On This Day in Music History – February 26

One of the biggest moments was in 1965, when The Beatles finished recording Ticket to Ride at Abbey Road Studios. This song became one of their most famous hits and was a major success. Another legendary band, The Eagles, reached No. 1 in 1977 with New Kid in Town, a song from their classic album Hotel California.

On this day in 1983, Michael Jackson’s Thriller hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard charts. This album became the best-selling album of all time and made Jackson the King of Pop. Another historic chart moment happened in 1997, when the Spice Girls’ Wannabe topped the U.S. charts, making them a global sensation and promoting Girl Power.

Many music legends were also born on February 26, including Johnny Cash (1932), Erykah Badu (1971), and Fats Domino (1928). This day also remembers great legends like Buddy Miles (2008) and Claude Francois (1978) who lost their lives on this date.

Major Events in Music History (February 26)

1. The Beatles Finish Recording Ticket to Ride (1965) – The Beatles complete recording their hit song Ticket to Ride at Abbey Road Studios in London. The song later became a major success and is considered one of their greatest tracks.
2. The Eagles Hit No. 1 with New Kid in Town (1977) – The Eagles reached the top of the U.S. Billboard charts with New Kid in Town, a hit single from their classic album Hotel California.
3. Michael Jackson’s Thriller Hits No. 1 (1983) – Thriller, the biggest-selling album of all time, reached No. 1 in the U.S. Billboard charts, solidifying Michael Jackson’s status as the King of Pop.
4. “Wannabe” by Spice Girls Tops U.S. Charts (1997) – The Spice Girls’ debut single Wannabe reached No. 1 in the U.S., making them an international pop sensation and defining the “Girl Power” movement.
5. Whitney Houston’s Funeral is Televised (2012) – Millions around the world watched as music legend Whitney Houston was laid to rest, mourning the loss of one of the greatest voices in music history.
6. Billboard Publishes First Top 100 Chart (1955) – Billboard introduced its first-ever Top 100 singles chart, a ranking system that would later evolve into the famous Hot 100 chart.
7. Madonna Releases Bedtime Story (1995) – Madonna released Bedtime Story, a song co-written by Björk, which showcased a new electronic style and a futuristic music video.
8. Lady Gaga Becomes First Artist with One Billion YouTube Views (2010) – Lady Gaga made history as the first artist to reach one billion total views on YouTube, thanks to hits like Poker Face and Bad Romance.
9. Johnny Cash Records Live Album at San Quentin Prison (1969) – Johnny Cash performed at San Quentin Prison, recording one of his most famous live albums, which included A Boy Named Sue.
10. U2 Releases The Unforgettable Fire in the U.S. (1985) – The Irish rock band U2 released The Unforgettable Fire, featuring Pride (In the Name of Love), a song inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.
11. Janis Joplin’s Album Pearl Hits No. 1 (1971) – Pearl, Janis Joplin’s final album, reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts following her tragic death. It included the hit Me and Bobby McGee.
12. Adele Wins Big at Brit Awards (2016) – Adele won British Album of the Year for 25 at the Brit Awards, delivering an emotional acceptance speech that touched millions.
13. The Beatles’ Help! is Released on CD in the U.S. (1987) – The Beatles’ classic album Help! was released on CD for the first time in the United States, bringing their music to a new generation.
14. The Beach Boys Record Surfin’ Safari (1962) – The Beach Boys recorded Surfin’ Safari, one of their first hits, which helped define the surf rock movement in California.
15. Arctic Monkeys Win Best British Band at the NME Awards (2008) – The Arctic Monkeys won Best British Band at the NME Awards, continuing their rise as one of the UK’s biggest rock bands.
16. Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water Hits No. 1 (1970) – The duo’s emotional ballad Bridge Over Troubled Water topped the U.S. charts and became one of the greatest songs of all time.
17. Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love Hits No. 1 in the U.S. (1980) – Queen’s rockabilly-inspired hit Crazy Little Thing Called Love became their first No. 1 song in the United States.
18. Alanis Morissette Releases Under Rug Swept (2002) – Alanis Morissette released her album Under Rug Swept, featuring songs that continued her legacy as one of the most influential female rock artists.
19. Eric Clapton Wins Six Grammy Awards (1993) – Eric Clapton won Album of the Year and Song of the Year for Tears in Heaven at the Grammy Awards, a song written after the loss of his son.
20. Ed Sheeran Wins Best British Solo Artist at Brit Awards (2015) – Ed Sheeran won Best British Male Solo Artist at the Brit Awards, marking a key moment in his career as a global superstar.

