Music History Today: January 2, 2023

January 2, 1971: The Osmonds first appeared on Billboard's Hot 100 with "One Bad Apple."

George Jackson, a staff songwriter at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, wrote the "One Bad Apple" for The Jackson 5.

The Osmonds

(sign up to follow by email)

The Osmonds were a young family group from Ogden, Utah, and made a name for themselves, performing at Disneyland and on The Andy Williams Show. Their record label sent them to FAME. The track spent five weeks at Number 1 in the US. 

Read more: Songfacts

January 2, 1936: Roger Miller was born in Fort Worth, Texas.

After a period in the US army, country singer Roger Miller moved to Nashville, where he found fame as a songwriter.

Roger Miller 

 Country stars such as George Jones and Faron Young recorded Miller's material. In 1965, he had a UK Number 1 & US Number 4 single, "King Of The Road." He won four Grammy awards that year, including Best Country & Western Album. 

Read more: Texas Songwriters

January 2, 1941: The Andrews Sisters recorded "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was originally intended for Lou Costello to perform in the 1941 Abbott & Costello comedy Buck Privates. It was reworked for The Andrews Sisters, who introduced it in the film. The single peaked at Number 6 and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It lost to "The Last Time I Saw Paris" from Lady Be Good. 

Read more: Wikipedia

January 2, 1957: Motion picture idol Tab Hunter debuted on the US music chart at Number 60 with "Young Love." It would hold Number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 for six weeks. 

Tab Hunter

January 2, 1971: Van Morrison topped out at Number 9 on Billboard with "Domino."

"Domino" is a musical tribute to one of Van Morrison's inspirations, Fats Domino, and an ode to American R&B music. Morrison was born in Belfast and influenced by singers like Domino, Ray Charles, and Jackie Wilson. He moved to America in his early 20s to launch his solo career after leaving his band Them. 

Read more: Songfacts

One Bad Apple
The Osmonds