September 24: Important Music Moments
On September 24 throughout music history, several key events have left a lasting impact, from significant album releases to memorable moments that shaped rock and pop culture.
In 2024, American choreographer, dancer, singer, and rapper Cat Glover passed away at the age of 62. Glover was widely recognized for her collaborations with Prince in the late 1980s, where she choreographed his videos, appeared in his concert film “Sign o’ the Times,” and served as a backing vocalist and dancer on his major tours.
In 2012, Mumford & Sons dropped their second studio album, ‘Babel,’ which quickly soared to number one on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, becoming the fastest-selling album in the UK for 2012 and earning a Grammy Award for “Album of the Year.”
2006 saw Scissor Sisters achieve a remarkable double feat as they topped the UK album and singles charts simultaneously. Their second album, ‘Ta-Dah,’ debuted in the number one spot, while their single ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin” spent three weeks at the top.
Gordon Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Songwriter Hall of Fame in 2003, marking a significant achievement in his illustrious career. Tragically, singer-songwriter Matthew Jay lost his life at the age of 24 in 2003 after falling from a seventh-story window in London, where his promising music career was cut short.
In a historic moment in 2003, The Dave Matthews Band performed at Central Park in New York City in front of nearly 100,000 fans, marking one of the largest audiences they had ever played for.
Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler faced legal troubles in 1998, receiving a 150-day jail sentence for assaulting two women he dated and violating his probation, underscoring the darker side of music industry personalities.
In a disturbing turn of events in 1997, Barry Loukaitis was convicted of a school shooting, with his defense citing that he had imitated scenes from Pearl Jam’s video ‘Jeremy,’ raising poignant and controversial questions about the influence of music on society.
Throughout the 1990s, music continued to make headlines with releases like Nirvana’s groundbreaking album ‘Nevermind’ in 1991, which later became a massive commercial success, and AC/DC’s ‘The Razors Edge’ in 1990, featuring drummer Chris Slade and reaching high positions on international charts.
Looking back even further in time, the 1980s witnessed iconic moments such as The Hollies securing the UK No. 1 spot with ‘He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother,’ and Billy Joel topping the US singles chart with ‘Tell Her About It.’ Additionally, Culture Club’s ‘Karma Chameleon’ dominated the UK chart, and ZZ Top’s ‘Eliminator’ earned Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In conclusion, September 24 stands as a date replete with historical music moments that have shaped the industry and left an indelible mark on music history.