The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame welcomed its first inductees on Jan. 23, 1986. Some of the big names included Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, and Buddy Holly. The ceremony took place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, attracting over 1,000 guests. But Jan. 23 is significant for more than just this event. Here are some key moments in rock history that also happened on this day.
In 1979, Earth, Wind & Fire received an RIAA Gold certification for their hit “September,” marking one million copies sold. The song was released in November 1978. In 1988, Tiffany made headlines as the youngest female artist to have a No. 1 album at just 16 with her self-titled debut. Then in 2000, Santana’s album Supernatural kicked off a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. Top Albums chart, winning eight Grammys.
Cleveland, Ohio, made headlines in 1956 when it banned rock and roll dancing for anyone under 18, fearing it sparked sexual urges. In 1986, Buddy Holly was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside legends like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. In 1988, a cover of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by The California Raisins peaked at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Notable performances on Jan. 23 include 1969 when Led Zeppelin played a four-night stand at the Boston Tea Party, solidifying their reputation. In 1976, David Bowie released his Station to Station album, blending funk and rock. 1977 saw Pink Floyd release Animals and start their In the Flesh Tour. Finally, in 1988, Nirvana’s early lineup recorded their first demo.
