This Day in Music: October 18, 2026

• 2021: Kanye West legally changes his name to Ye.
  The rapper and producer had long used the nickname and had already given it to his 2018 album, Ye.
• 2008: T.I. holds the top two spots on the Billboard Hot 100.
  “Live Your Life,” featuring Rihanna, sat at No. 1 with his own “Whatever You Like” right behind it at No. 2.
• 2008: Adele is the musical guest on Saturday Night Live.
  She sang “Chasing Pavements” and “Cold Shoulder” on an episode that also featured Sarah Palin, drawing a huge audience. The exposure helped launch her in America, and she won the Grammy for Best New Artist a few months later.
• 2007: Miley Cyrus opens her Best of Both Worlds Tour in St. Louis.
  The Jonas Brothers opened the shows, and Cyrus played the first half as Hannah Montana before returning as herself. The tour became a hit concert film in 2008.
• 2000: Zack de la Rocha quits Rage Against the Machine.
  His bandmates went on to form Audioslave with Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell. The original lineup reunited in 2007.
• 2000: Singer and actress Julie London dies at 74.
  She died in Encino, California, five years after suffering a stroke. Her smoky 1955 recording of “Cry Me a River” became a standard, and TV viewers also knew her from the series Emergency!
• 1988: The Traveling Wilburys release Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1.
  The supergroup featured Minnesota native Bob Dylan with George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. Built around “Handle with Care” and “End of the Line,” the album went on to win a Grammy.
• 1975: John Denver's Windsong hits No. 1 on the American album chart.
  The album included “I'm Sorry” and “Calypso,” a double-sided single that also reached the top of the charts.
• 1975: Paul Simon hosts the second episode of Saturday Night Live.
  The show leaned heavily on music that night, and Simon reunited on stage with Art Garfunkel for a brief set of Simon & Garfunkel songs.
• 1969: The Temptations reach No. 1 with “I Can't Get Next to You.”
  The psychedelic soul single, produced by Norman Whitfield, held the top spot for two weeks.
• 1969: The Jackson 5 make their national TV debut on The Hollywood Palace.
  Young Michael and his brothers performed “I Want You Back,” which climbed to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in January 1970.
• 1969: Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary marries in Willmar, Minnesota.
  A Minnesota connection just down the road: his bride was Mary Beth McCarthy, niece of Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy. Bandmate Noel Paul Stookey, the best man, wrote “Wedding Song (There Is Love)” for the ceremony.
• 1966: The Jimi Hendrix Experience plays its first major show.
  The newly formed trio, with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell, opened for French rock star Johnny Hallyday at the Olympia in Paris.
• 1961: The film version of West Side Story is released.
  Starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno, it won 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture, and songs like “Somewhere” were recorded by countless artists.
• 1957: Paul McCartney plays his first show with John Lennon's Quarrymen.
  The gig at New Clubmoor Hall in Liverpool was the first time the two future Beatles performed together.

Born on This Day

• 1988: Riley Green, American country singer
  Turns 38. Alabama native whose breakout debut single was “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.”
• 1984: Esperanza Spalding, American jazz singer and bassist
  Turns 42. Became the first jazz musician to win the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2011.
• 1979: Ne-Yo, American singer, songwriter and producer
  Turns 47. Scored with “So Sick” and wrote hits for others, including Beyonce's “Irreplaceable.”
• 1975: Baby Bash, American rapper
  Known for the hits “Suga Suga” and “Cyclone” with T-Pain.
• 1974: Peter Svensson, Swedish guitarist and songwriter (The Cardigans)
  Turns 52. Main songwriter for the band behind the 1990s hit “Lovefool.”
• 1965: Curtis Stigers, American singer and saxophonist
  Turns 61. Best known for the 1991 hit “I Wonder Why.”
• 1961: Wynton Marsalis, American jazz trumpeter and composer
  Turns 65. Pulitzer Prize winner and longtime leader of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
• 1949: Gary Richrath, American guitarist (REO Speedwagon)
  Lead guitarist and songwriter on classics like “Take It on the Run.”
• 1947: Laura Nyro, American singer and songwriter
  Wrote “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Stoned Soul Picnic” and “And When I Die,” hits for other artists, and entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
• 1946: Howard Shore, Canadian film composer
  Turns 80. Won three Oscars for his work on The Lord of the Rings films.
• 1946: Joe Egan, Scottish singer and songwriter (Stealers Wheel)
  Co-wrote and sang on the 1973 hit “Stuck in the Middle with You.”
• 1943: Russ Giguere, American singer and guitarist (The Association)
  Original member of the group behind “Windy,” “Cherish” and “Never My Love.”
• 1940: Cynthia Weil, American songwriter
  With husband Barry Mann, wrote “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'” and “On Broadway.”
• 1938: Ronnie Bright, American R&B singer (The Coasters)
  Deep bass voice of the later Coasters lineup and of the 1963 hit “Mr. Bass Man.”
• 1926: Chuck Berry, American singer, songwriter and guitarist
  Rock and roll pioneer behind “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene” and “Roll Over Beethoven.”
• 1919: Anita O'Day, American jazz singer
  Swing era star with Gene Krupa's band, famous for “Let Me Off Uptown.”