On This Day in Music History – February 22

This day, February 22, has marked several key milestones in the musical world; many events, album releases and hit songs have overtaken this day.

One key milestone took place in the year 1960. Back then, The Beatles were not known to the public, which is why they were amazed when they won the signing of their first recording contract. This mark was the first step towards them becoming internationally recognized. A few years later in 1963, The Beatles on the morning of receiving their landmark contract had their first filming debut scheduled. The recording finished in only a single night and the album held their most famous track “Please Please Me” which propelled them to superstar status afterwards.

Since this day marks the celebration of so many events, top songs have also reached chart climax. Eagles soared to the number one position with their smash hit “New Kid in Town” in 1977. Later Michael Jackson’s Thrilling song “Billie Jean” reached number one in 1983, propelling his album, “Thriller,” to the top-selling album of all time. Most recently, in 2014, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams reached the number 1 position, making it one of the most known songs in a decade.

The songs were introductions to all modern artists that shaped and defined music. In honor of them, February 22 is also regarded as the birth date of many famous artists like British singer James Blunt in 1974 and Frederic Chopin the famous composer who was born in 1810.

The Popes and The Beatles, The Americans and the Eagles, every step taken towards modern music was thanks to this date.

Major Events in Music History (February 22)

1. The Beatles’ First Recording Contract (1960) – The Beatles signed their first recording contract with German producer Bert Kaempfert. It was a small step before they became famous worldwide.
2. The Beatles Record Please Please Me Album (1963) – The Beatles finished recording their debut album Please Please Me in one long session at Abbey Road Studios in London.
3. The Beatles Start Filming Help! (1965) – The Beatles began filming their second movie Help!, which would be released later that year.
4. Genesis Releases Their Debut Album (1968) – British rock band Genesis released their first album From Genesis to Revelation. The band later became famous with Phil Collins as the lead singer.
5. The Beatles Start Recording “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” (1969) – The Beatles started recording I Want You (She’s So Heavy), one of the heaviest songs on their Abbey Road album.
6. The Ramones Perform Their First Show (1974) – Punk rock band The Ramones played their first live show at a club in New York City. They later became one of the biggest punk bands ever.
7. The Eagles Hit No.1 with “New Kid in Town” (1977) – The Eagles reached No.1 on the US charts with New Kid in Town, a song from their legendary Hotel California album.
8. Sid Vicious Meets Lawyer for Murder Trial (1978) – Punk rock bassist Sid Vicious met with a lawyer to discuss his trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. He died before the trial started.
9. “Dream On” Plays After the Miracle on Ice (1980) – After the US hockey team won against the Soviet Union in the Winter Olympics, the song Dream On by Aerosmith was played as a symbol of hope.
10. MTV Airs First Episode of Headbangers Ball (1986) – MTV debuted Headbangers Ball, a show that focused on heavy metal music. It introduced many bands to a larger audience.
11. Jethro Tull Wins the First Grammy for Hard Rock/Metal (1989) – In a surprise win, Jethro Tull won the first-ever Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance, beating Metallica. Many fans were shocked.
12. Nirvana Begins Recording Bleach (1990) – Nirvana started recording their first album Bleach, which became a key part of the grunge movement.
13. Kurt Cobain Marries Courtney Love (1992) – Nirvana’s frontman Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love in Hawaii. Their relationship was intense and troubled.
14. Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” Hits No.1 in the US (1997) – The Spice Girls’ song Wannabe reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making them international superstars.
15. Elton John’s Candle in the Wind 1997 Becomes Best-Selling Single (1998) – The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed that Candle in the Wind 1997, dedicated to Princess Diana, became the best-selling single of all time.
16. Outkast Wins Grammy for “Ms. Jackson” (2001) – Outkast won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance for Ms. Jackson, one of their biggest hits.
17. Kanye West Releases The College Dropout (2004) – Kanye West released his debut album The College Dropout, which changed the sound of hip-hop.
18. Adele Wins Big at the Brit Awards (2012) – British singer Adele won multiple Brit Awards after her album 21 became a global success.
19. Pharrell Williams’ Happy Becomes No.1 Hit (2014) – Happy by Pharrell Williams reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the most popular songs of the decade.
20. Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next Breaks Records (2019) – Ariana Grande’s album Thank U, Next debuted at No.1 and broke multiple streaming records.

