On this warm March the 30th we wish a very Happy Birthday to M.C. Hammer! He’s celebrating birthday #64 and today’s Forgotten 45 at 3:45 was his biggest hit “U Can’t Touch This”.
Born Stanley Burrell in Oakland, California on March 30th, 1962, the artist known as M.C. Hammer actually served three years in the U.S. Navy before releasing his first independent album in 1986. Signed to Capitol Records, Hammer became one of the biggest stars of the 90’s and became the first hip hop star to reach diamond status with his 1980 album “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt Em”. “U Can’t Touch This” became the first of his 5 Top 40 hits reaching #1 in several countries and #8 here in the States.
Back in 1990 he performed at the Five Seasons Center and I had a friend who worked for a top 40 station who had tickets and backstage passes to the show. I’ll never forget the meet & greet. His manager came out to a group of about 100 fans and said “Don’t talk to the Hammer, don’t look at the Hammer, don’t ask the Hammer no questions!”. Maybe that’s why the Hammer filed for bankruptcy a few short years later!
Happy Birthday Hammer! Check out “U Can’t Touch This” today’s Forgotten 45 is sponsored by Honey Creek Furniture in Manchester, Eastern Iowa’s fastest growing La-Z-Boy store. You’ll find them at honeycreekfurniture.com.
