Queen of Pop

Today in Music History: December 11, 1993

Many recording artists begin their career as members of family groups. Then, there are family members who did not perform with the group but achieved solo success in later years.

Welcome into the spotlight...

Janet through the years celebrating her birthday in 2012.

Janet Jackson: one of the best-selling artists in contemporary history

A prominent figure in pop culture for 25 years, Janet Jackson, the youngest child of the Jackson family, began her career at 10 years old with the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976. Her appearance on television shows continued through the 70s and 80s, including Good Times and Fame. In 1982, Jackson signed a recording contract with A&M becoming a pop icon following the release of her third studio album Control (1986). Having sold over 140 million records, she is ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music.

Janet Jackson 2014

In November 2014, Jackson was voted 'Queen of Pop' by a poll conducted online by VH1.com. One of the world's most awarded artists, her longevity, records and achievements reflect her influence in shaping and redefining the scope of popular music. She has been cited as an inspiration among numerous performers.

1993 Janet Jackson started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Again', her 7th US No.1, a No.6 hit in the UK. This was the closing song From the film Poetic Justice, which also starred Jackson. It received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song but was beaten by Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia."

More No.1s on this day, December 11th...

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  1961 Elvis Presley started a 20-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Blue Hawaii', his seventh US No.1 album.

• 1961 The Marvelettes went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Please Mr Postman'. The session musicians on the track included 22 year old Marvin Gaye on drums. The song gave the Carpenters a US No.1 and UK No.2 single in 1975.

• 1968 Liverpool folk group The Scaffold were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lily The Pink', this year's Christmas No.1. 'Lily the Pink' was a new version of an older folk song entitled 'The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham', and a similar version was the unofficial regimental song of the Royal Tank Corps, at the end of World War II.

• 1971 UK comedian Benny Hill was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the innuendo-laden novelty song, 'Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)', giving Hill his only No.1 and the Christmas No.1 hit of 1971. The song was originally written in 1955 as the introduction to an unfilmed screenplay about Hill's milkman experiences.

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  1982 Singer, TV actress and dancer Toni Basil went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Mickey', making her a US one hit wonder. Also a No.2 hit in the UK, the song was written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as 'Kitty', and was first recorded by UK group Racey during 1979.

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  1983 The Flying Pickets were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the Yazoo song 'Only You'. Also this years Christmas No.1 and the first a cappella chart-topper in the UK.

 

1989, The Recording Industry Association of America certified four Led Zeppelin albums as multi-platinum: ‘Presence’ (2 million), ‘Led Zeppelin’ (4 million), ‘Physical Graffiti’ (4 million) and ‘In Through The Out Door’ (5 million).

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...