On February 16, 1990, Abel Tesfaye, known as The Weeknd, was born in Ontario, Canada. He started his music career at 17 after leaving high school. As of now, he has released at least five No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, including *Starboy* and *Hurry Up Tomorrow*. The Weeknd has also scored several No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Notable birthdays on this date include Sonny Bono from Sonny & Cher and Danielle Haim of HAIM.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
February 16 has seen some exciting music releases. In 1999, Jordan Knight released “Give It to You,” the lead single from his debut solo album. Co-written by Robin Thicke, the song reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2018, Sean Paul dropped “Mad Love,” featuring Becky G and David Guetta. The catchy track peaked at No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart.
Cultural Milestones
In 1999, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton declared “Rolling Stones Day” to honor the band’s long career and their first concert in the state. In 2007, Britney Spears made headlines when she shaved her head in a salon, a move she later explained as a response to years of public scrutiny.
Industry Changes and Challenges
On February 16, 1990, Ike Turner was sentenced to four years in prison for drug charges, with eligibility for parole after 18 months. In 1999, Ol’ Dirty Bastard was arrested in Hollywood while wearing a bulletproof vest, violating the law due to his past arrests. Sadly, in 2015, Leslie Gore passed away from cancer in New York City. She was famous for her hit “It’s My Party,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.
