This Day in Music

In 1962, James Brown recorded his legendary Live At The Apollo album at the hallowed Harlem venue. The Godfather of Soul’s first live release was a massive success – peaking at No.2 on the Billboard 200 and cementing Brown’s superstar status. In 1998, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and six years later it was selected by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

On October 24, 2006, Taylor Swift released her self-titled debut studio album. Swift had moved from Pennsylvania to Tennessee in 2004 as a fourteen-year-old to pursue her dream of becoming a country music star. A record deal was inked in 2005, and Swift began working on a full-length debut album during her first year of high school. Setting the scene for her future success, Taylor Swift debuted at No.19 on the Billboard 200, and eventually peaked at No.5.

In 1987, Michael Jackson began a two-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “Bad.” The track was a No.3 hit in the UK and a No.1 hit in Belgium, Italy, Norway, Spain, and more. The accompanying music video, meanwhile, was an 18-minute short film directed by Martin Scorsese.

In 1970, Pink Floyd scored their first No.1 album in the UK with Atom Heart Mother. Though it peaked at No.55 in the United States, the LP was eventually certified Gold.

In 2017, pianist, songwriter, and rock’n’roll pioneer, Fats Domino died at the age of 89. He was best-known for such Top Ten hits as “Ain’t That a Shame,” “Blueberry Hill,” and “I’m Walkin’.”

In 1963, The Beatles began their first European tour with a number of dates in Sweden.

In 2016, singer Bobby Vee, who was one of the first teen idols, died at the age of 73.

BORN ON OCTOBER 24

1936: Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones)
1946: Jerry Edmonton (Steppenwolf)
1948: Dale Griffin (Mott The Hoople)
1962: Debbie Googe (My Bloody Valentine)
1980: Monica
1986: Drake