November 13th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories and events for November 13 throughout music history

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The Music Community Mourns Leon Russell

On November 13, 2016, singer and songwriter Leon Russell died at the age of 74. Over the course of his 60-year career, the prolific artist wrote or co-wrote countless hits, including “Superstar” (made famous by The Carpenters), “This Masquerade” (George Benson), and “Delta Lady” (Joe Cocker). One of his signature songs, “A Song for You,” has been recorded by more than 200 artists, including Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Amy Winehouse, and Whitney Houston. As a musician and producer, meanwhile, Russell collaborated with the likes of Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, and the Beach Boys, playing a vital role in many of modern music’s most important records. In addition to earning two Grammy Awards, Russell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2015, terrorists attacked the Paris venue, Le Bataclan, during an Eagles of Death Metal concert. While band members were unharmed, 89 people were killed, including the group’s merchandise manager.

In 2020, with the release of Disco, Kylie Minogue became the first female artist to top the UK album chart across five consecutive decades.

In 1976, Led Zeppelin topped the UK album charts for the seventh time with The Song Remains The Same. Recorded at Madison Square Garden, the live album served as the soundtrack to the concert film of the same name, which captured the band’s 1973 three-night engagement at the New York City venue.

In 2004, rapper and Wu-Tang Clan co-founder Ol’ Dirty Bastard died during a session at the studio of his bandmate, RZA. Known for his unique half-rap-half-singing style, the artist (born Russell Tyrone Jones) was just days short of his 36th birthday.

In 1977, UK dates were announced for what was touted to be the first major punk tour. The Sex Pistols and The Ramones were slated as co-headliners, with Talking Heads, The Vibrators, and Chris Spedding supporting the 14-date run. Unfortunately for fans, the tour never took place.

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BORN ON NOVEMBER 13:

1947: Toy Caldwell (The Marshall Tucker Band)
1949: Roger Steen (The Tubes)
1951: Bill Gibson (Huey Lewis and the News)
1979: Nikolai Fraiture (The Strokes)
1993: Julia Michaels
2000: 24kGoldn

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November 13th

On this day in music

13 Nov 2024 American record producer, songwriter, and arranger Shel Talmy died from complications of a stroke at the age of 87. He arranged and produced hits such as 'You Really Got Me' by The Kinks, (and many more hits with the group up to 19670, 'My Generation' by The Who, and 'Friday on My Mind' by the Easybeats. Talmy produced two singles in 1965 by two groups featuring David Bowie, 'I Pity The Fool' by The Manish Boys and 'You've Got A Habit Of Leaving', where the singer was accompanied by The Lower Third.
13 Nov 2021 American musician Philip Margo died age 79. He was a long-time member of the American doo-wop band The Tokens, along with his brother Mitch, best known for their hit recording of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. The Tokens are also known for having Neil Sedaka as an original member, before he pursued a solo career.
13 Nov 2020 Kylie Minogue went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her fifteenth studio album Disco, making her the only female artist to top the chart in five consecutive decades. The album surpassed Lady Gaga's Chromatica as the biggest first-week release of 2020, selling 54,905 copies.
13 Nov 2020 Harry Styles made history by becoming the first man to appear solo on the cover of American Vogue Magazine in its 127-year history. The One Direction singer was shown on the cover wearing a pale blue lace Gucci ballgown and a black tuxedo jacket, photographed by Tyler Mitchell.
13 Nov 2019 Rod Stewart was featured on the cover of Britain’s Railway Modeller magazine. The singer had put the finishing touches to a 25-year project building a railway city, which was modelled on both New York and Chicago around 1945. The model railway which spans 1,500 square feet was housed in the attic of his Los Angeles home.
13 Nov 2016 Singer and songwriter Leon Russell died at the age of 74. Over the course of his 60-year career, the prolific artist wrote or co-wrote countless hits, including 'Superstar' (made famous by The Carpenters), 'This Masquerade' (George Benson), and 'Delta Lady' (Joe Cocker). One of his signature songs, 'A Song for You,' has been recorded by more than 200 artists, including Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Amy Winehouse, and Whitney Houston. As a musician and producer, meanwhile, Russell collaborated with the likes of Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, and the Beach Boys playing a vital role in many of modern music’s most important records. He appeared at George Harrison’s 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. In addition to earning two Grammy Awards, Russell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

13 Nov 2015 The blues-rock band Eagles of Death Metal were in the midst of performing a sold-out show at Le Bataclan in Paris, France, when the venue was attacked by terrorists armed with automatic rifles, grenades and explosive suicide vests. The band escaped unharmed through a backstage door, but 89 audience members were killed, including the band's merchandise manager, Nick Alexander.
13 Nov 2015 Adele's comeback single 'Hello' achieved platinum sales status in the UK, just three weeks after it was released after the chart-topping song sold more than 600,000 copies. The lead single from her third studio album, 25 (2015) was a massive global success, charting in a record-setting 30 countries.
13 Nov 2012 The original collage that was reproduced and included in copies of The Beatles' 1967 classic Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band record sold for $87,720. The piece, which was designed by Peter Blake, was sold to an unnamed bidder as part of an auction of modern British art at Sotheby’s in London.
13 Nov 2005 Simon Cowell was named Show Business personality of the year by the Variety Club at the show business charity's annual awards show in London. Katie Melua won recording artist of the year at the event, hosted by singer Myleene Klass.
13 Nov 2005 Paul McCartney played 'Good Day Sunshine' and 'English Tea' live during a concert in Anaheim, California, which was transmitted to the International Space Station as a special wake-up call for the astronauts on board.
13 Nov 2004 Rap artist Ol' Dirty Bastard, (real name Russell Jones), collapsed and died at a Manhattan recording studio in New York aged 35. A spokesman for his record company, said the rapper, had complained of chest pains, was dead by the time paramedics reached him. ODB was a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1990s.

