EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY FEBRUARY 13 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day February 13 in 1883 – Influential German composer and conductor Richard Wagner died at the age of 69.
1914 – The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) was formed in New York with a sole purpose to protect the artist’s copyrighted creations. 25 year-old Irving Berlin was among the founders.
1961 – With his instrumental rendition of the German pop song ‘Calcutta’, Lawrence Welk topped the US Billboard Hot 100 on this day February 13 in music history.
1965 – The Rolling Stones released their third studio album in America titled ‘The Rolling Stones, Now!’. It peaked at No.5 on the Billboard 200 chart and it features songs such as ‘Heart of Stone’ and ‘What a Shame’.
1967 – The Beatles released the double A-side single ‘Penny Lane’ and ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ on this day February 13. ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ peaked at No.2 in the UK and No.8 in the US while ‘Penny Lane’ topped the singles charts in seven countries.
1970 – Black Sabbath released their debut self-titled album through Vertigo Records. The whole album was recorded in one day and is now considered one of the first heavy metal records in music history.
10 Interesting Black Sabbath Facts
1971 – Family music group The Osmonds hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on this day February 13 with ‘One Bad Apple’ for the first of five weeks straight. Also a chart-topper in Canada that year while in the UK it peaked at No.38.
1982 – With the double A-side single ‘A Town Called Malice’/’Precious’, The Jam started a four-week stint at No.1 on the UK Singles chart.
1993 – With their first greatest hits compilation ‘Pure Cult: for Rockers, Ravers, Lovers, and Sinners’, rock band The Cult topped the UK Albums chart on this day February 13.
1993 – Eurodance group 2 Unlimited hit number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘No Limit’ for the first of five consecutive weeks.
1996 – American rapper Tupac Amaru Shaku also known professionally as 2pac released his fourth studio album ‘All Eyez on Me’ on this day February 13 in music history. The album became a certified Diamond record with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. It also peaked at No.1 in the US and it features two chart-topping singles ‘California Love’ and ‘How Do U Want It’.
1996 – The hip hop trio Fugees released their second studio album ‘The Score’ through Columbia Records. It won the trio a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and it topped a dozen charts worldwide, including the Billboard 200.
1998 – With her rendition of ‘Angel of Mine’, R&B singer Monica scored her third consecutive number one single in the US on this day February 13.
1999 – Blondie topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Maria’, their first release since 1982. The song became a Top 10 hit on several music charts worldwide, but in the US it stalled at No.82.
1999 – The number one album in the United States on this day February 13 was ‘Chyna Doll’ by the rapper Foxy Brown.
2002 – Country music singer and songwriter Waylon Jennings died at the age of 64. Best remembered as one of the pioneers of the subgenre Outlaw Movement.
2010 – Singer and songwriter Alicia Keys scored her first number one album in the UK on this day February 13 with ‘The Element of Freedom’.
2010 – With their second studio album ‘Need You Now’, country music trio Lady Antebellum reached number one in the US.
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
2011 – The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on this day February 13 in music history. Eminem received the most nominations with 10, but the big winners that night were Lady Antebellum with 5 Awards.
2016 – After topping the US Billboard Hot 10 for three consecutive weeks with ‘Sorry’, Justin Bieber extended his run at No.1 for another week with ‘Love Yourself’.
2020 – Indie pop band Blossoms reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart with ‘Foolish Loving Spaces’ on this day February 13.
2020 – With ‘Blinding Lights’, Canadian singer The Weeknd hit No.1 on the UK Singles chart for the first of two weeks straight.
2021 – English keyboardist and music arranger Louis Clark died on this day February 13 at the age of 73. Best known for his work with the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
BORN ON THIS DAY FEBRUARY 13 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1919 – American singer and TV host Ernest Jennings Ford also known professionally as Tennessee Ernie Ford was born in Bristol, Tennessee on this day February 13 in music history. Best known for his chart-topping hits ‘The Shotgun Boogie’ and ‘Sixteen Tons’.
1942 – American musician Peter Thorkelson better known by his stage name Peter Tork was born in Washington, DC. He rose to fame as the bassist and keyboardist of the pop-rock band The Monkees.
1943 – American record producer and technical engineer William “Bill” Szymczyk was born on this day February 13 in Muskegon, Michigan. Best known for his collaborations with the likes of the Eagles, BB King, and Joe Walsh.
1944 – Ghanaian percussionist Anthony “Rebop” Kwaky Baah was born on this day February 13 in Konongo. Best known for his work with the rock groups Traffic and Can in the 1970s.
1945 – Soul singer and songwriter King Floyd was born on this day in New Orleans, Louisiana. Best known for his 1970 hit single ‘Groove Me’.
1949 – English singer and songwriter Judith “Judy” Dyble was born in London on this day February 13 in music history. Best known as a founding member of the groups Trader Home and Fairport Convention.
1950 – English singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Peter Gabriel was born in Chobham. He rose to fame as the co-founder and lead singer of Genesis before establishing himself as a successful solo artist.
1952 – Bassist and founding member of the rock band Foreigner, Edward Gagliardi was born on this day February 13 in Brooklyn, New York.
1956 – Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and co-founder of the bands Joy Division and New Order, Peter Hook was born in Broughton, England.
1961 – British musician Les Warner was born on this day February 13 in Fulham. London. Best known as the drummer for The Cult from 1985 until 1986.
1966 – American rapper Frederick Williams also known professionally as Freedom Williams was born in Brooklyn, New York City.
1974 – English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams was born in Stoke-on-Trent on this day February 13 in music history. He rose to fame as a member of the boyband Take That before embarking on a successful solo career.