EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY JUNE 23 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day June 23 in 1951 – Nat King Cole had the best-selling single in the US with ‘Too Young’. It stayed at the top for five consecutive weeks.
1960 – Singer and songwriter Eddie Cochran hit number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Three Steps to Heaven’ for the first of two weeks.
1962 – The soundtrack album to the musical romantic drama film ‘West Side Story‘ started a five-week stint at No.1 on the UK Albums chart on this day June 23 in music history.
1966 – With ‘Paperback Writer’, The Beatles scored their eleventh number one single in the UK. The song became a chart-topper in other eight countries that year, including the US, Canada, and Australia.
1973 – English rock band 10 C.C. scored their first number one single in the United Kingdom with ‘Rubber Bullets’ on this day June 23.
1973 – George Harrison hit No.1 on the US Billboard 200 with his fourth studio album ‘Living in the Material World’ for the first of five consecutive weeks. The album was also a chart-topper in Australia, Belgium, Canada, and Spain that year, while in the UK it reached No.2.
1975 – Alice Cooper fell off the stage while performing at a show in Vancouver, Canada and broke six ribs on this day June 23. He had to cancel the rest of his tour dates.
10 Fun Facts About Alice Cooper
1979 – With their sixth studio album ‘Breakfast in America’, Supertramp reached in the US. It was a chart-topper in nine other countries that year as well.
1984 – With ‘The Reflex’, Duran Duran went to number one in the US on this day June 23 in music history. The song was also a chart-topper in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK that year.
1990 – English musician Elton John started a five-week stint at number one in the UK with the double A-side single ‘Sacrifice’ / ‘Healing Hands’.
1990 – Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti became the first artist to top the UK Albums chart with a classical LP when ‘The Essential Pavarotti’ hit No.1 on this day June 23.
2001 – With their third studio album ‘The Invisible Band’, Scottish soft rock band Travis hit No.1 in the UK for the first of four consecutive weeks.
2007 – Rapper and singer T-Pain topped the US Billboard 200 chart with his second studio album ‘Epiphany’ on this day June 23.
2007 – Supergroup the Travelling Wilburys hit number one on the UK Albums chart with their box set compilation ‘The Traveling Wilburys Collection’. The album was a chart-topper in Australia, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway as well that year.
2012 – Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen hit No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Call Me Maybe’ for the first of nine consecutive weeks on this day June 23 in music history. The song was a big international hit and it also topped the singles charts in over 15 countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia.
Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
2012 – English singer Cheryl Tweedy scored her third number one on the UK Singles chart as a solo artist with ‘Call My Name’.
2012 – With her second studio album ’21’, Adele went to number one in the US on this day June 23. The album was a massive hit worldwide and it topped the charts in over 30 countries.
2013 – American blues singer Robby Calvin Bland also known professionally as Bobby “Blue” Bland died on this day at the age of 83.
2016 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day June 23 was Rick Astley‘s seventh studio release ’50’. His second domestic chart-topper.
2018 – The Dave Matthews Band topped the US Billboard 200 chart with their ninth studio album ‘Come Tomorrow’. It was their seventh consecutive album to top the chart.
2019 – American bandleader, composer, arranger and producer David “Dave” Bartholomew died on this day June 23 in music history, aged 100.
2022 – Singer and songwriter Kate Bush started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘Running Up That Hill’. The song was originally released in 1985 but it reemerged on the music charts after it featured in the sci-fi TV series ‘Stranger Things’.
2022 – With his third studio LP ‘Gold Rush Kid’, singer-songwriter George Ezra scored his third consecutive No.1 in the UK on this day June 23.
BORN ON THIS DAY JUNE 23 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1929 – American singer and songwriter June Carter Cash was born on this day June 23 in Maces Spring, Virginia. Best known as a member of the Carter Family and for winning five Grammy Awards. She’s also the second wife of singer Johnny Cash.
1937 – American rock and roll guitarist Niki Sullivan was born in South Gate, California. He rose to fame as a founding member of the Buddy Holly backing band The Crickets.
1940 – English singer and actor Terence Wright also known professionally as Adam Faith was born on this day June 23 in music history. He rose to fame with chart-topping hits such as ‘Poor Me’ and ‘What Do You Want’.
1940 – American funk, R&B and soul musician James “Jimmy” Castor was born in Manhattan, New York. Best known for his 1972 hit song ‘Troglodyte (Cave Man)’.
1940 – Scottish musician and painter Stuart Sutcliffe was born on this day June 23 in Edinburgh. Best known as the original bassist of The Beatles.
1941 – Singer-songwriter and lyricist Robert Hunter was born on this day in Arroyo Grande, California. Best known as a member of the rock band Grateful Dead.
1944 – Founding member and lead singer of The Orlons, Rosetta HIghtower was born on this day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1962 – American musician Steven Shelly was born on this day June 23 in Midland, Michigan. Best known for playing drums with the alt rock band Sonic Youth.
1973 – American keyboard and guitar player Carter Albrecht was born on this day June 23 in music history. Best known for playing with Edie Brickell & New Bohemians.
1977 – Singer-songwriter and guitarist Jason Mraz was born on this day in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
1980 – British singer and dancer Jessica Taylor Pietersen was born in Preston, England. She rose to fame as a member of the pop group Liberty X.
1981 – Founding member of the boy band Blue, Antony Costa was born on this day in Burnt Oak, England.
1984 – Welsh singer and songwriter Anne Duffy was born on this day June 23 in Bangor, Wales. She rose to fame with her debut album ‘Rockferry’ and its chart-topping single ‘Mercy’.