EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY SEPTEMBER 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day September 15 in 1962 – The soundtrack album ‘West Side Story’ to the film of the same name went to number one on the UK Albums chart. In the US the album spent unbeatable 54 non-consecutive weeks at the top.
1962 – Rock and roll band The Four Seasons started a five-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Sherry’.
1965 – Soul singer and songwriter Otis Redding released his third studio album ‘Otis Blue’ through Volt Records. The album topped the Billboard R&B chart and it peaked at No.6 on the Hot 100. It’s considered one of the best albums of the soul era.
1966 – Rock band Small Faces topped the UK Singles chart with ‘All or Nothing’ on this day September 15 in music history.
1973 – Helen Reddy topped the US Singles chart with her rendition of ‘Delta Dawn’ which was previously a Top 10 hit for Tanya Tucker.
1979 – With their eight and final studio album ‘In Through the Out Door’, Led Zeppelin started a seven-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It also topped the charts in Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.
1983 – Huey Lewis and the News released their third studio album ‘Sports’ through Chrysalis Records. The album brought the band international fame and went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide. It also topped the Billboard 200 chart on June 29 the following year.
1990 – With his second studio solo album ‘Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1’, George Michael topped the UK Albums chart on this day September 15.
1990 – A remastered version of ‘The Joker’ by the Steve Miller Band was at number one in the UK. The single was originally released in 1973.
1990 – Pop group Wilson Phillips scored their second No.1 single of the year in the US with ‘Release me’. They previously topped the Hot 100 chart in June with ‘Hold On’.
1998 – Rock band Marilyn Manson released their third studio album ‘Mechanical Animals’ on Interscope Records. The album was a commercial success and it topped the charts in the US, Canada, and Australia.
2001 – R&B singer Aaliyah reached number one in the US with her self-titled third and last studio album on this day September 15 in music history.
2001 – Funk band Jamiroquai topped the UK Albums chart with their fifth studio release ‘A Funk Odyssey’. It also reached No.1 in France, Switzerland, Italy, and Australia that year.
2004 – Guitarist, songwriter, and punk music pioneer John William Cummings better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone died at the age of 55. He rose to fame as a founding member of the punk rock band Ramones.
Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated
2007 – Indie rock band Hard-Fi went to number one in the UK on this day September 15 with their second studio album ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’.
2007 – With ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy)’, rapper Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first of seven non-consecutive weeks. The single was a worldwide hit and it earned the rapper a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Song.
2008 – Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, and co-founder of Pink Floyd, Richard “Rick” Wright died on this day September 15 in music history, aged 65.
2012 – Christian music singer Toby McKeehan also known as TobyMac went to No.1 in the US with his fifth solo studio album ‘Eye on It’.
2012 – The second studio album by the indie rock band The Vaccines named ‘Come of Age’ was at number one in the United Kingdom.
2012 – Singer-songwriter Ne-Yo topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)’ on this day September 15.
2013 – English guitarist and singer-songwriter John “Jackie” Lomax died on this day at the age of 68.
2013 – American singer-songwriter, guitar player, and producer Richard Otcasek also known as Ric Ocasek died on this day September 15, aged 75. Best remembered as the frontman of the rock band The Cars.
2018 – With his tenth studio album ‘Kamikaze’, Eminem scored his ninth consecutive No.1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was an international hit and it topped the charts in 21 countries worldwide.
BORN ON THIS DAY SEPTEMBER 15 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1903 – Country music singer-songwriter and fiddler Roy Acuff nicknamed the ‘King of Country Music’ was born on this day in Maynardville, Tennessee.
1924 – American cabaret singer and pianist Robert “Bobby” Short was born in Danville, Illinois on this day September 15 in music history.
1938 – American songwriter and record producer Sylvia Moy was born in Detroit, Michigan. Best known for penning numerous hit songs for Stevie Wonder and various Motown music acts.
1941 – American singer Signe Toly Anderson was born on this day September 15 in Seattle, Washington. Best known as a founding member of the rock band Jefferson Airplane.
1942 – Bass guitarist and vocalist Douglas Lee Dorman was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band Iron Butterfly.
1946 – Swedish musician Ola Brunkert was born on this day in Orebro, Sweden. Best known for his work as a session drummer with the pop group ABBA.
1956 – British singer-songwriter Jacqueline “Jaki” Graham was born in Birmingham, England on this day September 15 in music history. Best known for her hit renditions of ‘Could It Be I’m Falling in Love’ and ‘Ain’t Nobody’.
1960 – Canadian multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Michel “Mitch” Dorge was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Best known as the drummer of the rock band Crash Test Dummies.
1969 – DJ and record producer Keir Lamont Gist also known professionally as KayGee was born on this day September 15 in East Orange, New Jersey. He rose to fame as a member of the hip hop trio Naughty by Nature.
1976 – Scottish multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Paul Thomson was born on this day in Glasgow. Best known as a founding member and drummer of the rock band Franz Ferdinand.