Notable Birthdays in Music (February 22)

1. Frédéric Chopin (1810) – Famous Polish composer and pianist. He wrote many beautiful piano pieces that are still played today.
2. Robert Wadlow (1918) – Known as the tallest man ever, but he also played musical instruments as a hobby.
3. Guy Mitchell (1927) – American pop singer famous in the 1950s. His song Singing the Blues was a big hit.
4. Bobby Hendricks (1938) – American R&B singer and member of The Drifters, a popular group in the 1950s.
5. John Sparks (1941) – Bass guitarist from the British band Dr. Feelgood, which played blues-rock music.
6. Jonathan Demme (1944) – Not a musician but a film director known for making Stop Making Sense, a famous concert film for Talking Heads.
7. Oliver (1945) – American pop singer best known for Good Morning Starshine, a hit song from the late 1960s.
8. Mark Hollis (1955) – Singer and songwriter from the band Talk Talk, famous for their 1980s hit It’s My Life.
9. Brad Whitford (1952) – Guitarist for Aerosmith, one of the biggest rock bands in history.
10. James Blades (1901) – A famous English percussionist known for playing the gong sound in movies and TV shows.
11. Mick Green (1944) – Guitarist for Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, an early rock and roll band from the UK.
12. Julius Erving (1950) – A basketball player but also a big influence on hip-hop culture and music videos.
13. Narada Michael Walden (1952) – American drummer, songwriter, and producer. He worked with stars like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.
14. Robert Wadlow (1918) – The tallest man ever, who played instruments for fun.
15. James Cotton (1935) – Blues harmonica player who performed with many famous blues musicians.
16. William “Smokey” Robinson Jr. (1940) – Founder of The Miracles and a key figure in Motown music.
17. Arthur Brown (1942) – Rock singer known for Fire, a wild song from the 1960s.
18. Luis Bacalov (1933) – Argentine composer who created music for famous movies like Django Unchained.
19. René Angélil (1942) – Music manager and husband of Celine Dion, helping her become a superstar.
20. James Blunt (1974) – British singer-songwriter famous for You’re Beautiful, one of the biggest songs of the 2000s.

Music Legends We Lost (February 22)

1. Andy Warhol (1987) – Not a musician, but he managed The Velvet Underground and influenced music and pop culture.
2. Florence Ballard (1976) – A founding member of The Supremes, one of Motown’s biggest girl groups. She passed away at age 32.
3. Papa John Creach (1994) – Violinist known for playing with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.
4. Chuck Jones (2002) – Not a musician but a famous animator whose cartoons featured iconic music.
5. Ian Samwell (2003) – Guitarist and songwriter for Cliff Richard. He wrote Move It, one of the first British rock and roll songs.
6. Luther Allison (1997) – A famous blues guitarist and singer who played high-energy live shows.
7. Chester Burton Chet Atkins (2001) – A legendary country guitarist and producer known for shaping the Nashville sound.
8. William H. Johnson (1944) – An early jazz musician who influenced many later artists.
9. John Raitt (2005) – A Broadway singer and father of Bonnie Raitt, who became a blues-rock legend.
10. Geraldine Farrar (1967) – An opera singer who became a silent film star and influenced early music performances.
11. David Axelrod (2017) – A music producer who influenced jazz, rock, and hip-hop.
12. Buddy Tate (2001) – A jazz saxophonist who played in the Count Basie Orchestra.
13. Oliver (2000) – Pop singer known for Good Morning Starshine.
14. Stefán Karl Stefánsson (2018) – Known for his role in LazyTown, his song We Are Number One became a meme hit.
15. Daniel de León (2018) – A punk musician who played with several underground bands.
16. Frank Frazetta (2010) – Not a musician, but his fantasy artwork inspired many heavy metal album covers.
17. Kenny Ball (2013) – A British jazz trumpeter known for the hit Midnight in Moscow.
18. Barney Kessel (2004) – A jazz guitarist who played with legends like Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker.
19. Karl Bohm (1981) – A famous conductor known for classical music recordings.
20. William Onyeabor (2017) – A Nigerian musician who created futuristic electronic funk music.

