Several rock legends were born on February 18, shaping music history. In 1933, Yoko Ono, future wife of John Lennon, was born. 1947 saw the birth of Dennis DeYoung from Styx, and a year later, Keith Knudsen of The Doobie Brothers was born. But February 18 is significant for more than just birthdays.
Breakthrough hits on this day include: In 1965, The Kinks reached No. 1 in the U.K. with “Tired of Waiting for You,” which also hit No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In 1978, Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind” entered the Billboard chart, becoming their only Top 10 hit in the U.S. at No. 6.
Cultural milestones also mark this day. In 1953, Robbie Bachman, bassist of Bachman–Turner Overdrive, was born in Canada. In 1956, Kay Starr became the first female rock and roll artist to score a No. 1 hit with “Rock and Roll Waltz,” which topped the charts for six weeks. In 2006, The Rolling Stones performed a free concert in Rio de Janeiro, attracting around 1.5 million fans.
Notable recordings include: In 1959, Ray Charles recorded “What’d I Say,” which became a classic despite its initial radio ban. In 1965, The Beatles recorded “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” and “Tell Me What You See.” In 1966, The Beach Boys recorded “Good Vibrations,” and in 1974, KISS released their debut album, which later went gold.
On the industry side, 1968 marked a big change when Pink Floyd replaced Syd Barrett with David Gilmour. February 18 has truly made its mark on rock music.
