On July 27, 1996, the Spice Girls burst into the U.K. charts with their catchy debut single. Months later it hit the U.S. and became a massive global smash. It was their first of nine No. 1 hits and remains the best-selling song by an all-female group.
Breakthrough hits and milestones on July 27:
– 1968: After The Mamas & The Papas split, Cass Elliot released her first solo single, which reached No. 12 in the U.S.
– 1974: John Denver’s tribute to his wife began a two-week run at No. 1 in the U.S., his second chart-topper.
Cultural moments tied to July 27:
– 1929: Harvey Fuqua was born in Louisville. He co-founded The Moonglows, who scored a No. 1 R&B hit and several Top 40 singles. Fuqua later joined Motown’s production team and helped craft hits like Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s duet.
– 1949: Maureen McGovern was born in Youngstown, Ohio. Her biggest hit spent two weeks at No. 1. She also acted in films like The Towering Inferno and Airplane!
– 1991: Bryan Adams enjoyed seven weeks at No. 1 with a single that sold over 15 million copies worldwide.
– 1991: Natalie Cole’s Unforgettable… with Love began a five-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart. The album crossed pop, jazz, and R&B and won the 1992 Grammy for Album of the Year.
– 1992: Daystar Peterson (Tory Lanez) was born in Ontario. He later scored Top 40 hits in the U.S. and U.K. and worked with artists like Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg.
– 1997: The Men in Black soundtrack topped the U.S. album chart for two weeks. Artists included Will Smith, Snoop Dogg, Ginuwine, and Alicia Keys.
Notable live moment:
– 1986: Queen played to 80,000 fans behind the Iron Curtain, one of the first Western rock shows in that region.
