EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY FEBRUARY 22 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day February 22 in 1957 – Tab Hunter started a seven-week stint at No.1 in the UK with his rendition of ‘Young Love’.
1960 – With his rendition of ‘Theme from A Summer Place’, Percy Smith hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the first of nine consecutive weeks.
1962 – Elvis Presley topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’/’Rock-A-Hulla Baby’ on this day February 22 in music history. The song also reached No.1 in South Africa, while in the US it peaked at No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1975 – Scottish funk and R&B group The Average White Band dominated the US Music charts today when their second studio album ‘AWB’ hit No.1 on the Billboard 200 while the single ‘Pick Up the Pieces’ topped the Billboard Hot 100.
1975 – With ‘Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)’, glam rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel topped the UK Singles chart on this day February 22.
1976 – American singer Florence Ballard died at the age of 32 from cardiac arrest caused by a coronary thrombosis. Best remembered as a founding member of The Supremes with whom she was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1977 – The Eagles released ‘Hotel California‘ through Asylum Records on this day February 22. The song became a chart-topper in US and Canada, while in the UK it peaked at No.8.
1983 – Rock band Styx released their eleventh studio album ‘Kilroy Was Here’ through A&M Records. The album peaked at No.3 in the US and it features the hit singles ‘Mr. Roboto’ and ‘Don’t Let It End’.
1989 – The 31st Annual Grammy Awards were held on this day February 22 in music history at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. George Michael, Bobby McFerrin, and Tracy Chapman among the winners. They were also the first Grammy Awards to feature categories for heavy metal and rap artists.
1992 – Pop rock duo Shakespear’s Sister hit number one on the UK Singles chart for the first of eight consecutive weeks with ‘Stay’.
1994 – American multi-genre violinist Papa John Creach died on this day February 22, aged 76. Best remembered for his solo work and for his collaborations with the likes of Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Col and so on.
1997 – With ‘Don’t Speak’, pop rock band No Doubt reached the top spot on the UK Singles chart. The song was also big hit worldwide topping 20 music charts in total.
No Doubt – Don’t Speak
1997 – With their self-titled fifth studio album, alternative rock band Blur topped the UK Albums chart on this day February 22.
1997 – After topping numerous music charts worldwide the year before, Spice Girls finally reached number one in the US with their debut single ‘Wannabe’.
2001 – Influential American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey died on this day February 22 in music history at the age of 61.
2003 – Electronic music group Massive Attack scored their second chart-topping album in the UK with ‘100th Window’. The album was an international hit that year and it reached No.1 in eight other countries.
2003 – With his debut studio album ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin”, rapper 50 Cent started a two-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard 200 on this day February 22 in.
2011 – Adele released her second studio album ’21’ in North America through Columbia Records. The album broke multiple Guinness World Records, won a Grammy Award, and it topped over 30 music charts worldwide.
2014 – English singer and songwriter Kay B scored her first number one album in the UK with ‘Little Red’ on this day February 22.
2021 – French electronic music duo Daft Punk announced their break up with a video on their YouTube channel named ‘Epilogue’.
BORN ON THIS DAY FEBRUARY 22 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1923 – English record producer and sound engineer Norman “Hurricane” Smith was born in Edmonton on this day February 22 in music history. Best known for his collaborations with bands such as The Beatles and Pink Floyd in the 1960s.
1927 – American pop singer and actor Albert Cernik better known by his stage name Guy Mitchell was born in Detroit, Michigan. Best known for chart-topping singles such as ‘My Truly, Truly Fair’, ‘My Heart Cries For You’, and ‘Singing The Blues’.
1933 – R&B singer Ernest Kador also known professionally as Ernie K-Doe was born on this day February 22 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He rose to fame with the 1961 number one hit single ‘Mother-in-Law’.
1938 – American R&B singer Bobby Hendricks was born on this day in Columbus, Ohio. Best known for his solo career and as a member of vocal groups such as The Drifters, The Swallows, and The Flyers.
1944 – English rock and roll guitarist Michael “Mick” Green was born in Matlock, Derbyshire on this day February 22 in music history. Best known as a member of the bands The Pirates and The Dakotas.
1945 – American pop singer William Oliver Swofford was born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Best known for his chart-topping hit single ‘Good Morning Starshine’ which featured in the rock musical ‘Hair’.
1953 – Bassist, vocalist, and co-founder of the punk rock band Wire, Graham Lewis was born on this day February 22 in Grantham, England.
1968 – Singer and guitarist Bradley Nowell was born on this day in Long Beach, California. He came to prominence as the frontman of the ska punk band Sublime.
1973 – Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer Scott “Flip” Phillips was born on this day February 22 in Atlanta, Georgia. Best known as a founding member of the rock bands Creed, Projected, and Alter Bridge.
1974 – English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist James Blunt was born on this day in Tidworth, England. Best known for his hit singles ‘You’re Beautiful’ and ‘Goodbye My Lover’.
1979 – Singer and multi-instrumentalist Tom Higgenson was born in Villa Park, Illinois on this day February 22 in music history. He rose to fame as the co-founder and frontman of the rock band Plain White T’s.