This Day in Music History: February 21

February 21, 2017

We cover all sorts of news, facts and historical and interesting facts that happened on this day in music history.

 

Today: February 21.

 

1961: The Beatles played three concerts in one day. The first was a lunchtime show at The Cavern Club, then at night they performed at the Cassanova Club, Liverpool and at Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool.

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1964: Billy Joel, a young piano player who was unknown at the time, was recruited to the New York band The Echoes.

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1967: Pink Floyd began their first sessions at the EMI Studios, St. John's Wood, London on their first album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, as they were working on the song 'Matilda Mother'. While Pink Floyd were recording their album with former Beatles engineer Norman Smith, The Beatles themselves were working in the studio next door. They were recording the song 'Fixing A Hole' for their Sgt. Pepper album. Micky Dolenz from The Monkees also attended the mixing session during that day.

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1968: Otis Redding had his first entry on the UK singles chart with his song '(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay'. The song entered the chart, and went on to be a No.3 hit. It became the first posthumous single that topped the charts in the US.

 

1970: Simon and Garfunkel topped the UK chart with Bridge Over Troubled Water. The album stayed on the chart for over 300 weeks, and returned to the top of the charts on 8 separate occasions, spending a total of 41 weeks at the top.

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1972: Led Zeppelin released 'Rock And Roll / Four Sticks' as a 7 inch single in the US. It peaked at the No.47 spot on the chart. The song was written as a spontaneous jam session, whilst the band were trying to finish 'Four Sticks'. John Bonham, drummer of the band, played the introduction to 'You Keep A-Knockin' by Little Richard, and Jimmy Page added the guitar riff. With the tapes rolling the basic song was finished fifteen minutes later.

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1975: David Bowie released 'Young Americans' as a single. The song became a breakthrough hit for David Bowie in the United States. The backing vocal arrangement came at the suggestion of soul singer Luther Vandross.

 

1976: Florence Ballard of The Supremes died of cardiac arrest, at the age of 32. Ballard had left the band in 1967, lost an $8 million (£4.7 million) lawsuit against Motown records and was living on welfare when she died.

 

1981: Dolly Parton started a two week run at the top of the US charts with the song '9 to 5', her first No.1 hit, and also a No.47 hit in the UK.

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1986: Metallica released Master of Puppets, their third highly influential album. The album is considered by many in the metal community to be the best metal album of all time. It was also the last Metallica album with bassist Cliff Burton, who was killed when the band's tour bus over-turned in southern Sweden while touring in order to promote the album.

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1987: Ben E King topped the UK singles chart with 'Stand By Me.' The song was first released in 1961 and became a major hit in 1987 after it was featured in the film 'Stand By Me.'

 

1998: Celine Dion topped the UK singles chart with 'My Heart Will Go On'. The song was the theme from the movie Titanic, and also the best selling single of 1998 worldwide.

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Think we left some interesting fact out? You have anything to add? Is there anything else worth mentioning that happened on this day in music history? Write us in the comments below.

 

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