On This Day in Music: February 26

On February 26 in music history, 56 artists were born, 37 died and 14 other milestones happened, among them Michael Jackson (1983), The Beatles (1987) and Johnny Cash (1932).

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Highlights

February 26

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Standout moments for this date.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album goes to #1 & stays #1 for 37 weeks

The Beatles

1st release of Beatles compact discs

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash, Kingsland Ark, country singer (I Hear the Train Coming) was born

Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu, singer was born

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Born on February 26

Aldonis Kalnins

Aldonis Kalnins, composer was born

Aleksander Rozycki

Aleksander Rozycki, composer was born

Aleksander Zarzycki

Aleksander Zarzycki, composer was born

Alex Fong

Alex Fong, Hong Kong singer was born

Antione "Fats" Domino

Antione "Fats" Domino, NO LA, rhythm & blues pianist (Blueberry Hill) was born

Antoine Reicha

Antoine Reicha, composer was born

Arsene Souffriau

Arsene Souffriau, composer was born

Bob "Bear" Hite

Bob "Bear" Hite, California, vocalist (Canned Heat-Going Up the Country) was born

Carl Vogler

Carl Vogler, composer was born

Caspar Furstenau

Caspar Furstenau, composer was born

Chad Urmston

Chad Urmston, American musician was born

Christina A A [Dina] Koudijs-van Appeldoorn

Christina A A [Dina] Koudijs-van Appeldoorn, pianist/composer was born

Corinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae, English singer was born

Crystal Kay

Crystal Kay, Japanese singer was born

Dina Appeldoorn

Dina Appeldoorn, composer was born

Eduard Flipse

Eduard Flipse, Dutch conductor/composer was born

Emma Kirkby

Emma Kirkby, British(?) soprano was born

Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu, singer was born

Filippo Marchetti

Filippo Marchetti, composer was born

Francisco Kroepfl

Francisco Kroepfl, composer was born

Frank Bridge

Frank Bridge, English violinist/composer/conductor/tutor of B Britten was born

Hagood Hardy

Hagood Hardy, Canadian musician and composer (d. 1997) was born

Hans Balatka

Hans Balatka, composer was born

Hitoshi Sakimoto

Hitoshi Sakimoto, Japanese composer was born

Hélène Ségara

Hélène Ségara, French singer was born

James Moody

James Moody, US, jazz saxophonist/orchestra leader was born

Jaz Coleman

Jaz Coleman, British musician was born

Johann Philipp Treiber

Johann Philipp Treiber, composer was born

John Randall

John Randall, composer was born

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash, Kingsland Ark, country singer (I Hear the Train Coming) was born

Jonathan Cain

Jonathan Cain, Chicago, rock guitarist/keyboardist (Journey, Babys) was born

Juliet Simms

Juliet Simms, Guitarist and vocals for the band Automatic Loveletter was born

Keisuke Kuwata

Keisuke Kuwata, Japanese singer was born

Lazar Berman

Lazar Berman, Leningrad Russia, pianist (Budapest 3rd place-1956) was born

Leonard Borwick

Leonard Borwick, British(?) pianist was born

Lili Green

Lili Green, [Alice Sally Mary], Neth/Eng dancer was born

Luc-Andre Marcel

Luc-Andre Marcel, composer was born

Mark Bucci

Mark Bucci, NYC, composer (1959 Arts & Letters Award) was born

Max Martin

Max Martin, Swedish composer and producer was born

Michael Bolton

Michael Bolton, Ct, rock vocalist (That's What Love Is All About) was born

Mitch Ryder

Mitch Ryder, rocker (& Detroit Wheels-Devil With the Blue Dress) was born

Monique Leyrac

Monique Leyrac, French Canadian singer and actress was born

Mordecai Seter

Mordecai Seter, composer was born

Najwa Karam

Najwa Karam, Lebanese singer was born

Natalia Lafourcade

Natalia Lafourcade, Mexican singer was born

Nicola Fago

Nicola Fago, composer was born

Nicolaus Erich

Nicolaus Erich, composer was born

Paul Cotton

Paul Cotton, Los Angeles California, rocker (Poco) was born

Richard Wetz

Richard Wetz, composer was born

Rudolf Moralt

Rudolf Moralt, German conductor (Vienna Philharmonic) was born

Russell Alexander

Russell Alexander, composer was born

Sandie Shaw [Sandra Goodrich]

