EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY FEBRUARY 23 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day February 23 in 1934 – English composer Edward William Elgar died at the age of 76. Best known for compositions such as ‘Pomp and Circumstance Marches’ and ‘Enigma Variations’.
1961 – With her English rendition of ‘Sailor’, Petula Clark scored her first number one single in the UK. The song is originally a German schlager composition titled ‘Seemann (Deine Heimast ist das Meer)’.
1974 – With ‘Devil Gate Drive’, rock singer Suzi Quatro scored her first and only solo No.1 single in the UK on this day February 23 in music history. It also became a chart-topper in Australia, Ireland, and Norway later that year.
1978 – The 20th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Barbra Streisand, Bee Gees, Muddy Waters, The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac among the big winners that night.
1980 – Rock band Queen started a four-week stint at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ on this day February 23.
1983 – The 25th Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Joe Cocker, Lionel Richie, Toto, Marvin Gaye, Survivor, and Men at Work among the winners that night.
1985 – With their second studio album ‘Meat Is Murder’, The Smiths went to number one in the UK on this day February 23. The album was also a hit in New Zealand where it peaked at No.13, while in the US it stalled at No.110 on the Billboard 200 chart.
1991 – The number one single in the United States on this day February 23 was ‘All the Man That I Need’ by Whitney Houston.
1995 – American bass singer Melvin English also known by his stage names Melvin Franklin or Blue died at the age of 52. Best remembered as a founding member of the vocal group The Temptations.
1998 – Metallica released the sequel to their power ballad ‘The Unforgiven’ titled ‘The Unforgiven II’ on this day February 23 in music history. The song featured on their seventh studio album ‘Reload’ and was a chart-topper in Finland and on the UK Rock & Metal Chart.
1999 – Hip hop band The Roots released their fourth studio album ‘Things Fall Apart’ through MCA Records. The album was a commercial success with over 1 million unites sold worldwide, and it reached No.4 on the US Billboard 200.
1999 – Girl group TLC released their third studio album ‘FanMail’ on this day February 23 through LaFace and Arista Records. The album won three Grammy Awards and it peaked at No.1 in the US. It also features the hit singles ‘No Scrubs’, ‘Silly Ho’, and ‘Unpretty’.
1999 – American rapper Eminem released his second studio album ‘The Slim Shady LP’ on this day February 23. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and it also won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
2000 – The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards were held on this day February 23 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Santana were the big winners of the night taking home eight trophies which also set a new record for most awards won at a single event.
2002 – Rapper Ja Rule and singer Ashanti started a two-week run at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Always on Time’.
2002 – With the album ‘J to the L-O!: The Remixes’, Jennifer Lopez went to number one in the US on this day February 23.
2003 – The 45th Annual Grammy Awards were held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Norah Jones was the biggest winner that night with six awards.
2007 – American pop music singer John Dee Abohosh better known professionally as Donnie Brooks died on this day February 23 in music history, aged 71.
2008 – With his fourth studio album ‘Sleep Through the Static’, singer-songwriter Jack Johnson started a three-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard 200.
2008 – Welsh singer Duffy hit No.1 on the UK Singles chart on this day February 23 with ‘Mercy’ for the first of five weeks straight. The song was a big international hit and it also reached No.1 in 10 other countries.
Duffy – Mercy
2013 – The number one album in the United States on this day February 23 was ‘All That Echoes’ by the singer and songwriter Josh Groban.
2013 – Swedish and Dutch DJs Avicii and Nicky Romero had the number one single in the UK with ‘I Could Be the One’.
2014 – Co-founder and drummer of the rock band The Remains, Rudolph “Chip” Damiani died on this day February 23 in music history, aged 68.
2017 – With his debut studio album ‘Human’, singer and songwriter Rag’n’Bone Man went to number one in the United Kingdom.
2019 – Ariana Grande held the Top 3 positions on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Thank U, Next’ at No.3, ‘Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored’ at No.2, and ‘7 Rings’ at number one. She also topped the US Albums chart on this day February 23 with ‘Thank U, Next’.
BORN ON THIS DAY, FEBRUARY 23 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1944 – English guitarist and songwriter Mike Maxfield was born in Manchester on this day February 23 in music history. Best known as a member of The Dakotas.
1944 – American blues-rock singer, guitarist, and record producer Johnny Winter was born on this day in Beaumont, Texas. Best known for his renowned solo career and for producing three Grammy Award-winning albums for Muddy Waters.
1946 – Multi-instrumentalist and singer- songwriter Russell “Rusty” Young was born on this day February 23 in Long Beach, California. He rose to fame as a member of the country rock band Poco.
1948 – Bass guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Stephen “Steve” Priest was born in Hayes, England. Best known as a founding member of the glam rock band The Sweet.
1952 – American guitarist and songwriter Bradley “Brad” Whitford was born on this day February 23 in Winchester, Massachusetts. Best known as a longtime member of the hard rock band Aerosmith.
1955 – Zimbabwean drummer and singer-songwriter Zeke Manyika was born on this day February 23 in music history. Best known as a member of the pop group Orange Juice from 1982 until 1984 with whom he had the Top 10 hit ‘Rip It Up’.
1955 – British singer and songwriter John Howard Jones was born in Southampton, England . Best known for his chart-topping album ‘Human’s Lib’ and hit singles such as ‘New Song’, ‘What Is Love’, and ‘Things Can Only Get Better’.
1958 – Singer-songwriter and instrumentalist David Sylvian was born David Alan Batt in Beckenham, England on this day February 23. He rose to fame as the frontman of the new wave band Japan.
1962 – Guitarist and songwriter Michael Wilton also known by his stage name The Whip was born in San Francisco, California. He came to prominence as the co-founder of the progressive metal band Queensryche.
1963 – Keyboardist and founding member of The Charlatans, Robert Collins was born on this day February 23 in Rowley Regis, England.
1973 – Swedish multi-instrumentalist Lars-Olof Johansson was born on this day in Huskvarna Best known as a member of the rock band The Cardigans.
1986 – American singer and songwriter Holly Brook Hafermann better known by her stage name Skylar Grey was born in Mazomanie, Wisconsin on this day February 23 in music history.