EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY MARCH 12 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day March 12 in 1953 – With their rendition of ‘I See the Moon (Over the Mountain)’, vocal group The Stargazers started a five-week stint at No.1 on the UK Singles chart.
1955 – Influential jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer Charlie Parker also known by his nicknames Yardbird and Bird died at the age of 34.
1960 – Rock and roll singer Freddy Cannon went to No.1 in the UK with his debut album ‘The Explosive Freddy Cannon’ on this day March 12 in music history.
1965 – The Beatles finished filming their second movie ‘Help! in the Bahamas. During the filming, the fab four met the Indian yoga guru Vishnudevananda Saraswati who introduced them to Hinduism and Eastern culture which influenced the group’s music. George Harrison even became a follower and preacher of the faith.
1966 – Soldier and singer-songwriter SSgt. Barry Sadler started a five-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard 200 with ‘Ballads of the Green Berets’ on this day March 12.
1967 – The Velvet Underground & Nico released their influential eponymous debut album through Verve Records. The album is considered an “original art-rock record”.
1969 – The 11th Annual Grammy Awards were held on this day March 12. Among the big winners that night: Glen Campbell, Simon & Garfunkel, Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Duke Ellington, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, etc.
1969 – Paul McCartney married photographer Linda Eastman with whom he stayed together until her untimely death in 1998.
1971 – The Allman Brothers played the first of two nights at the Fillmore East Hall in New York on this day March 12 in music history. The shows were recorded and later released as the group’s first live album ‘At Fillmore East’ on July 6 the same year.
1974 – John Lennon and Harry Nilsson were thrown out of a bar in Los Angeles after heckling the performers (Smothers Brothers) and starting a fight.
1977 – The Manhattan Transfer started a three-week run at No.1 in the UK on this day March 12 with their rendition of the popular French song ‘Chanson D’Amour’.
1983 – Irish rock band U2 scored their first number one album in the United Kingdom with their third studio release ‘War’.
1983 – With ‘Total Eclipse of The Heart’, Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler went to number one in the UK on this day March 12. The song was an international hit that year and it also reached No.1 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the US, New Zealand, Norway, and South Africa.
1988 – With ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, Rick Astley reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song had a burst of popularity in the mid 2000s when it became a viral internet joke known as Rickrolling.
1994 – With ‘The Sign’, Swedish pop group Ace of Base started a four-week stint at number one in the US. The single topped the Hot 100 chart for six weeks in total.
1999 – American-born British violinist and conductor Yehudi “Baron” Menuhin died on this day March 12 in music history, aged 82.
2002 – English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John David Percy “Speedy” Keen died at the age of 56. Best remembered for his work with the rock band Thunderclap Newman.
2005 – R&B singer Omarion went to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with this debut studio album ‘O’ on this day March 12.
2005 – Welsh alternative rock band Stereophonics scored their first and only number one single in the UK with ‘Dakota’.
Stereophonics – Dakota
2007 – Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on this day March 12: Patti Smith, R.E.M., The Ronettes, Grandmaster Flash and the Furios Five, and Van Halen.
2011 – American jazz drummer Joseph “Joe” Morello died a the age of 82. Best remembered for his work with the Dave Burbeck Quintet.
2011 – Singer-songwriter Adele topped the US Billboard 200 with her second studio album ’21’ on this day March 12 in music history. The album held the top spot for 24 non-consecutive weeks.
2012 – American drummer Michael Hossack died at the age of 65. Best remembered as a member of the rock band The Doobie Brothers.
2013 – English drummer Clive Burr died on this day March 12 at the age of 56. Best remembered for his work with the heavy metal band Iron Maiden.
2022 – With ‘Heat Waves’, indie rock band Glass Animals started a five-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
BORN ON THIS DAY MARCH 12 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1912 – American pianist, composer, conductor, and arranger Paul Wetstein nicknamed “the Father of Mood Music” was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on this day March 12 in music history.
1938 – Country music singer-songwriter, guitarist and composer Lewis “Lew” DeWitt was born in Roanoke, Virginia. He rose to fame as a founding member of The Statler Brothers.
1940 – American singer Alwin “Al” Jarreau was born on this day March 12 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Best known for his Grammy Award-winning album ‘Breakin’ Away’.
1946 – American singer, actress and dancer Liza Minnelli was born on this day in Los Angeles, California. She’s part of a small group of performers that has won all four major awards Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT).
1948 – Singer-songwriter and guitarist James Taylor was born on this day March 12 in Boston, Massachusetts. He’s one of the best-selling music artists of all time with over 100 million records sold worldwide. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Fire and Rain’, ‘You’ve Got a Friend’, ‘Handy Man’, ‘How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)’, etc.
1949 – Welsh drummer Michael “Mike” Gibbins was born in Swansea, Wales. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band Badfinger.
1949 – Pianist and co-founder of the rock group Little Feat, William “Bill” Payne was born in Waco, Texas on this day March 12 in music history.
1951 – Scottish guitarist, bassist, vocalist, and songwriter Jack Green was born in Glasgow. Best known for his work with the bands T. Rex and Pretty Things.
1956 – English bassist, keyboardist, songwriter, and vocalist Stephen “Steve” Harris was born on this day March 12 in London. Best known as the founder and leader of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden.
1957 – American singer, instrumentalist, and dancer Marlon Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. Best known as a member of the family pop group the Jackson 5.
1969 – Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and founding member of the rock band Blur, Graham Coxon was born on this day March 12 in Rinteln, West Germany.
1979 – Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor, writer and poet Pete Doherty was born in Hexham, England. He came to prominence as the co-founder of the rock band The Libertines.
1986 – Lead singer, guitarist, and co-founder of the pop band McFly, Danny Jones was born in Bolton, England on this day March 12 in music history.
1994 – American singer and pianist Christina Grimmie was born on this day in Marlton, New Jersey. She rose to fame with her covers of popular songs uploaded on YouTube and as a contestant on the singing competition show The Voice.