Music History Today: March 2, 2023

March 2, 1965: The Sound of Music was released in the US.

When the Sound of Music was released in 1965, it took the world by storm, earning five Oscars.  Robert Wise, the director of the Hollywood movie, once explained it like this:

Music History Today: January 25, 2023

January 25, 2003: Thanks to a raft of Grammy nominations, Norah Jones's debut album Come Away With Me went to Number 1 in America 11 months after its release.

Norah Jones wrote the title track to her debut album "Come Away with Me."

Music History Today: March 13, 2022

March 13, 1965: The Mary Poppins soundtrack, featuring Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews, became the bestselling LP on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart.

Prior to their 14-song score for Mary Poppins, songwriting brothers Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman were best-known for the Top Ten hits "Tall Paul" by Annette Funicello and "You're Sixteen" by Johnny Burnette. Mary Poppins changed all that.

Music History Today: January 15, 2022

January 15, 2000: Christina Aguilera's "What a Girl Wants" took the top in the US music chart.

What a Girl Wants" was the first track recorded for the self-titled Christina Aguilera album in June 1998.

 

Music History Today: December 1, 2021

December 1, 1956: The Girl Can't Help It opens in the United States.

The Girl Can't Help It is a 1956 American musical comedy film starring Jayne Mansfield in the titular role, Tom Ewell, Edmond O'Brien, Henry Jones, and Julie London. 

Music History Today: October 16, 2021

October 16, 1976:  Two weeks after entering the Billboard single's charts "Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)" by Rod Stewart sailed from Number 71 to 42, 

"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" by Rod Stewart proved to be a massive commercial success and became his second US chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Rod Stewart

Music History Today: July 25, 2021

July 25, 1987: "Something So Strong" by Crowded House peaks at number 7 on the US music chart.

"Something So Strong," written by Neil Finn and Mitchell Froom and performed by Crowded House, was released as their eponymous debut album's fifth and final single. 

Crowded House

Music History Today: June 19, 2021

June 19, 1983: Rapper Macklemore (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis) is born Ben Haggerty in Seattle, Washington.

Rapper Macklemore fell in love with hip-hop as a kid and eventually released solo work before succumbing to drug abuse and entering rehab in 2008.

Macklemore

Music History Today: February 4, 2021

February 4, 1983: Karen Carpenter of The Carpenters died at age 32 of complications from anorexia.

After being called chubby as a teenager, Karen Carpenter began dieting. When she slimmed down from 145 to 120 lbs., her friends and family praised her weight loss. 

Karen Carpenter

Music History Today: January 25, 2021

January 25, 2003: Norah Jones' debut album, Come Away With Me, went to Number 1 in America.

Norah Jones topped the Billboard charts in 2002, and the following year Come Away With Me went on to secure eight Grammy Awards, including Album Of The Year, and in the intervening 12 months it received critical acclaim from just about every quarter.

Music History Today: January 5, 2021

January 5, 1969: Marilyn Manson was born Brian Hugh Warner in Canton, Ohio. 

Known for his outrageous outfits and on-stage antics, Marilyn Manson is an American goth-rock performer who has been protested and boycotted because of his perceived 'dark' views.

Marilyn Manson

Music History Today: October 9, 2020

October 9, 1940: John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England. 

In 1985, on what would have been his 45th birthday, a section of Central Park in New York City is christened "Strawberry Fields" in his memory.

Strawberry Fields in Central Park, NYC