally as J Dilla or Jay Dee died on this day February 10, aged 32.
2007 – With their second studio album ‘Late Night Special’, hip hop group Pretty Ricky reached the top spot on the US Billboard 200.
2007 – Singer-songwriter Norah Jones scored her third consecutive number one album in the UK on this day February 10 with ‘Not Too Late’.
2018 – Hip hop trio Migos scored their second number one album in the United States with their third studio LP ‘Culture II’.
2019 – The 61st Annual Grammy Awards were held on this day February 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Childish Gambino and Kacey Musgraves won the most awards with 4 each.
2022 – With their fourth studio album ‘Amazing Things’, rock band Don Broco scored their first number one album in the UK.
BORN ON THIS DAY FEBRUARY 10 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1914 – American harmonica player Lawrence “Larry” Adler was born in Baltimore, Maryland on this day February 10 in music history. Best known for his collaborations with artists such as Elton John, Kate Bush, and Sting.
1929 – American composer and conductor Jerald “Jerry” Goldsmith was born on this day in Los Angeles, California. Best known for composing film scores for popular franchises and movies such as Star Trek, Rambo, Planet of the Apes, Alien, The Omen, etc.
1937 – Influential American singer Roberta Flack was born on this day February 10 in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Best known for her chart-topping singles ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’, and ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’ which also won her two Grammy Awards.
1940 – American singer Jimmy Merchant was born in New York City. He rose to fame as a member of the doo-wop group The Teenagers.
1943 – Rock and roll singer Ralph “Ral” Donner was born on this day February 10 in Chicago, Illinois. Best known for his 1961 hit single ‘You Don’t Know What You’ve Got (Until You Lose It)’.
1947 – Country rock music bassist Christopher “Chris” Ethridge was born in Meridian, Mississippi. Best known as a member of the bands The Flying Burrito Brothers and International Submarine Band.
1949 – British musician Nigel Olsson was born in Wallasey, England on this day February 10 in music history. Best known as the longtime drummer for Elton John.
1958 – Brazilian record producer, musician, and songwriter Walter Afanasieff also known as Baby Love was born in Sao Paulo.
1960 – American country music singer-songwriter Lionel Cartwright was born on this day February 10 in Gallipolis, Ohio. Best known for his 1991 chart-topping single ‘Leap of Faith’.
1962 – American musician and songwriter Clifford “Cliff” Burton was born in Castro Valley, California. He came to prominence as the bassist for the thrash metal band Metallica.
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