Jan. 19 is a special day in rock and music history. Two of the greatest female artists were born on this day, and it also marks a legendary album reaching No. 1 on the charts. Here’s a look at some key moments in rock history that happened on this day.
1980: Pink Floyd’s iconic album, The Wall, hit the top of the US Billboard 200 chart, where it stayed for an impressive 15 weeks. This was the band’s third US No. 1 album, and it sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
1980: While Pink Floyd was topping the album chart, Michael Jackson soared to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with “Rock with You” from his album Off the Wall. This was his third solo No. 1 hit, and the album sold more than 20 million copies globally.
2008: Radiohead’s seventh studio album, In Rainbows, reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. This was remarkable because the band released it on their website without any promotion and let fans pay what they wanted for the MP3 version.
In addition to these music milestones, Jan. 19 also celebrates some cultural moments:
1943: Janis Joplin was born in Port Arthur, Texas. She gained fame with Big Brother and the Holding Company and released two acclaimed solo albums before her tragic death at 27 in 1970.
1946: Dolly Parton was born in Pittman Center, Tennessee. She has sold over 100 million albums and released her first rock album, Rockstar, at age 77 after being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
1994: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place in New York City, featuring legends like Elton John, The Animals, John Lennon, and Rod Stewart. The highlight was a performance by Bruce Springsteen and Axl Rose of the Beatles’ “Come Together.”
These events show the impact of Jan. 19 in rock music history. Check back tomorrow for more music news!
