EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY MARCH 23 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day March 23 in 1956 – Elvis Presley released his self-titled debut studio album through RCA Records. It became the first rock and roll album to sell 1 million copies and to reach No.1 in the US.
1959 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bobby Darin released his second studio album ‘That’s All’ through Atco Records. The album peaked at No.7 in the US and it features the chart-topping single ‘Mack the Knife’.
1961 – Elvis Presley started a six-week stint at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘Wooden Heart’. The King of Rock and Roll also recorded ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ on this day which later became a chart-topper in Britain.
1963 – R&B group Ruby & the Romantics reached the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Our Day Will Come’ on this day March 23 in music history.
1969 – Due to recent popularization of immorality and Jim Morrison‘s indecent exposure during a concert, over 30,000 people marched at the ‘Rally for Decency’ in Miami, Florida. Artists such as Kate Smith, The Lettermen, and Anita Bryan were present at the event. The organizers of the rally received letters of appreciation from President Richard Nixon.
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1972 – The documentary film ‘The Concert For Bangladesh’ premiered in the US. It documents the two benefit concerts that George Harrison and Ravi Shankar organized to raise funds for the victims of the war in Bangladesh.
1974 – Singer and actress Cher scored her third solo number one single in the United States with ‘Dark Lady’.
1983 – Rock band ZZ Top released their eighth studio album ‘Eliminator’ through Warner Bros. The album peaked at No.3 in the UK and reached No.9 in the US. It features the hit songs ‘Gimme All Your Lovin”, ‘Sharp Dressed Man’, and ‘Legs’.
1985 – Singer and songwriter John Fogerty topped the US Billboard 200 with his third solo studio album ‘Centerfield’.
1985 – With ‘Easy Lover’, Philip Bailey and Phil Collins hit number one on the UK Singles chart for the first of four consecutive weeks.
1987 – Rock group Whitesnake released their self-titled seventh studio album. It became their best-selling album with over 9 million copies sold worldwide. The LP features some of the band’s biggest hits like ‘Is This Love’ and ‘Here I Go Again’.
1990 – The number one single in the United States was ‘One More Try’ by the freestyle performer Timmy T.
1991 – Alternative rock band R.E.M. went to number one in the UK for the first time with their seventh studio album ‘Out of Time‘.
1993 – Electronic music band Depeche Mode released their eighth studio album ‘Songs of Faith and Devotion’ in the US through Sire and Reprise Records. The album was a worldwide hit that year and it became a chart-topper in nine countries.
1996 – With ‘Because You Loved Me’, Celine Dion hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the first of six consecutive weeks. She also topped the UK Albums chart on this day with ‘Falling Into You’.
2002 – With their third studio album ‘Silver Side Up’, Canadian rock band Nickelback reached No.1 in the UK.
2002 – The soundtrack album ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?‘ to the film of the same name reached the top spot on the US Billboard 200 chart.
2007 – Girl groups Sugababes and Girls Aloud went to number one in the UK with their rendition of Aerosmith‘s song ‘Walk This Way’.
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2013 – Country music singer Luke Bryan topped the US Albums chart with his greatest hits compilation ‘Spring Break…Here to Party’.
2013 – With his 25th studio album ‘The Next Day’, David Bowie went to number one in the UK on this day March 23 in music history.
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2014 – Canadian-American singer, bassist, and guitarist David Brockie died at the age of 50 from a heroin overdose. Best remembered as the lead vocalist of the bands Gwar and Death Piggy.
2015 – English singer-songwriter and actor Christopher James Hardman also known by his stage name Lil’ Chris committed suicide on this day March 23, aged 24.
2019 – The number one album in the United States was ‘Death Race for Love’ by the rapper and singer Juice Wrld.
BORN ON THIS DAY MARCH 23 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1930 – American trumpet and flugelhorn player Buzz Gardner was born Charles Guarnera in Cleveland, Ohio.
1942 – American musician and record producer Jimmy Miller was born in Brooklyn, New York. Best known for his work with bands such as Motorhead, Spooky Tooth, The Rolling Stones, Traffic, Blind Faith, etc.
1943 – Singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and producer Richard Theodore Otcasek also known as Ric Ocasek was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Best known as the frontman of the rock band The Cars.
1944 – Guitarist and founding member of the blues-rock band The Groundhogs, Anthony “Tony” McPhee was born in Humberston, England.
1944 – English pianist, musicologist, and film scores composer Michael Nyman was born in Stratford, London.
1950 – British keyboardist and backing vocalist Phil Lanzon was born in England. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band Uriah Heep.
1951 – American guitarist and vocalist Philip Keaggy was born on this day in Youngstown, Ohio.
1953 – Multi-genre singer and songwriter Yvette Marie Stevens better known professionally as Chaka Khan was born in Chicago, Illinois.
1959 – British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Paul Godfrey better known by his stage name Epic Soundtracks was born in Surrey, England.
1965 – Scottish singer Marti Pellow was born Mark McLachlan in Clydebank, Scotland. Best known as a founding member and frontman of the soft rock band Wet Wet Wet.
1968 – Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Damon Albarn was born in London, England. Best known as the co-founder and frontman of the bands Blur and Gorillaz.
1971 – American session drummer and backing vocalist Abe Laboriel Jr. was born in Los Angeles, California. Best known for his work with musicians such as Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Steve Vai, B.B. King, Shakira, and others.
1986 – Country music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Brett Eldredge was born in Paris, Illinois on this day March 23 in music history.