This Day in Music: October 15, 2026

• 2021: Benson Boone signs his first record deal.
  After leaving American Idol, the young singer joined Night Street Records, the Warner imprint run by Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds. His debut single was “Ghost Town,” and he later reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 with “Beautiful Things.”
• 2014: Chuck Berry plays his final show at Blueberry Hill.
  The rock and roll pioneer had performed monthly at the St. Louis club since 1996. He died in 2017 at age 90.
• 2013: Pearl Jam releases Lightning Bolt.
  The Seattle band's tenth studio album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
• 2006: Patti Smith plays the last show ever at CBGB.
  The legendary Manhattan punk club on the Bowery closed after losing a long rent dispute with its landlord, and a men's clothing store later moved into the space.
• 2000: U2's “Beautiful Day” tops the UK chart.
  It was the band's fourth UK No. 1, edging out Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue's “Kids.” The song went on to win three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year.
• 1995: Paul and Linda McCartney guest star on The Simpsons.
  In the episode “Lisa the Vegetarian,” the couple helped Lisa commit to a meat-free life. They agreed to appear on the condition that Lisa would stay vegetarian on the show.
• 1988: UB40's “Red Red Wine” hits No. 1 in America.
  The reggae cover of a Neil Diamond song reached the top of the Hot 100 more than four years after its first release. Diamond's own 1968 version had peaked at No. 62.
• 1988: Bon Jovi's New Jersey starts a four-week run at No. 1.
  The album produced five Top 10 singles, including the No. 1 hits “Bad Medicine” and “I'll Be There for You,” a record for a hard rock album.
• 1984: The Judds release their debut album, Why Not Me.
  The mother and daughter duo of Naomi and Wynonna Judd scored three No. 1 country singles from it: “Why Not Me,” “Girls' Night Out” and “Love Is Alive.”
• 1977: Debby Boone's “You Light Up My Life” reaches No. 1.
  The ballad from the film of the same name stayed on top for 10 straight weeks, the longest run in Hot 100 history at the time, and became the biggest song of 1977.
• 1971: Rick Nelson is booed at a Madison Square Garden oldies show.
  The crowd at the Rock and Roll Revival wanted his old hits, not his newer material. He turned the experience into “Garden Party,” which reached No. 6 in 1972 and revived his career.
• 1966: The Four Tops' “Reach Out I'll Be There” hits No. 1.
  The Motown classic, written by Holland, Dozier and Holland, topped the charts in both the US and the UK and was the group's last American No. 1.
• 1964: Songwriter Cole Porter dies at 73.
  The composer behind “Night and Day” and “Anything Goes” died of kidney failure after decades of pain from a riding accident that eventually cost him a leg.
• 1959: Jim Reeves records “He'll Have To Go” in Nashville.
  The smooth country ballad became a No. 1 country hit and crossed over to No. 2 on the Hot 100.
• 1957: Elvis' Christmas Album is released.
  RCA Victor's holiday LP topped the Billboard pop albums chart for four weeks and became the best-selling Christmas album of all time in the US.

Born on This Day

• 1981: Keyshia Cole, American R&B singer
  Turns 45. Known for hits like “Love” and “Let It Go.”
• 1979: Jaci Velasquez, American singer
  Turns 47. A Christian pop star of the late 1990s who also recorded Latin pop albums.
• 1970: Ginuwine, American R&B singer
  Turns 56. Best known for the 1996 hit “Pony” and the ballad “Differences.”
• 1966: Eric Benét, American R&B singer
  Turns 60. Scored a No. 1 R&B hit with “Spend My Life with You,” a duet with Tamia.
• 1953: Tito Jackson, American singer and guitarist (The Jackson 5)
  Played guitar with his brothers in the Motown group behind “ABC” and “I'll Be There.” He died in 2024.
• 1948: Chris de Burgh, British-Irish singer-songwriter
  Turns 78. Best known for the 1986 love song “The Lady in Red.”
• 1946: Richard Carpenter, American musician (The Carpenters)
  Turns 80. Arranged, produced and played keyboards on the hits he made with his sister Karen, including “Close to You.”
• 1938: Marv Johnson, American singer
  His “Come to Me” was the first release on Berry Gordy's Tamla label, and “You Got What It Takes” became a Top 10 hit.
• 1935: Barry McGuire, American singer-songwriter (The New Christy Minstrels)
  Turns 91. Took the protest song “Eve of Destruction” to No. 1 in 1965.
• 1925: Mickey Baker, American guitarist (Mickey & Sylvia)
  Played and sang on the 1957 hit “Love Is Strange.”
• 1922: Tommy Edwards, American singer
  Took “It's All in the Game” to No. 1 in 1958.