February 20 is a notable day in Top 40 history. It marks the birth of pop icon Rihanna, the start of Katy Perry’s 124-show tour, and the beginning of Cher’s divorce from Sonny Bono. Big names like Bruno Mars also launched tours on this day, while Whitney Houston held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Here are some key moments from February 20:
– 1979: George Harrison released his eighth self-titled album in the U.S. It didn’t make the Billboard 200 but reached No. 14 on the Top LPs & Tape chart and produced a Top 20 hit on the Hot 100.
– 1988: Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados. She has received 34 GRAMMY nominations, won nine, and earned over 100 million gold and platinum certifications from the RIAA.
– 1995: Tricky released his debut album, *Maxinquaye*, which hit No. 3 in the U.K. It featured guest vocals from Martina Topley-Bird and Alison Goldfrapp, with several tracks making the Top 40.
– 2005: Tori Amos launched *The Beekeeper*, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and included popular tracks.
– 2008: Kylie Minogue won Best International Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards, adding to her impressive list of hits.
– 2011: Katy Perry kicked off her California Dreams Tour in Lisbon, Portugal, which included 124 shows and wrapped up in 2012.
Cultural Milestones
– 1967: Kurt Cobain was born in Aberdeen, Washington. He became the frontman of Nirvana, known for hits like “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
– 1982: Pat Benatar married guitarist Neil Giraldo, and their partnership has lasted over 40 years.
– 1991: Quincy Jones won Album of the Year at the GRAMMYs, making him one of the most awarded producers in history.
– 2003: Olivia Rodrigo was born in Murrieta, California. At just 22, she’s already a three-time GRAMMY winner with multiple Top 10 hits.