Notable Birthdays in Music (February 26)

1. Johnny Cash (1932) – The legendary country singer and songwriter was born in Kingsland, Arkansas. He became famous for songs like Ring of Fire and Folsom Prison Blues.
2. Erykah Badu (1971) – The American singer, known as the “Queen of Neo-Soul,” was born in Dallas, Texas. She gained fame with songs like On & On and Tyrone.
3. Fats Domino (1928) – The rock and roll pioneer was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His hits like Blueberry Hill and Ain’t That a Shame helped shape early rock music.
4. Michael Bolton (1953) – The American singer-songwriter, known for his powerful voice and love ballads like How Am I Supposed to Live Without You, was born in New Haven, Connecticut.
5. Corinne Bailey Rae (1979) – The British singer-songwriter, famous for Put Your Records On and Like a Star, was born in Leeds, England.
6. Bob Hite (1943) – The lead singer of the blues-rock band Canned Heat, known for songs like Going Up the Country, was born in Torrance, California.
7. Mitch Ryder (1945) – The American rock singer, known for Devil with a Blue Dress On, was born in Hamtramck, Michigan.
8. Sandie Shaw (1947) – The British pop singer, famous for Puppet on a String, was born in Dagenham, England.
9. Jonathan Cain (1950) – The keyboardist for Journey, who co-wrote Don’t Stop Believin’, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
10. Tim Commerford (1968) – The bassist for Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, known for powerful basslines, was born in Irvine, California.
11. Chase Bryant (1993) – The country singer-songwriter, known for Take It on Back, was born in Orange Grove, Texas.
12. Paul Cotton (1943) – The guitarist and singer for the country-rock band Poco, known for Heart of the Night, was born in Fort Rucker, Alabama.
13. Nate Ruess (1982) – The lead singer of Fun., famous for We Are Young and Some Nights, was born in Iowa City, Iowa.
14. Rico Wade (1972) – The hip-hop producer, part of the Organized Noize production team that worked with Outkast and TLC, was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
15. Steve Harley (1951) – The British rock singer-songwriter, best known for Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me), was born in London, England.
16. José José (1948) – The Mexican singer, known as “El Príncipe de la Canción” (The Prince of Song), was born in Mexico City. His ballads made him one of Latin America’s biggest stars.
17. Trevor Dunn (1968) – The bassist for experimental rock bands like Mr. Bungle and Fantômas, was born in Eureka, California.
18. Hyon Song-wol (1977) – The North Korean pop singer, known for songs like Excellent Horse-Like Lady, was born in Pyongyang, North Korea.
19. Karl-Heinz Böhm (1928) – Though known as an actor, he also worked in music-related projects and was born in Darmstadt, Germany.
20. Ralph Herbert (1923) – The American opera singer, known for his performances in classic operas, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Music Legends We Lost (February 26)

1. Johnny Cash’s Wife, June Carter Cash (2003) – June Carter Cash, country music star and wife of Johnny Cash, passed away at age 73. She was part of the famous Carter Family and co-wrote Ring of Fire.
2. Buddy Miles (2008) – The rock and funk drummer, known for his work with Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys, died at age 60.
3. Adrienne Shelly (2006) – Though mainly known as an actress, she was also a songwriter. She tragically passed away at age 40.
4. Claude François (1978) – The French pop singer, who wrote My Way (later made famous by Frank Sinatra), died at age 39 in an accident.
5. Bob “Bear” Hite (1981) – The lead singer of Canned Heat, famous for Going Up the Country, passed away at age 38 due to a heart attack.
6. Mark Spoelstra (2007) – The American folk singer-songwriter, who was part of the 1960s folk revival, died at age 66.
7. Carl Anderson (2004) – The singer and actor, best known for playing Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, passed away at age 58 from leukemia.
8. Jimi Jamison (2014) – The lead singer of Survivor, famous for The Search Is Over and Burning Heart, passed away at age 63.
9. Andrés Segovia (1987) – The Spanish classical guitarist, who helped bring the guitar to concert halls, passed away at age 94.
10. Dave Appell (2014) – The songwriter and producer, known for Let’s Twist Again by Chubby Checker, passed away at age 92.
11. Frankie Dunlop (2014) – The jazz drummer, who played with Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington, passed away at age 85.
12. Johnnie Ray (1990) – The American singer, known for hits like Cry, passed away at age 63 due to liver failure.
13. James Brown’s Drummer, Clyde Stubblefield (2017) – Known for his work on Funky Drummer, one of the most sampled drum beats in history, he passed away at age 73.
14. Kevin Ayers (2013) – The English singer-songwriter and co-founder of Soft Machine passed away at age 68.
15. Lawrence Payton (1997) – A member of The Four Tops, known for I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), passed away at age 59.
16. Jean Ferrat (2010) – The French singer-songwriter, famous for his poetic and political songs, passed away at age 79.
17. Robert B. Sherman (2012) – The songwriter behind Disney classics like Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, passed away at age 86.
18. Mary Travers (2009) – A member of Peter, Paul and Mary, known for Puff, the Magic Dragon, passed away at age 72.
19. Jimmy Ellis (2012) – The lead singer of The Trammps, known for Disco Inferno, passed away at age 74.
20. David Byron (1985) – The original lead singer of Uriah Heep, known for Easy Livin’, passed away at age 38.

