This Day in Music
On this day in music, February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found dead at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel, on the eve of the 54th annual Grammy Awards. The following day, members of the Recording Academy scrambled to organize a tribute to the 48-year-old superstar. Despite her troubled life, Houston possessed one of the greatest voices in music and was one of the best-selling artists of all time, with enduring hits like “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “The Greatest Love of All,” and “I Will Always Love You.” In addition to being the only artist to score seven consecutive No.1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, Houston earned six Grammy Awards, 28 Guinness World Records, and inductions into the Grammy, Rhythm and Blues Music, and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame during her career.
In 1964, The Beatles played their first show on US soil at the nation’s capital, performing at the Washington Coliseum. Over 8,000 fans showed up, requiring more than 350 police officers at the venue. Due to the stage’s circular setup, the band stopped their set several times to turn Ringo Starr’s drum kit and reposition their microphones. Playing 12 songs, including their single “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” the band’s performance was captured by CBS and played as a telecast in cinemas in March 1964.
In 2014, Queen became the first act in the UK to sell 6 million copies of an album with their 1981 Greatest Hits LP. The Official Charts Company determined that one in three British families owned a copy of the record, which featured such tracks as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” and “Somebody to Love.”
In 1967, The Monkees made history when their second album, More of The Monkees, jumped from No. 122 to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for 18 weeks. Eventually certified 5 x Platinum by the RIAA, More of The Monkees became the first pop/rock album to be the top-selling title of the year in the United States.
In 1963, in a marathon day-long session, The Beatles recorded ten songs for their debut album, plus four additional tracks, including their next two singles. Before wrapping at 10:45 PM, the band recorded a cover of the Isley Brothers’ “Twist and Shout,” a favorite at their live shows. John Lennon led the vocal performance, and his first take was chosen for Please Please Me.
BORN ON FEBRUARY 11
1939: Gerry Goffin (songwriter)
1941: Sergio Mendes
1962: Sheryl Crow
1974: D’Angelo
1977: Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park)
1979: Brandy
1981: Kelly Rowland (Destiny’s Child)
