What Happened Today In Music

February 26th

1955 - Billboard

Billboard reported that for the first time since their introduction in 1949, 45rpm singles were outselling the old standard 78's.

1958 - Perry Como

Perry Como was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Magic Moments' the second No.1 in a row for writers Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It stayed at No.1 for eight weeks.

1964 - The Beatles

The Beatles worked on the final mixes for 'Can't Buy Me Love' and 'You Can't Do That' tracks. The single, which was released the following month, topped the charts all over the world and 'Can't Buy Me Love' became the Beatles' fourth UK No.1 and their third single to sell over a million copies in the UK.

1965 - Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page released a solo single called 'She Just Satisfies' in the UK. Page played all the instruments on it except for the drums, and produced the track, as well as singing lead vocals.

1966 - Nancy Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'These Boots Are Made For Walking'. The song which was written by Lee Hazlewood intended to record the song himself, but Sinatra talked him out of it, saying that 

1969 - Peter Sarstedt

Peter Sarstedt started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Where Do You Go To My Lovely?' Some say the song was written about the Italian star Sophia Loren, but Peter Sarstedt has stated he wrote the song about a girl he fell madly in love with in Vienna in 1965, who later died in a hotel fire.

1977 - Eagles

The Eagles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'New Kid in Town', the group's third US No.1, which was also a No.20 hit n the UK. The single written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther was released as the first single from their fifth album Hotel California.

1979 - Malcolm McLaren

During a court case between the Sex Pistols and their manager Malcolm McLaren it was revealed that only £30,000 ($51,000) was left of the £800,000 ($1,360,000) the band had earned.

1980 - Rob Partridge

After seeing U2 play at Dublin's National Boxing Stadium in front of 2,400 people; Rob Partridge and Bill Stewart from Island Records in the UK offered the band a recording contract.

1983 - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's Thriller went to No.1 on the US album chart. Thriller broke racial barriers in pop music, enabling Jackson's appearances on MTV and meeting with President Ronald Reagan at the White House. The album was one of the first to use music videos as successful promotional tools, and the videos for the songs 'Thriller', 'Billie Jean', and 'Beat It' all received regular rotation on MTV. Thriller became the most successful album of all time with sales over 65 million copies.

1997 - Ben Raleigh

American songwriter Ben Raleigh died in a fire in his kitchen after setting fire to his bathrobe while cooking. He co-wrote 'Scooby Doo Where Are You' and 'Tell Laura I Love Her.'

2001 - Eminem

Winners at the Brit Awards included Coldplay, Best British group and Best British album for 'Parachutes', Robbie Williams, Best British Male artist and Best single for 'Rock DJ', Sonique, Best British Female artist, Best Dance act went to Fat Boy Slim, A1 won Best British Newcomer, Westlife won Best Pop act, Eminem won Best International Male solo artist and U2 won Outstanding contribution to music.

2008 - Busted

Two original members of UK boy band Busted went to court, claiming an estimated £10m in unpaid royalties. Ki McPhail and Owen Doyle claimed they wrote songs with James Bourne and Matt Willis when the group formed in 2001, but said they were forced to sign away their rights after "threats" when they were sacked from the band later that year. The songs include 'Year 3000' and 'What I Go To School For', which went on to be hits for the group.

2009 - The Beatles

A 10-minute version of The Beatles 'Revolution 1' was leaked onto the internet, giving fans a never-before-heard listen of what The White Album sessions must have been like. Only two copies of the take were made when the song was completed on June 4th, 1968. One copy left the studio with Lennon that day and the other remained behind. It was unclear which copy appeared on the bootleg, nor how anyone acquired it.

2011 - Queen

It was announced that Queen's We Will Rock You was still the most-played song at US sporting events, according to a new survey from BMI, the royalty-distribution service. According to its data, based off of MLB, NFL and NHL games in 2009-2010, We Will Rock You was the No.1 song overall, as well as for the NFL specifically.

