EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY JANUARY 17 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day January 17 in 1970 – R&B singer and pianist William “Billy” Stewart died at the age of 32 in a car accident. Best remembered for scoring multiple Top 30 singles during the 1960s.
1970 – With their second studio album ‘Led Zeppelin II’, Led Zeppelin returned to the top spot on the US Billboard 200 chart.
1971 – Marvin Gaye performed at the fifth edition of the Super Bowl on this day January 17 which was also the first modern-era NFL championship game.
1976 – With his rendition of ‘I Write the Songs’, Barry Manilow scored his second number one single in the US. His version also won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
1976 – Earth, Wind & Fire went to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with their double live album ‘Gratitude’ on this day January 17. The album held the top spot for three weeks straight and it features the hit songs ‘Sing a Song’ and ‘Can’t Hide Love’.
1987 – With her second greatest hits compilation ‘The Whole Story’, Kate Bush took the top spot on the UK Albums chart.
1987 – R&B singer Gregory Abbott went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with his debut single ‘Shake You Down’ on this day January 17.
1987 – Hard rock band Bon Jovi started a seven-week stint at number one on the US Billboard 200 with their third studio album ‘Slippery When Wet’.
1990 – Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on this day January 17: The Who, Simon & Garfunkel, The Platters, The Kinks, The Four Tops, The Four Seasons, Hank Ballard and Bobby Darin.
1996 – David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Shirelles, The Velvet Underground and Little Willie John were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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1998 – Pop group All Saints reached No.1 in the UK with ‘Never Ever’ on this day January 17. The song became a chart-topper in Australia and New Zealand that year, and it made the Top 10 in a dozen countries worldwide year, including the US and Canada.
1998 – With her fifteenth studio album ‘Let’s Talk About Love’, Celine Dion reached the top spot on the US Billboard 200 chart.
1998 – The number one single in the United States on this day January 17 was ‘Truly Madly Deeply’ by the Australian pop duo Savage Garden.
2004 – The winner of the second edition of the British talent show Pop Idol, Michelle topped the UK Singles chart with ‘All This Time’.
2009 – After a three-month break from the top spot, American rock band Kings of Leon returned at number one in the UK on this day January 17 with their fourth studio album ‘Only by the Night’.
2009 – With ‘Just Dance’, Lady Gaga featuring Colby O’Donis started a three-week run at number one on both the UK and US Singles chart.
Lady Gaga ft. Colby O’Donis – Just Dance
2011 – ‘The Man with the Golden Ear’ – Donald Kirshner died on this day January 17, aged 76. Best known as a music consultant, publisher, manager and record producer who discovered the likes of Neil Diamond, The Monkees, Kansas, Neil Sedaka, The Archies, etc.
2012 – American singer, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and record producer Johnny Otis died on this day at the age of 90.
2015 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day January 17 was Sam Smith‘s debut studio release ‘In the Lonely Hour’.
2015 – With ‘Uptown Funk’, record producer Mark Ronson and singer Bruno Mars started an incredible fourteen-week run No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2016 – Drummer and founding member of the rock band Mott the Hoople, Dale “Buffin” Griffin died on this day January 17, aged 67.
2016 – A week after his death, David Bowie‘s final studio album ‘Blackstar’ went to No.1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was a big hit worldwide that year reaching No.1 in over 20 countries, including the UK.
BORN ON THIS DAY JANUARY 17 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1917 – American jazz arranger, pianist and composer George Handy was born in New York City on this day January 17 in music history.
1927 – American singer, dancer, and actress Eartha Kitt was born in St. Matthews, South Carolina. Best known for songs such as ‘Uska Dara’, ‘I want to Be Evil’, and ‘Under the Bridges of Paris’.
1943 – Singer and guitarist Christopher Montanez also known professionally as Chris Montez was born on this day January 17 in Los Angeles, California. He rose to fame in 1962 with the No.4 hit single ‘Let’s Dance’.
1949 – British guitarist and songwriter Michael “Mick” Taylor was born in Welwyn Garden City, England. He rose to fame as a member of the Rolling Stones.
1955 – Country and folk music singer-songwriter Stephen “Steve” Earle was born on this day January 17 in Ft. Monroe, Virginia. Best known for winning three Grammy Awards and releasing over 20 studio albums.
1956 – English singer-songwriter and teen idol Paul Young was born on this day in Luton, Bedfordshire. Best known for songs such as ‘Love of the Common People’, ‘Every Time You Go Away’, ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat’, etc.
1959 – Singer, guitarist, and founding member of the pop rock band The Bangles, Susanna Hoffs was born in Los Angeles, California on this day January 17 in music history.
1964 – English musician Andrew “Andy” Rourke was born on this day, January 17 in Manchester, Lancashire. Best known for playing bass guitar with the rock band The Smiths.
1971 – American singer-songwriter and rapper Robert James Ritchie better known by his stage name Kid Rock was born on this day January 17 in Romeo, Michigan.
1978 – Singer-songwriter and frontman of the indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs, Ricky Wilson was born on this day in Keighley, England.
1984 – Disc jockey, singer, and record producer Adam Wiles also known professionally as Calvin Harris was born in Dumfries, Scotland on this day January 17 in music history.