Notable Albums Released (February 26)

1. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) – One of the greatest albums of all time, The Dark Side of the Moon was released and became a huge success. It stayed on the charts for over 900 weeks.
2. Johnny Cash – At San Quentin (1969) – The live album, recorded at San Quentin Prison, featured hits like A Boy Named Sue and became one of Johnny Cash’s most famous albums.
3. The Beatles – Help! (1987, CD Release) – The Beatles’ classic album Help! was released on CD for the first time in the United States, bringing their music to a new generation.
4. Bob Dylan – John Wesley Harding (1967, UK Release) – The album featured All Along the Watchtower, later made famous by Jimi Hendrix.
5. Erykah Badu – Baduizm (1997) – The debut album of Erykah Badu, known for its neo-soul sound, included hits like On & On.
6. U2 – No Line on the Horizon (2009, International Release) – The album featured songs like Get On Your Boots and Magnificent and showcased U2’s evolving sound.
7. Fleetwood Mac – Mystery to Me (1973, UK Release) – The album, featuring Hypnotized, was an early step toward Fleetwood Mac’s later massive success.
8. Santana – Beyond Appearances (1985) – Santana released this album, blending rock and Latin music, though it was not as successful as his earlier works.
9. Journey – Departure (1980) – The album, which included Any Way You Want It, helped Journey become one of the biggest rock bands of the 1980s.
10. Joni Mitchell – Taming the Tiger (1998, UK Release) – Joni Mitchell explored jazz and electronic influences on this album.
11. Alan Parsons – A Valid Path (2004) – The legendary producer and musician released this album, experimenting with electronic sounds.
12. David Bowie – Liveandwell.com (2020, Reissue) – This live album, originally recorded in the 1990s, was re-released for fans in 2020.
13. Céline Dion – Miracle (2004, Japan Release) – A concept album celebrating motherhood, featuring soothing ballads.
14. Simple Minds – Black & White 050505 (2005, Japan Release) – The Scottish rock band returned with an album featuring Home and Stranger.
15. Alice Cooper – Lace and Whiskey (1977, UK Release) – Featuring You and Me, this album had a theatrical rock sound.
16. The B-52’s – Bouncing Off the Satellites (1986, UK Release) – This album was overshadowed by the tragic loss of their band member Ricky Wilson.
17. Thin Lizzy – Johnny the Fox (1976, UK Release) – The band’s album featured Don’t Believe a Word, a classic rock staple.
18. Manic Street Preachers – Gold Against the Soul (1993, UK Release) – This album helped define the band’s hard rock sound in the early 1990s.
19. Elvis Presley – Elvis’ Gold Records, Volume 2 (1959, Reissue) – A collection of some of Elvis Presley’s biggest hits was re-released.
20. Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile: Deviations 1 (2017, Vinyl Release) – This instrumental version of The Fragile was released on vinyl, giving fans a new way to experience the music.

Chart-Topping Hits (February 26)

1. New Kid in Town – Eagles (1977) – This soft rock hit from Hotel California reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
2. Thriller – Michael Jackson (1983) – The title track from the Thriller album became a No. 1 hit, helping the album become the best-selling of all time.
3. Wannabe – Spice Girls (1997) – The Spice Girls’ debut single topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making them global superstars.
4. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel (1970) – This emotional ballad reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of their most famous songs.
5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen (1980) – This rockabilly-inspired track became Queen’s first No. 1 song in the U.S.
6. I’m Your Angel – R. Kelly & Céline Dion (1998) – This duet became a No. 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
7. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston (1993) – This powerful ballad remained at No. 1 on the U.S. charts for 14 weeks.
8. I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles (1964) – One of the songs that started the “British Invasion” in the U.S., reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
9. The Boy Is Mine – Brandy & Monica (1998) – This R&B duet stayed at No. 1 for 13 weeks, becoming one of the biggest hits of the year.
10. How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees (1978) – This song from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack was a No. 1 hit.
11. We Found Love – Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris (2012) – This dance hit topped the charts in the U.S. and around the world.
12. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi (1987) – This rock anthem reached No. 1 in the U.S. and became one of the band’s signature songs.
13. Call Me – Blondie (1980) – This new wave hit became a No. 1 song in the U.S. and was the theme song for the movie American Gigolo.
14. Believe – Cher (1999) – This dance track featuring auto-tune hit No. 1 and became one of Cher’s biggest hits.
15. Rolling in the Deep – Adele (2011) – This song from Adele’s 21 album topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for multiple weeks.
16. “Just the Way You Are” – Bruno Mars (2010) – Bruno Mars’ debut single became a No. 1 hit worldwide.
17. Toxic – Britney Spears (2004) – This electro-pop hit topped the charts in several countries and became one of Britney’s biggest songs.
18. Don’t Speak – No Doubt (1997) – This emotional breakup song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.
19. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (2015) – This funky dance hit stayed at No. 1 for 14 weeks.
20. Let It Be – The Beatles (1970) – One of The Beatles’ final hits, this song topped the U.S. charts and became one of their most iconic tracks.