On February 23, 2003, Simon & Garfunkel opened the 45th Annual GRAMMY Awards with their first performance in ten years. That night, Norah Jones shone brightly, winning five GRAMMYs and delivering an unforgettable performance. Other winners included Coldplay, Usher, and Ashanti.
Looking to refresh your playlist? Here are some notable albums released on February 23:
In 1999, Eminem dropped his second album, *The Slim Shady LP*, through Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Featuring guest spots from Dr. Dre, it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and included the hit single “.”
Also in 1999, TLC released their third album, *FanMail*. It sold over 300,000 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and staying on the chart for 64 weeks. The album produced two major hits, “” and “,” both reaching the top of the Hot 100. *FanMail* earned four GRAMMY nominations in 2000 and won two, including Best R&B Album.
In 2010, just days before what would have been his 78th birthday, Johnny Cash’s posthumous album, *American VI: Ain’t No Grave*, was released. It featured tracks recorded during the making of his earlier posthumous album and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
February 23 is also the birthday of some notable artists. In 1952, Bradley Whitford, guitarist for Aerosmith, was born. In 1964, John Norum, co-founder of Europe, was born.
Sadly, the music world lost some great talents on this date. Melvin Franklin of The Temptations passed away in 1995, and Donnie Brooks died in 2007.
