Today in Music History: Adele tops the singles charts
May 21, 2015
History Highlight:
Today in 2011, Adele went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Rolling In The Deep", taken from her second studio album, 21. The video to the song was nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards nominations; "Rolling in the Deep" was also the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Number One Single of 2011. And on Feb. 12, 2012, "Rolling in the Deep" received three Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video.
Also, Today In:
1963 - "Little" Stevie Wonder taped his sophomore album, The Twelve Year Old Genius, live at a Detroit theatre. It would become Motown's first No. 1 album and it yielded Wonder's first smash hit, "Fingertips, Pt. 2."
1966 - Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" debuted on the singles chart, where it would became her biggest hit ever, reaching No. 4.
1969 - John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's infamous 10-day "bed-in" for peace began at a Montreal hotel.
1971 - Ram, Paul McCartney's second solo album, was released. Unlike McCartney's first solo effort, it was not a one-man band affair. Contributing musicians included guitarists David Spinozza and Hugh McCracken.
1977 - Stevie Wonder started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with his tribute to Duke Ellington, "Sir Duke", his sixth U.S. No. 1.
In 1979 - Elton John launched a series of concerts in the Soviet Union. The shows were videotaped for a cable TV special called To Russia With Elton.
1980 - Joe Strummer of The Clash was arrested in Hamburg, Germany, after a concert during which a melee broke out between the band and the audience. Strummer reportedly struck one fan over the head with his guitar; he was released after an alcohol test proved negative.
1983 - David Bowie's "Modern Love" shot to No. 1 in the singles charts, thanks in part to Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar playing.
1997 - Radiohead released their third studio album OK Computer.
2010 - U2's lead singer Bono had emergency spinal surgery after suffering an injury while preparing for tour dates.
Birthdays:
Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers is 74.
John Dalton of the Kinks is 73.
Stan Lynch, drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is 60.
Kevin Shields, singer and guitarist for My Bloody Valentine, is 52 today.