Feb. 27 is a special day for rock music fans. It marks the birthdays of several famous musicians, including Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd (1960), Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden (1957), and Neal Schon of Journey (1954). These artists have shaped rock music as we know it today.
Here are some notable events in rock history that happened on Feb. 27:
1971: Janis Joplin’s second album, *Pearl*, reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart. She passed away just months before its release, but her voice is featured on all tracks except one instrumental.
1981: The Who released “You Better You Bet,” their last top 20 hit in the U.S. It peaked at No. 9 in the U.K. and was the first single from *Face Dances*, the band’s first album without drummer Keith Moon.
1993: Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” became the longest-running No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, staying at the top for 14 weeks.
Other milestones include:
1954: Neal Schon was born in Oklahoma. He later joined Journey and played with Santana.
1960: Johnny Van Zant was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He took over as the frontman for Lynyrd Skynyrd after a tragic plane crash.
1970: Jefferson Airplane was fined $1,000 for profanity during a live show in Oklahoma City.
2001: Carlos Santana returned to his hometown in Mexico, receiving the keys to the city and unveiling a statue in his honor.
1967: Pink Floyd finished recording their debut single, “Arnold Layne,” which was released in March.
2016: Elton John held a surprise free concert on Sunset Boulevard to thank the city for supporting his charity.
These events show how Feb. 27 has played a significant role in rock music history.
