On Feb. 20, we celebrate the birth of a rock legend and Jimi Hendrix’s first concert. Here are some key moments in rock music history from this day.
1971: The soundtrack to the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top LPs chart. Its success led to many Broadway productions of the controversial musical.
1993: More than 34 years after his tragic plane crash, Buddy Holly and The Crickets reached No. 1 in the U.K. with the posthumous album Words of Love, which was certified Gold in the U.S.
Cultural milestones on Feb. 20 also shaped rock music.
1967: Kurt Cobain, the founder of Nirvana, was born in Aberdeen, Washington. He became a key figure in the grunge movement, blending hard rock, heavy metal, and punk.
1976: The members of KISS left their footprints in the cement outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, a tradition for celebrities since 1927.
Notable recordings and performances include:
1958: Buddy Holly released his debut album, featuring hits like Words of Love and Peggy Sue.
1959: At just 16, Jimi Hendrix played his first concert in Seattle but was fired right after for showing off.
1970: The Plastic Ono Band released Instant Karma! in the U.S., one of the fastest-released singles ever.
1974: Steely Dan dropped their album Pretzel Logic, featuring the hit Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.
1979: George Harrison released his self-titled album, featuring Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood.
1984: The Smiths released their debut album, which helped them become a major British band.
2017: David Cassidy revealed he had dementia after a performance. He passed away a few months later.
