June 19: Pop Smoke shot and killed
On June 19th, 2020, rapper Bashar Barakah Jackson, musically known as Pop Smoke, was shot and killed at age 20. At that point in his career Jackson was already relatively famous, but his death was what gave the artist a completely new turn and much bigger fame. Five months later the rapper’s debut album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon was released. It immediately went to the top of every charts, hitting the #1 spot in the US.
June 20: candies, magic and fantasy: the California Dreams Tour
It was 2011 when Katy Perry launched her worldwide California Dreams Tour. The tour started and continued in support of her album Teenage Dream, which included hits of the likes of “California Girls; starting in Lisbon, Portugal, where she transforms the venue into a candy-coated wonderland. “It’s very kitsch,” she says. “I’m borrowing from The Wizard of Oz, Alice In Wonderland, Black Swan, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and a little John Waters. People are raising the bar so you either have to get to that level or you’re out of the game.”
June 21: Nina Simon and her “Nina Simone Plaza”
On this day in 2010, Tyron, North Carolina welcomed “Nina Simone Plaza” in honour of the music icon and voice master Nina Simone. The place changed its name to the new one on what would have been the artist’s 77th birthday. Tyron, the singer’s hometown, also installed and dedicated a sculpture of Simone.
June 22: Adele releases 21
Today she’s one of the most famous singers around, and this release, together with her previous studio album 19, is certainly what allowed her to get herself the name and fame that she has today. On this day in 2011, British singer Adele releases her second album, 21, in the US. The album included songs of the likes of “Rolling In The Deep,” “Someone Like You,” “Set Fire To The Rain” and “Rumour Has It.”
Adele began writing the album in 2009 at the age of 21, which is also where the album title comes from. 21 became the best-selling album of 2011, selling a total of 5.82 million copies. It also won multiple awards, including Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year. Moreover, Adele also won Song of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video for “Rolling in the Deep,” and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Someone Like You.”
June 23: no royalties for The Isley Brothers’ label
In 1977, a feud was going between 50s R&B and soul American band The Isley Brothers for the royalties of the song “It’s Your Thing”. On June 23rd, a federal jury ruled that, since the group recorded their hit after leaving Motown Records, the label didn’t have the right to royalties.
June 24: Alice Cooper for governor!
Yes, you read correctly. For those who know Alice Cooper it is crazy to think that Alice Cooper could ever run for governor. However, the singer indeed announced and claimed that he was running for governor of Arizona during concert in Phoenix, AZ. He would have represented the “Wild Party.” The claim followed the beginning of a special election to replace Evan Mecham, who had been impeached.
Cooper also proposed a slogan: “A troubled man for troubled times.”
June 25: The Strokes, band of the year
On this day in 2002, the NME Awards named New York City rock band The Strokes Band of the Year and Best New Act.
Their debut album, Is This It, which came out the previous year, also received the award for Best Album.
Discover more about your favourite artists and stay updated on all the latest and hottest music news here!
