This Day in Top 40 History: February 24
From mega awards to touching tributes, Feb. 24 has had some major events and performances. Notable highlights of this day in music history are performances at the memorial service for…
Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
From mega awards to touching tributes, Feb. 24 has had some major events and performances. Notable highlights of this day in music history are performances at the memorial service for NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, Paul Simon winning Album of the Year for Graceland, and Harry Styles performing at a sold-out show in Melbourne.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Songs that had a huge impact on the music world include:
- 1973: Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for five consecutive weeks.
- 1975: Led Zeppelin issued their sixth studio LP Physical Graffiti, featuring “The Rover” and “Ten Years Gone.” Although it debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, it quickly hit No. 1 and held onto that spot for about a month. The record reached the top of the U.K. Official Albums chart, too.
- 1978: Nick Lowe released Jesus of Cool, his debut solo album. The record cracked the Top 40 in multiple countries, including the U.K., where it reached No. 22. Additionally, it spawned one Top 10 single, “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass.” The song stalled at No. 7 on the U.K. Singles chart.
- 1998: Train dropped their self-titled debut album. The set didn't chart within the Top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart. Even so, it delivered one of the band's most popular hits, “Meet Virginia,” which landed at No. 20 on Billboard's Hot 100.
- 1999: Pop singer Céline Dion won Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “My Heart Will Go On” at the 41st GRAMMY Awards. This song was a hit from the movie Titanic.
Cultural Milestones
Events and performances that helped shape worldwide culture include:
- 1955: Steve Jobs, nicknamed “The Father of Digital Music,” was born in San Francisco, California. He is credited with founding companies that enabled Top 40 artists to distribute their music faster and expand their fan bases. While at it, Jobs, who was a big fan of The Beatles, teamed up with big names such as “Let Me Ride” hitmaker Dr. Dre and U2.
- 1987: Paul Simon opened the 29th GRAMMY Awards with his song "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" with Ladysmith Black Mambazo from South Africa. Simon also won Album of the Year with Graceland.
- 1992: After meeting a couple of years earlier at a nightclub in Seattle, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love exchanged vows. Their wedding took place on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, with only eight guests in attendance. While Love rocked a white lace and satin gown, Cobain wore his pajamas. By the time the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” singer died in 1994, the couple shared a daughter, Frances Bean Cobain.
- 1998: At Buckingham Palace, London, Queen Elizabeth II knighted Elton John, recognizing his contributions to music and charity. This historic moment came after the “Sacrifice” singer was mistakenly called “Sir Elton John” as he walked towards Her Majesty.
- 2009: The U.S. Mint produced a commemorative quarter engraved with big-band leader Duke Ellington, marking the first time a Black American was featured on a circulating U.S. coin.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Notable performances from Feb. 24 over the years include:
- 1965: The Beach Boys recorded Brian Wilson and Mike Love's “Help Me, Ronda.” Upon release in March the same year, the song dethroned The Beatles' “Ticket to Ride,” claiming the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100. The Beach Boys later featured the song on their Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) album, which stalled at No. 2 in the U.S.
- 1969: The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at London's Royal Albert Hall. This would be the last time the “All Along the Watchtower” hitmakers would play a concert in the U.K featuring the band's original lineup, which included Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell.
- 1978: Pop crooner Barry Manilow hosted The Second Barry Manilow Special TV show with guest star Ray Charles. The show later received a Primetime Creative Arts Award for Outstanding Musical Direction.
- 2023: Harry Styles performed at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne to a packed and ecstatic crowd of almost 50,000 people. This performance was part of his Love on Tour shows.
Industry Tributes
Tributes to famous musicians from Feb. 24 include:
- 1985: David Crosby of The Byrds escaped from Fair Oaks Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, where he was under a court-ordered rehabilitation program. Two days later, the “Drive My Car” hitmaker was taken into custody in New York on charges of cocaine possession.
- 1992: Postmaster General Anthony M. Frank announced the creation of a commemorative postal stamp featuring Elvis Presley. The public was invited to vote on two designs: a young Elvis from the 1950s and an older Elvis from the 1970s. The younger image won.
- 1998: Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee was arrested for allegedly physically assaulting his then-wife Pamela Anderson while she was holding their son, Dylan. Lee was charged with child and spousal abuse. After pleading no contest to the latter, he got a six-month prison sentence.
- 2020: Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, and Beyoncé performed a moving tribute at the memorial service for NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others who died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26. Many other celebrities and musicians also attended.
Feb. 24 has seen musicians and artists come together to perform tributes, celebrate artists at the GRAMMY Awards, and entertain crowds with love and televised performances. All of these events have had a positive impact on the music industry.
Dawn Palmer-QuaifeWriter