13 Nov 2000 The Beatles launched their first official website www.thebeatles.com. The site went live on the same day as the release of their retrospective 'Compilation 1' album.
13 Nov 1999 A report showed that The Spice Girls were the highest earners in pop during the 90s with their debut album 'Spice' selling over 20 million copies. Elton John was second with 14 million sales from 'The Lion King'.
13 Nov 1993 The Kate Bush musical short film The Line, The Cross & The Curve opened at the London Film Festival. The short, starring actress Miranda Richardson as a ballet dancer cursed by magic slippers, is an extended music video featuring songs from Bush's album The Red Shoes.
13 Nov 1992 Ronnie Bond drummer with The Troggs died. They are best known for the 1966 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Wild Thing', (written by American songwriter Chip Taylor). The Troggs had several other hits, including 'With a Girl Like You', 'I Can't Control Myself' and 'Love Is All Around'. The Troggs are widely seen as a highly influential band whose sound was an inspiration for garage rock and punk rock.
13 Nov 1990 Patricia Boughton filed a lawsuit against Rod Stewart, claiming that a football he kicked into the crowd during a concert at Pine Knob Music Theatre had ruptured a tendon in her middle finger. Boughton alleged the impact left the middle finger of her left hand permanently disfigured. Her husband, Stephen Boughton, joined the lawsuit with a claim for "loss of companionship," asserting that the finger injury disrupted their sex life and contributed to the end of their 14-year marriage. The case was settled out of court in October 1992 for $17,000, with Stewart arguing in a deposition that kicking soccer balls was a standard part of his live show.
13 Nov 1982 Men At Work started a 15-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with their debut album 'Business As Usual', which went on to sell over five million copies in the US. Business as Usual was one of the most successful albums internationally by an Australian group and was also one of the highest-selling Australian albums in the early 1980s, with 6 million copies shipped in the US. 'Who Can It Be Now?' was the first single released from the album, which peaked at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

13 Nov 1981 U2 kicked off the North American leg of their October tour at JB Scott's in Albany, New York. The 102-date tour had started at Slane Castle, County Meath, Ireland, on 16 August 1981 and closed with two nights at San Francisco Civic Auditorium in March 1982 in support of the band's second studio album, October, which was released in October 1981.
13 Nov 1976 The Melody Maker announced UK dates for the first major punk tour with The Sex Pistols and the Ramones co-headlining along with Talking Heads, The Vibrators and Chris Spedding. The 14-date tour which was due to start at Newcastle City Hall on Nov 29th never took place.
13 Nov 1976 Rod Stewart started an 8 week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Tonight's The Night'. It was Rod's second US No.1; it made No.5 in the UK after being banned by many radio stations due to song being about the seduction of a virgin. The song features whispers from actress Britt Ekland who was Stewart's girlfriend at the time.
13 Nov 1976 Led Zeppelin scored their seventh UK No.1 with the film soundtrack double album The Song Remains The Same, peaking at No.2 on the US chart. The tracks were recorded over three nights at Madison Square Garden, New York City in 1973. The sleeve design depicts a dilapidated movie house on Old Street at the film studios in London, where the group rehearsed for their 1973 tour.
13 Nov 1971 Santana's Santana III album went to No. 1 on the US charts, where it stayed for five weeks. Their next No. 1 album doesn't come until the next millennium, when Supernatural hits the top in 2000. The 2005 edition of Guinness World Records stated that this was the longest gap between No. 1 albums ever occurring (a record which is now held by Paul McCartney since his seventeenth solo studio album, Egypt Station, topped the Billboard 200 chart in 2018, his first since his 1982 Tug of War).
13 Nov 1970 Syd Barrett released his second solo album Barrett only 10 months after his debut The Madcap Laughs. David Gilmour produced the whole album, which also featured performances by Pink Floyd's Richard Wright on keyboards. The album has since been reissued in remastered form with extra tracks from the sessions.

