Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Today in Music History

BY FAR the biggest news of this day was the death of music icon Prince.

Prince was found dead in his home this day in 2016. The lights in many major cities went purple in his honor as the sun set. I wrote about it HERE (with links to my writings on the death of Michael Jackson, Lemmy, & David Bowie). 2 years later, Lindsay Caudill wrote A Tribute to Prince. 

On the very same day, the world of music lost blues legend Lonnie Mack....and also on this day, we lost Nina Simone (2003) and Al Wilson (2008).

On a brighter note......April 21 is also the birthday of Iggy Pop (1947), Cowboy Junkies guitarist Michael Timmins and Cure vocalist Robert Smith (1959), Buzzcock's drummer John Maher (1960), musician, poet, activist Michael Franti (1966).

Also on this day in history....

753 BC - Romulus founds Rome after slaying his twin brother Remus.

1963 - The Beatles and The Rolling Stones meet for the first time.

1982 - Joe Strummer of the Clash disappeared for three weeks...until he was found in Paris. After the tour was cancelled.

1984 - Michael Jackson's "Thriller" finally falls from the #1 position on the charts after an incredible 37 week run (repacing it is the soundtrack to the hit movie "Footloose").

1990 - Paul McCartney sets new world record - largest paying stadium audience in history - when he plays for 184,000 in a stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

1990 - In the US, Sinead O'Connor's version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" (written by Prince) goes to number 1 on the charts and stays there for 4 weeks, making her a superstar.

2013 - Calvin Harris makes history by becoming the first artist to have eight top 10 hits from a single album (the former record of 7 was held by Michael Jackson).



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