March 12 is a notable date in Top 40 music history, marked by chart-topping hits and memorable performances.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
– 1980: Billy Joel released his seventh album, *Glass Houses*, which topped the Billboard 200 for six weeks and stayed on the chart for over 70 weeks. It included hits like “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me.”
– 1982: The Jam released their final album, *The Gift*, which reached No. 1 in the U.K. and featured chart-toppers like “Town Called Malice.”
– 2011: Adele’s album *21* hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200, solidifying her status as a pop superstar. Her single “Someone Like You” also topped the U.K. charts.
– 2019: Shawn Mendes performed at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, kicking off a world tour that started in Amsterdam and ended in Mexico City.
Cultural Milestones
– 1940: Al Jarreau was born in Milwaukee. He started singing in church and went on to create hits like “We’re in This Love Together.” He won over five GRAMMYs.
– 1969: Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in London. They had four children together and remained married until Linda’s passing in 1998.
– 1975: ABBA began working on the song “Mamma Mia,” which later became the soundtrack for the hit movie.
– 2016: Ariana Grande hosted Saturday Night Live, where she met Pete Davidson. They got engaged in 2018 but later split. Grande referenced their relationship in her hit “Thank U, Next.”
– 2021: Sam Smith spoke out about gender categories at the BRIT Awards, hoping for a more inclusive future.
– 2023: OneRepublic performed at Aware Super Theatre in Sydney, showcasing their pop-rock sound.
