Today in Music History

May 15

• 1956
  Birthday Mike Oldfield born

  English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, later known for the hit album Tubular Bells, was born on May 15, 1956.

• 1965
  #1 Hit Ticket to Ride tops US chart

  The Beatles reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Ticket to Ride, their seventh US chart-topper.

• 1971
  #1 Hit Joy to the World hits No. 1

  Three Dog Night were at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Joy to the World during its six-week run.

• 1976
  #1 Hit Love Hangover starts at No. 1

  Diana Ross began a two-week run at No. 1 in the US with Love Hangover on May 15, 1976.

• 1981
  Release Level 42 debut album released

  Level 42 released their self-titled debut album, introducing the band's jazz-funk sound to a wider audience.

• 1987
  Release INXS release Kick in Australia

  INXS released Kick in Australia, the album that later became their global commercial breakthrough.

• 1988
  In Memoriam Andrew Wood dies

  Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood died at 24, a loss that deeply affected Seattle's emerging grunge scene.

• 1990
  Release New Kids issue Step by Step

  New Kids on the Block released Step by Step, the album that produced their biggest-selling title track.

• 1993
  #1 Hit Janet Jackson tops chart

  Janet Jackson hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with That's the Way Love Goes, starting an eight-week run.

• 2001
  Milestone Apple launches iTunes

  Apple introduced iTunes, software that helped transform how people organized, bought, and listened to digital music.