Music History Today: September 18, 2021

September 18, 1994: The United States Postal Service issued the Billie Holiday stamp to honor the singer.

Considered by many to be the greatest jazz vocalist of all time, Billie Holiday lived a tempestuous and difficult life.

 

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Her singing expressed an incredible depth of emotion that spoke of hard times and injustice as well as triumph. Though her career was relatively short and often erratic, she left behind a body of work as great as any vocalist before or since. 

Read more: PBS

September 18, 1965: "I Knew You When" by Billy Joe Royal entered the US music chart.

"I Knew You When" is a song written and composed by Joe South.

Billy Joe Royal

It was first recorded by Billy Joe Royal for his 1965 studio album, Down in the Boondocks. The song reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of November 6, 1965. The song went to No. 1 on the Canadian music chart in November 1965. 

Read more: Wikipedia

September 18, 1967: The Doors released the single "People Are Strange."

Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison was depressed. He went to Robby Krieger's house, they went to a canyon to watch a sunset, at which time Jim realized he was depressed because "if you're strange, people are strange." He then wrote the rest of the lyrics. Krieger, The Doors' guitarist, wrote the music.

Read more: Songfacts

September 18, 1971: "One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)" by Coven, from the film Billy Jack,  entered the US music chart.

Released in 1969, “One Tin Soldier” became a popular song during the Vietnam War and was often heard as an anti-war anthem. It was first recorded by the Canadian pop group The Original Castle.

In 1971, a cover became a hit in the United States for Jinx Dawson, lead vocalist of Coven, whose recording was featured as part of the soundtrack for the Warner Bros. film Billy Jack. 

Read more: Country Thang Daily

September 18,  1982: Rush debuts at number 72 on Billboard with "New World Man."

The first single from Rush's 11th album, Signals, "New World Man" was the Canadian trio's only song to hit the Billboard top 40, reaching Number 21. It peaked at Number 42 on the U.K. pop chart. It was actually a last-minute addition to the album. 

Read more: Nights with Alice Cooper

 

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Billy Holiday