This Day in Top 40 History: February 23
On Feb. 23, 2003, Simon & Garfunkel kicked off the 45th Annual GRAMMY Awards by singing “The Sound of Silence,” also marking their first performance in a decade. Later that…
On Feb. 23, 2003, Simon & Garfunkel kicked off the 45th Annual GRAMMY Awards by singing “The Sound of Silence,” also marking their first performance in a decade. Later that evening, Norah Jones stole the spotlight, winning five GRAMMYs and delivering an electrifying performance of “Don't Know Why.” The pool of winners at the ceremony also included Coldplay, Usher, and Ashanti. More memorable Top 40 history events from February 23 include the following.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Looking to update your playlist? Consider hits from these Top Five albums released on Feb. 23:
- 1999: Eminem released his sophomore album, The Slim Shady LP, through Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. This record, which featured guest appearances from Dr. Dre and a few other artists, reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It also delivered one Top 40 single, “My Name Is.”
- 1999: TLC issued their third studio album, FanMail. Selling over 300,000 copies in its opening week, this project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent up to 64 weeks on the chart. It also spawned two of the group's biggest singles, “Unpretty” and “No Scrubs,” both of which reached the top of Billboard's Hot 100. Even more impressive, FanMail earned four GRAMMY nominations at the 2000 GRAMMY Awards and won two prizes, including Best R&B Album.
- 2010: Only three days before what would have been his 78th birthday, Johnny Cash's posthumous album, American VI: Ain't No Grave, came out. The set featured tracks such as “Redemption Day,” which were recorded during the making of Cash's first posthumous release, American V: A Hundred Highways. While the latter peaked at the top of the Billboard 200, American VI: Ain't No Grave stalled at No. 3 on the same chart.
Cultural Milestones
A few Top 40 artists celebrate their birthdays on Feb. 23, including:
- 1952: Bradley Whitford was born in Winchester, Massachusetts. He's been a member of Aerosmith since 1971. As their guitarist, he has contributed to the production of Top 10 hits such as “I Don't Want to Miss a Thing” and “Janie's Got a Gun.”
- 1964: John Norum was born in Vardø, Norway. He is best known as the co-founder of Europe, who have scored at least five Top 40 singles in the U.K. Their most notable hit is “The Final Countdown,” which reached the summit of the Singles Chart and cracked the Top 10 on the Hot 100.
Industry Changes and Challenges
The music industry hasn't been the same since the loss of these artists on Feb. 23:
- 1995: Melvin Franklin died from the complications of neurological damage and diabetes. The 52-year-old was a member of The Temptations, who have placed at least 15 Top 10 hits on the Hot 100, including “I Can't Get Next to You” and “My Girl.”
- 2007: Donnie Brooks passed away at Panorama City's Mission Community Hospital. The 71-year-old's cause of death was congestive heart failure. While alive, he was best known for Top 40 singles such as “Doll House.”
From GRAMMY Award ceremonies and album releases to the birthdays and deaths of various artists, Feb. 23 has certainly hosted consequential events in Top 40 history.