Notable Albums Released (February 22)

1. Genesis – From Genesis to Revelation (1969) – The debut album by Genesis. It had a soft, folk-rock sound before they became a famous progressive rock band.
2. The Supremes – Where Did Our Love Go (1964) – One of the most successful albums by The Supremes, featuring hits that helped define Motown.
3. The Beatles – Introducing… The Beatles (1964) – One of the first Beatles albums released in the US, introducing their music to American fans.
4. Pink Floyd – A Saucerful of Secrets (1968) – The second album by Pink Floyd and the last one with founding member Syd Barrett.
5. The Rolling Stones – Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) – A psychedelic rock album influenced by The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
6. David Bowie – Space Oddity (1969) – The album that introduced Bowie’s famous song Space Oddity, about an astronaut lost in space.
7. Fleetwood Mac – Then Play On (1969) – The last Fleetwood Mac album with original guitarist Peter Green before they moved to a more pop-rock sound.
8. Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1970) – A heavy metal classic featuring Iron Man, War Pigs, and Paranoid.
9. The Doors – L.A. Woman (1971) – The last album recorded by The Doors before Jim Morrison’s death, featuring Riders on the Storm.
10. Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) – One of Elton John’s most famous albums, including Candle in the Wind and Bennie and the Jets.
11. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run (1975) – The album that made Bruce Springsteen a rock star, featuring the hit Born to Run.
12. AC/DC – High Voltage (1975) – The international debut album of AC/DC, filled with their signature hard rock sound.
13. Queen – A Night at the Opera (1975) – The album that included Bohemian Rhapsody, one of the most famous rock songs ever.
14. Eagles – Hotel California (1976) – A classic rock album with hits like Hotel California and New Kid in Town.
15. Michael Jackson – Off the Wall (1979) – The album that made Michael Jackson a solo superstar, featuring Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.
16. Prince – 1999 (1982) – A groundbreaking pop-funk album with Little Red Corvette and 1999.
17. Madonna – Like a Virgin (1984) – The album that turned Madonna into an international pop icon.
18. Nirvana – Bleach (1989) – Nirvana’s first album, released before they became famous with Nevermind.
19. Kanye West – The College Dropout (2004) – Kanye’s debut album, which changed hip-hop with hits like Jesus Walks.
20. Adele – 21 (2011) – A best-selling album featuring songs like Someone Like You and Rolling in the Deep.

Chart-Topping Hits (February 22)

1. The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand (1964) – This song was No.1 on the US charts and helped start Beatlemania in America.
2. The Supremes – Baby Love(1964) – A Motown classic that became one of The Supremes’ biggest hits.
3. The Rolling Stones – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (1965) – This song became The Rolling Stones’ first No.1 hit in the US.
4. The Beatles – Help! (1965) – A No.1 hit from their movie of the same name.
5. The Monkees – I’m a Believer (1967) – One of the biggest songs of the 1960s, it stayed at No.1 for weeks.
6. The Jackson 5 – ABC (1970) – This song reached No.1 and became one of the most famous Jackson 5 hits.
7. Elton John – Crocodile Rock (1973) – Elton John’s first No.1 song in the US.
8. Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way (1977) – A hit song from their Rumours album, which became one of the best-selling albums ever.
9. The Eagles – New Kid in Town (1977) – This song hit No.1 in the US and was part of their famous Hotel California album.
10. Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive (1979) – One of the most famous disco songs, reaching No.1 and becoming an anthem for resilience.
11. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (1983) – A No.1 song that helped make Thriller the best-selling album of all time.
12. Prince – When Doves Cry (1984) – Prince’s biggest hit, topping the charts and making Purple Rain a legendary album.
13. Madonna – Like a Virgin (1985) – This song hit No.1 and turned Madonna into a global superstar.
14. Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody (1987) – A No.1 hit that became one of Whitney’s signature songs.
15. Bon Jovi – Livin’ on a Prayer (1987) – One of the biggest rock songs of the 1980s, topping the charts worldwide.
16. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991) – This song changed rock music and helped grunge become popular.
17. Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On (1998) – The theme song for Titanic, it reached No.1 and became one of the best-selling songs ever.
18. Beyoncé – Crazy in Love (2003) – This song featuring Jay-Z became Beyoncé’s first big solo No.1 hit.
19. Pharrell Williams – Happy (2014) – A worldwide No.1 hit that became one of the most played songs of the decade.
20. Ariana Grande – 7 Rings (2019) – This song debuted at No.1 and became one of Ariana’s biggest hits.