EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY JULY 18 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day July 18 in 1960 – 15-year-old Brenda Lee started a three-week run at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘I’m Sorry’.
1963 – British-Australian singer Frank Ifield started a two-week stint at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with his rendition of ‘Confessin’ (That I Love You)’.
1964 – With ‘Rag Doll’, rock band The Four Seasons went to number one in the US on this day July 18 in music history. The song was also a chart-topper in Canada and a No.2 hit in the UK.
1966 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist Robert “Bobby” Fuller was found dead in his car at the age of 23. Best remembered for fronting the group The Bobby Fuller Four.
1970 – Folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel returned for a five-week run at No.1 in the UK with their fifth and final studio album ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ on this day July 18. The album was a chart-topper in eleven other countries that year, including the US.
1978 – Hard rock band Def Leppard played their first paid gig in front of 150 people at the Westfield School in Sheffield, England.
1988 – German singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and actress Christa Paffgen better known as Nico, died on this day July 18 at the age of 49 in a bicycle accident.
1991 – The first edition of the four-day music festival Lollapalooza took place in Phoenix, Arizona. The inaugural lineup featured music acts such as Nine Inch Nails, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Ice-T, etc.
1992 – Jimmy Nail started a three-week stint at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘Ain’t No Doubt’ on this day July 18 in music history.
1992 – Electronic music group The Orb scored their first and only No.1 on the UK Albums chart with their second studio release ‘U.F.Orb’.
1998 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day July 18 was a cover of Silk‘s song ‘Freak Me’ by the boy band Another Level.
1998 – Rap rock group Beastie Boys reached number one in the UK with their fifth studio album ‘Hello Nasty’. Also a chart-topper in the US, Switzerland, New Zealand, Germany, and Australia.
Beastie Boys – Intergalactic
1998 – The soundtrack album to the science fiction movie ‘Armageddon’ topped the US Billboard 200 chart on this day July 18 in music history. It features songs by artists such as Aerosmith, Journey, ZZ Top, Jon Bon Jovi, Bob Seger, etc. It also went to No.1 in Canada, Austria, and Switzerland.
2009 – The 31st volume of Now That’s What I Call Music! or simply ‘Now’ was at number one in the US. It’s a series of compilation albums that features hit songs released by various artists in the US.
2015 – American rapper Meek Mill reached No.1 in the US with his second studio album ‘Dreams Worth More Than Money’ on this day July 18.
2019 – With his debut studio album ‘Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent’, Lewis Capaldi went to No.1 in the UK. Also a chart-topper in Norway and Ireland.
2019 – Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Senorita’ on this day July 18. The song was a chart-topper in 40 countries worldwide that year, including the US.
2020 – Five months after his untimely death, rapper Pop Smoke topped the US Billboard 200 chart with his debut studio album ‘Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon’.
BORN ON THIS DAY JULY 18 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1910 – Jazz pianist, producer and songwriter Louis Bush also known by his stage name Joe “Fingers” Carr was born in Louisville, Kentucky on this day July 18 in music history.
1929 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jalacy “Screamin'” Jay Hawkins was born on this day in Cleveland, Ohio.
1938 – Keyboardist Ian Stewart was born on this day July 18 in Pittenweem, Scotland. He came to prominence as the co-founder and road manager of The Rolling Stones.
1939 – British jazz and rock music keyboardist Brian Auger was born in London. Best known for his work with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Rod Stewart, Eric Burdon, Tony Williams, and others.
1939 – Multi-genre singer and songwriter Dion DiMucci was born on this day July 18 in The Bronx, New York. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Runaround Sue’, ‘Ruby Baby’, and ‘The Wanderer’.
1940 – Saxophonist, songwriter, arranger and producer Andrew “Mike” Terry was born in Hempstead, Texas. Best known as a member of the Funk Brothers and for his work with The Supremes.
1940 – Singer and founder of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, Jim Kweskin was born in Stamford, Connecticut on this day July 18 in music history.
1941 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist Lonnie “Mack” McIntosh was born in West Harrison, Indiana.
1941 – Lead singer of the group Martha and the Vandellas, Martha Reeves was born on this day July 18 in Eufaula, Alabama.
1945 – English bass guitarist Danny McCulloch was born in London. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band The Animals.
1948 – Longtime member and drummer of the rock band Golden Earring, Cornelis “Cesar” Zuiderwijk was born on this day July 18 in The Hague, Netherlands.
1950 – American singer Glenn Hughes was born in New York City. Best known as a member of the disco group the Village People from 1977 until 1996.
1954 – Country and bluegrass singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs was born in Cordell, Kentucky on this day July 18 in music history.
1955 – Founding member and drummer of the rock band XTC, Terry Chambers was born in Swindon, England. Also known for his work with the rock band Dragon.
1957 – Multi-instrumentalist and founding member of The Clash and Public Image Ltd, Keith Levene was born on this day July 18 in London, England.
1962 – Drummer and founding member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack Irons was born on this day in Los Angeles, California. He has also played with Pearl Jam and Eleven among other bands.
1962 – American percussionist Daniel de los Reyes was born on this day July 18 in New York City. Best known as a member of the bands Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, and the Zac Brown Band.
1975 – Co-founder, guitarist and songwriter of the heavy metal band System of a Down, Daron Malakian was born today in Los Angeles, California.
1978 – Multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter Tony Fagenson was born on this day July 18 in music history. Best known for his work with the rock bands Dead Posey and Eve 6.
1982 – American singer and guitarist Ryan Cabrera was born on this day in Dallas, Texas. Best known for the hit songs ‘True’ and ‘On the Way Down’.