On This Day, June 16 In Music History

EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY JUNE 16 IN MUSIC HISTORY

On this day June 16 in 1956 – Gogi Grant hit number one on the US Singles chart with ‘The Wayward Wind’ for the first of six consecutive weeks.

1965 – Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan finished recording ‘Like a Rolling Stone’. The song was released as a single on July 20 and it reached No.2 in the US and No.4 in the UK.

1967 – Pink Floyd released their second single ‘See Emily Play’ on this day June 16 in music history. The song was written by Syd Barrett and is now considered a psychedelic pop classic.

1970 – American blues and jazz singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alonzo “Lonnie” Johnson died at the age of 71. He is widely recognized as the first artist to play an electrically amplified violin.

1972 – David Bowie released his fifth studio album ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ through RCA Records on this day June 16. The album is considered one of his best works and it introduces Bowie’s beloved alter ego – Ziggy Stardust.

10 David Bowie Facts You May Have Not Known

1973 – American singer-songwriter Susan “Suzi” Quatro topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Can the Can’. It became a chart-topper in Australia, Germany, and Switzerland as well.

1979 – R&B/Disco music singer Anita Ward started a two-week run at number one in the UK with ‘Ring My Bell’ on this day June 16. The song was a worldwide hit that year and it reached No.1 in five other countries, including the USA.

1979 – With her seventh studio album ‘Bad Girls’Donna Summer hit number one on the US Billboard 200 chart for the first of six non-consecutive weeks. Also a chart-topper in Canada and Finland that year.

1979 – Rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) started a five-week stint at No.1 in the UK with their eight studio album ‘Discovery’ on this day June 16 in music history.

1982 – English guitarist and songwriter James Honeyman-Scott died at the age of 25 from a cocaine induced heart failure. Best remembered as a founding member of The Pretenders.

1984 – With the anti-war song ‘Two Tribes’, synth-pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood started an impressive nine week run at No.1 in the UK on this day June 16.

1990 – Swedish pop duo Roxette went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘It Must Have Been Love’. It was a worldwide hit that year and it reached No.1 in seven other countries.

1991 – English singer Vicki Brown died on this day June 16 at the age of 50 from breast cancer. Best remembered for her work with The Vernons Girls and The Breakaways.

1994 – American bassist and songwriter Kristen Pfaff died at the age of 27 from a drug overdose. Best remembered as a member of the alt rock band Hole from 1993 until 1994.

1997 – Rock band The Verve released ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ as a single on this day June 16 in music history. The song was a huge commercial success and a chart-topper but due to copyright infringement, all royalties ended in the pockets of Keith Richards and  Mick Jagger.

The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony

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2001 – Rock group Radiohead scored their third consecutive chart-topper on the UK Albums chart with their fifth LP ‘Amnesiac’.

2007 – With his eighth studio album ‘Double Up’, R&B singer and songwriter R. Kelly topped the US Billboard 200 on this day June 16.

2007 – Barbadian singer Rihanna reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart with her third studio release ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’.

2012 – Singer Gary Barlow and The Commonwealth Band featuring Military Wives topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Sing’ on this day June 16.

2016 – With his thirteenth solo studio album ‘Stranger to Stranger’, folk singer-songwriter Paul Simon went to No.1 in the UK.

2018 – Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign reached the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Pyscho’ on this day June 16 in music history.

2018 – American rapper Kanye West scored his seventh consecutive number one album in the United States with his eighth studio release ‘Ye’.

BORN ON THIS DAY JUNE 16 IN MUSIC HISTORY

1919 – American jazz guitarist Alfred “Al” Viola was born in Brooklyn, New Yok on this day June 16 in music history. Best known for his longtime collaboration with Frank Sinatra.

1939 – Country and rockabilly singer Billy “Crash” Craddock was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Boom Boom Baby’, “Rub It In’ and ‘Ruby Baby’.

1941 – American singer, songwriter and producer Lamont Dozier was born on this day June 16 in Detroit, Michigan. Best known for writing and producing fourteen No.1 singles in the US.

1942 – American soul and R&B singer Edward “Eddie” Levert was born in Bessemer, Alabama. Best known as the lead vocalist of The O’Jays.

1946 – English singer-songwriter and guitarist Iain Matthews was born on this day June 16 in Barton. Best known for playing with Fairport Convention and for leading his own band Matthews Southern Comfort.

1951 – American singer Charlie Dominici was born on this day in Brooklyn, New York. Best known as the second lead vocalist of the progressive metal band Dream Theater.

1952 – Canadian singer and songwriter Gino Vannelli was born in Montreal, Quebec on this day June 16 in music history. Best known for hit singles such as ‘I Just Wanna Stop’ and ‘Living Inside Myself’.

1953 – English drummer Ian Mosley was born in London. He came to prominence as a member of the progressive rock band Marillion.

1954 – Irish guitarist Garrick “Garry” Roberts was born on this day June 16 in Dublin. Best known for playing with the rock band The Boomtown Rats.

1954 – Drummer, songwriter, producer and composer Doane Perry was born on this day in Mount Kisco, New York. Best known as a member of the rock band Jethro Tull from 1984 until 2011.

1969 – American rapper, songwriter and producer Lorenzo Patterson also known professionally as MC Ren was born on this day June 16 in Compton. He rose to fame as a member of the hip hop group N.W.A..

1971 – American rapper and songwriter Tupac Amaru Shakur better known by his stage name 2pac was born on this day in New York City.

1990 – English singer and songwriter John Newman was born in Settle on this day June 16 in music history. Best known for his international hit single ‘Love Me Again’.

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