13 Nov 1968 Hugo Montenegro was at No.1 in the UK singles chart with 'The Good The Bad And The Ugly', the soundtrack from a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western film. The first instrumental No.1 since 1963.
13 Nov 1968 Rolling Stone Brian Jones bought Cotchford Farm in Sussex, seeking refuge from the pressures of fame and the music industry. The peaceful estate offered Jones a creative sanctuary where he could explore new musical directions. Its owners have included author A. A. Milne, who wrote all of his Winnie-the-Pooh books at the house, often inspired by the local landscape. Jones drowned in the swimming pool at the house on 3rd July 1969, aged 27.
13 Nov 1965 The Castiles, which featured a young singer called Bruce Springsteen appeared at The Fire House, Hazlet, New Jersey. The night was billed as a Teenage Go, Go Dance.
13 Nov 1964 Decca Records released The Rolling Stones' 'Little Red Rooster'. Written by Willie Dixon (as The Red Rooster), and previously recorded by Howlin’ Wolf and Sam Cooke, the single was recorded at Chess Studios in Chicago. The single was a No.1 hit in the UK and remains the only time a blues song has ever topped the UK pop chart.
13 Nov 1963 The Beatles recorded a television interview at Westward Television Studios in Plymouth, Devon, for a local teen program "Move Over, Dad". Due to a large crowd of excited fans outside, The Beatles had to be smuggled from their dressing-room at the ABC Cinema, where they were scheduled to appear that night, into an adjacent building, then through a tunnel, to get to Westward Studios for the interview taping.

Born on this day in music

13 Nov 2000 American rapper, singer, songwriter 24kGoldn. His single ‘Mood’, featuring Puerto Rican-American rapper Iann Dior, topped the Billboard Hot 100.
13 Nov 1993 American singer and songwriter Julia Michaels. Her debut solo single in 2017, 'Issues', peaked at No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. As a songwriter, Michaels has written songs for artists including Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Fifth Harmony, Shawn Mendes, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber and Gwen Stefani. She has earned two Billboard Hot 100 No.1 songs with Bieber's 'Sorry' and Gomez's 'Lose You to Love Me'.
13 Nov 1980 Monique Adrienne Coleman, American actress and singer from High School Musical, as part of the cast had the 2006 US No.1 ‘High School Musical’ album and 2007, US No.1 ‘High School Musical 2’ album. Over 17 million viewers in the United States watched the TV premier of High School Musical; making it the highest rated basic cable broadcast in U.S. history.
13 Nov 1979 Nikolai Fraiture, bassist from American rock band The Strokes who had the 2001 UK No.14 single 'Last Nite' and the 2001 UK No.2 album Is This It.
13 Nov 1960 Wayne Parker, from the Canadian rock band, Glass Tiger who had the 1986 UK No.29 single 'Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone'. He and his band were honoured with five Canadian Music Industry Juno Awards, multiple Canadian SOCAN Classic Awards and were nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy Award.
13 Nov 1953 Andrew Ranken, drummer from Irish-British Celtic punk band The Pogues who scored the 1987 UK No.8 single 'The Irish Rover'. He played on every song from their 1984 debut Red Roses for Me, on which he was credited as The Clobberer, until their 1996 album Pogue Mahone, including on 'Fairytale of New York'. He died on 10 February 2026, at the age of 72.

13 Nov 1951 Bill Gibson from Huey Lewis and the News who had the 1985 UK No.11 & US No.1 single 'The Power Of Love'. Their third, and best-selling, album was the 1983 Sports, and they contributed to the soundtrack of the 1985 feature film Back to the Future.
13 Nov 1949 Roger Steen, guitar, with American band The Tubes known for their 1977 hit single 'White Punks On Dope' and the 1983 US No.10 single 'She's A Beauty'.
13 Nov 1949 British singer-songwriter Terry Reid. He was a member of Peter Jay's Jaywalkers and opened for The Rolling Stones on their 1966 tour. Reid turned down offers from Jimmy Page to be lead vocalist of the band that became Led Zeppelin and an invite from Ritchie Blackmore to front the newly formed Deep Purple. His fourth album, Seed of Memory, released in 1976, was produced by Graham Nash. Ried later appeared on albums by Don Henley, Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt. Reid died of cancer in California on 4 August 2025, aged 75.
13 Nov 1947 Toy Caldwell, lead guitarist and main songwriter of the 1970s Southern Rock group The Marshall Tucker Band. He died on 25 February 1993 age 45.
13 Nov 1947 American musician J.C. Crowley best known as a member of 1970s soft rock group Player, which scored a US No. 1 hit in 1977 with 'Baby Come Back'.
13 Nov 1942 John Hammond Jr, American singer and musician, the son of record producer John H. Hammond. He worked with many artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Dr. John, and Duane Allman. He died from cardiac arrest at a hospital in Jersey City, New Jersey, on February 28, 2026, at 83.

13 Nov 1941 English songwriter and singer Raymond Froggatt. His band, were initially known as the Buccaneers, later Monopoly and ultimately The Raymond Froggatt Band. The Dave Clark Five had a No. 7 hit in the UK Singles Chart with Froggatt's 'The Red Balloon' in 1968 and his song, 'Big Ship', was a No. 8 UK Singles Chart hit for Cliff Richard in 1969. Froggatt died at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on 23 July 2023, at the age of 81.
13 Nov 1934 American R&B singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer Timmy Thomas best known for his 1972 US No.3 & 1973 UK No.12 single 'Why Can't We Live Together'. In 2015, Drake sampled 'Why Can't We Live Together', on his single 'Hotline Bling'. Thomas died of cancer on 11 March 2022, at the age of 77.