Remembering feats by Madonna, Whitney Houston, Del Shannon & Blondie. Your weekly recap celebrating significant milestones from more than seven decades of Billboard chart history.
April 22, 1989
30 years ago: Madonna’s Like a Prayer ascended to the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart. The set spawned smashes in the title cut, “Express Yourself,” “Cherish” (both reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100), “Oh Father” (No. 20) and “Keep It Together” (No. 8).
The Material Girl has just announced new material: her album Madame X arrives June 14; first, she’ll perform on the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, sharing the stage with Maluma on their duet first single from the set, “Medellín.”
April 23, 1988
“Where Do Broken Hearts Go” reached the Billboard Hot 100’s apex, marking Whitney Houston’s record seventh consecutive No. 1.
April 24, 1961
Going back to the roots of rock, Del Shannon’s classic “Runaway” began a four-week reign on the Billboard Hot 100, fueled in part by its memorable Musitron instrumental bridge.
April 25, 1992
Rap duo Kris Kross kicked off its eight-week reign on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Jump.”
April 26, 2014
5 years ago: Jason Derulo topped the Pop Songs chart with “Talk Dirty,” featuring 2 Chainz.
April 27, 1963
Little Peggy March began a three-week reign on the Billboard Hot 100 with “To Know Him Is to Love Him.” She was 15 years and one month old when the song reached the summit, making her the youngest female to ever notch a Hot 100 No. 1. “I am surprised that the record still stands,” March has marveled to Billboard. “A lot of singers in the ’60s were teenagers; I was just the youngest. I imagine that one day my record will be broken, and I will hand over the crown. I would love to be a part of the celebration when and if it happens.”
April 28, 1979
40 years ago: Blondie’s debut Billboard Hot 100 entry “Heart of Glass” became it first No. 1. The group would later lead with “Call Me,” “The Tide Is High” and “Rapture.”” – Billboard.com