2014 - Tim Lambesis

Tim Lambesis, the singer for US metal band As I Lay Dying, pleaded guilty to attempting to hire an undercover agent to murder his estranged wife. He was arrested in May 2013 after prosecutors said he met a sheriff's deputy posing as a hit man, called Red, and handed over $1,000 (£600) along with his wife's address and front door security code.

2015 - Paul McCartney

The childhood home of former Beatle Paul McCartney sold for £150,000 ($231,000) at an auction in Liverpool. McCartney moved into the house, in Western Avenue, Speke, aged four with his parents Jim and Mary in 1947, and lived in the three-bedroom house for six years.

2019 - Andy Anderson

English drummer Andy Anderson died of cancer aged 68. He is best known for his work with The Cure playing on the singles ‘Love Cats’ and ‘The Caterpillar’. He also worked with many other artists including Steve Hillage, Edwyn Collins, Mike Oldfield, The Gun Club and Peter Gabriel. 

Born Today In Music

February 26th

1928 - Fats Domino

Fats Domino, (Antoine Domino), singer, pianist, bandleader, songwriter. Domino attracted national attention with his first recording, ‘The Fat Man’, made in late 1949 for Imperial Records, an early rock-and-roll record. ‘The Fat Man’ sold one million copies by 1953 and it is widely considered the first rock-and-roll record to achieve this feat. Domino had 35 records in the US Billboard Top 40. Domino died on 24 October 2017 aged 89 at his home in Harvey, Louisiana after a long-term illness.

1932 - Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash US country singer, songwriter who was considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is remembered as a country icon, his songs spanned other genres including rock and roll and rockabilly and blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honour of induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, most notably 'Hurt' by Nine Inch Nails. Cash died of respiratory failure on September 12th 2003, aged 71.

1945 - Bob Hite

Bob The Bear Hite, vocalist and harmonica player with Canned Heat who had the 1968 US No.11 single with ‘Going Up The Country’ and a 1970 UK No.2 single with ‘Let’s Work Together’. He died on April 5th 1981.

1947 - Sandie Shaw

Sandie Shaw, British singer who had the 1964 UK No.1 single 'There's Always Something There To Remind Me', plus 15 other UK Top 40 singles. Shaw was the first UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest with her 1967 song 'Puppet On A String.'

1950 - Jonathan Cain

American musician, singer, and songwriter Jonathan Cain, best known for his work with The Babys, Journey, and Bad English.

1953 - Michael Bolton

Michael Bolton, American singer who had the 1990 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'How Am I Supposed To Live Without You'.

1958 - Steve Grant

Steve Grant, singer with Tight Fit who had the 1982 UK No.1 single 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'.

1968 - Tim Commerford

Tim Commerford, bassist with Rage Against The Machine who had the 1996 US No.1 album Evil Empire. Also a member of Audioslave who had the 2005 US No.1 album Out of Exile.

1971 - Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu, US female singer who had the 1997 UK No.12 single 'On & On', and the 2001 UK No.23 single with Macy Gray, 'Sweet Baby'.

1971 - Max Martin

Max Martin, Swedish music producer and songwriter. Martin has produced hits for the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, Ellie Goulding and Pink. In addition he has written or co-written 22 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits, most of which he has also produced or co-produced, including Katy Perry's ‘I Kissed a Girl’, Maroon 5's ‘One More Night’, Taylor Swift's ‘Blank Space’ and The Weeknd's ‘Can't Feel My Face’. Martin is the songwriter with the third-most No.1 singles on the chart, behind only Paul McCartney (32) and John Lennon (26). 

1979 - Corinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae, UK singer, songwriter who had the 2006 UK No. 2 single ‘Put Your Records On', and the 2006 self-titled UK No.1 album. She is only the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at No.1 on the UK chart.

1982 - Nate Ruess

American singer-songwriter Nate Ruess, lead vocalist of Fun. Nate featured on Pink's 2013 US No.1 hit 'Just Give Me a Reason'.