ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: FEBRUARY 27

#1 Song 1961:   “Pony Time,” Chubby Checker & the Dreamlovers

 

Born:   Carl Anderson, 1945

 

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1954   The Moonglows’ magical “Secret Love” ($1,500) and the Royals classic “Work With Me, Annie,” (#1 R&B) were issued. The Royals went on to become Hank Ballard & the Midnighters.

 

1961   Aretha Franklin made her pop chart debut with “Won’t Be Long” on Columbia Records. It reached #76 and became the first of seventy-four hits for the “Queen of Soul” over the next thirty-three years.

 

1980   Michael Jackson was awarded the Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male Grammy at their twenty-second annual event for the song “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough.”

 

1982   More than twenty-one years after their last chart single, Fred Parris & the Five Satins reached the pop charts, rising to #71 with “Memories of Days Gone By.”

 

1993   After fourteen weeks at #1, Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” became the longest-running chart topper, eclipsing Boyz II Men’s 1992 smash, “End of the Road.” Additionally, the 4 million selling single was #1 in more than a dozen countries. It became the second-largest-selling single in U.S. history, behind only “We Are The World” by USA for Africa.

 

1997   The Four Tops received the Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award at the eighth annual Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s ceremony at New York’s Hilton Hotel. Also, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles reunited to accept a Pioneer Award.

 

1998   Janet Jackson was a guest on The Rosie O’Donnell Show and discussed the question on the world’s collective mind—-the position on her body of of her tattoos.