Music History Today: March 26, 2023

March 26, 2004: Jan Berry of Jan & Dean died after a seizure eight days before his 63rd birthday.

When they met, Jan Berry was studying to be a doctor, and Dean Torrence was studying architecture and graphic design.

Jan & Dean

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They were at the top of the charts when Jan had a near-fatal car crash that left him brain-damaged. He learned to talk, walk and sing again. After seven years, they regrouped and made a comeback with the help of Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys. 

Read more: Nights with Alice Cooper

March 26, 1944: Diana Ross was born in Detroit, Michigan.

Diana Ross began singing in the group the Primettes with friends Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, and Barbara Martin as a teenager. When Martin dropped out, the remaining group members became the Supremes. 

Diana Ross

They scored their first Number 1 hit with "Where Did Our Love Go?" in 1964. Then the trio became the first US group with five songs in a row reaching the top; "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "Stop! In the Name of Love," and "Back in My Arms Again."  

Read more: Biography

 

March 26, 1971: The Allman Brothers Band released "Midnight Rider" from the album Idlewild South.

Gregg Allman wrote "Midnight Rider" but shared the songwriting credit with Kim Payne, a roadie for the band who came up with the classic line, "The road goes on forever." After he wrote this song, Gregg Allman wanted to start recording it right away, so with the help of Kim Payne, who was guarding their equipment, he broke into the band's Macon, Georgia, recording studio in the middle of the night and went to work. 

Read more: Songfacts

March 26, 1983: David Bowie entered Billboard at Number 54, on the way to the top of the singles chart, with "Let's Dance."

Nile Rodgers produced David Bowie's track "Let's Dance." Rodgers founded the disco band, Chic and had hits for Diana Ross, including "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out." He also produced Madonna's 1985 album Like a Virgin. 

Read more: Songfacts

March 26, 2013: Robin Thicke released "Blurred Lines" It featured Pharrell Williams.

When Robin Thicke went into the studio with Pharrell Williams in the summer of 2012, he just wanted to create a track that embodied the fun vibe of his favorite song of all time, Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up." 

 

Within an hour, the duo had come up with this song. "In the studio, Pharrell and I started jamming," Thicke recalled to Radio.com. "One of the first things Pharrell did was go, 'Hey, hey, hey!' and then we started having such a great time."  

Read more: Songfacts 

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Jan & Dean