Sandie Shaw [Sandra Goodrich], Dagenham, Essex, English rocker (Girl Don't Come) was born

Shalim Ortiz

Shalim Ortiz, Puerto Rican singer/actor was born

Stefano Landi

Stefano Landi, Italian composer (d. 1639) was born

Wendelin Weissheimer

Wendelin Weissheimer, composer was born

Witold Rowicki

Witold Rowicki, composer was born

Died on February 26

Antonio Nicolau

Antonio Nicolau, Spanish composer/conductor, dies at 74

August Bernhard Valentin Herbing

August Bernhard Valentin Herbing, composer, dies at 30

Bhakta Raj Acharya

Bhakta Raj Acharya died

Buddy Miles

Buddy Miles, American drummer (Band of Gypsies; b. 1947)

Bukka White

Bukka White, rocker, dies at 43

Carl Emil Theodor Ehrenberg

Carl Emil Theodor Ehrenberg, composer, dies at 83

Clinton Marius

Clinton Marius died

Cornell Gunther

Cornell Gunther, US musician (Coasters, Poison Ivy), dies at 53

David Moritz Michael

David Moritz Michael, composer, dies at 75

Eduardo Bort

Eduardo Bort died

Elisabeth "Ilse" Kuyper

Elisabeth "Ilse" Kuyper, Dutch/US (opera)composer, dies

Ethel Leginska

Ethel Leginska, composer, dies at 83

Felix Draeseke

Felix Draeseke, composer, dies at 77

Ferdinand Lukas Schubert

Ferdinand Lukas Schubert, composer, dies at 64

Francois Hanot

Francois Hanot, composer, dies at 72

Gabor Szabo

Gabor Szabo, Hungarian jazz pianist (Perfect Circle), dies at 45

Giuseppe Tartini

Giuseppe Tartini, Italian composer/violinist, dies at 77

Hans Deinzer

Hans Deinzer died

Harry Lauder (Maclennan)

Harry Lauder (Maclennan), Scottish comic/singer, dies at about 75

Heinrich Faber

Heinrich Faber, German composer

Howard Hanson

Howard Hanson, US composer/conductor (Nordic), dies at 84

Johann Ernst Rembt

Johann Ernst Rembt, composer, dies at 60

Joseph Berg

Joseph Berg, composer, dies at 43

Karl Davydov

Karl Davydov, Russian cellist (b. 1838)

Manuel Fernandez Caballero

Manuel Fernandez Caballero, composer, dies at 70

Maxime Jacob

Maxime Jacob, composer, dies at 71

Michelle Trachtenberg

Michelle Trachtenberg died

Nick Apollo Forte

Nick Apollo Forte died

Ole Andreas Lindeman

Ole Andreas Lindeman, composer, dies at 88

Pankaj Udhas

Pankaj Udhas died

Peter Erasmus Lange-Muller

Peter Erasmus Lange-Muller, composer, dies at 75

Rolf Aamot

Rolf Aamot died

Roy Eldridge

Roy Eldridge, American jazz trumpet player, dies at 78

Scott Jarvis

Scott Jarvis, musician (Great Expectationa), dies

Sergei Dorensky

Sergei Dorensky died

Slim Gaillard [Bulee]

Slim Gaillard [Bulee], American Jazz singer/songwriter, dies at 75

William Brade

William Brade, composer, dies

Releases & milestones on February 26

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper released the album 'Detroit Stories'

Architects

Architects released the album 'For Those That Wish to Exist'

Beck

39th Grammy Awards: Change the World Babyface, Beck & LeAnn Rimes wins

Bonnie Tyler

Bonnie Tyler released the album 'The Best Is Yet to Come'

Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse released the album 'Way Down in the Rust Bucket'

Cyndi Lauper

27th Grammy Awards: Whats Love Got to Do With It, Cyndi Lauper wins

Epica

Epica released the album 'Omega'

Franz Schubert

Franz Schubert's "4th Tragic," premieres

Madison Beer

Madison Beer released the album 'Life Support'

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album goes to #1 & stays #1 for 37 weeks

NOFX

NOFX released the album 'Single Album'

Neil Young

Neil Young released the album 'Way Down in the Rust Bucket'

The Beatles

1st release of Beatles compact discs

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson released the album 'That's Life'

More standout moments in February →