On This Day, December 30 in Music History
EVENTS ON DECEMBER 30 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day December 30 in 1942 – 27 year old Frank Sinatra made his debut performance as a solo artist at the Paramount Theater in New York City.
1967 – American record producer and songwriter Bertrand Russell Berns died from a heart attack, aged 30. Best remembered for writing popular songs such as ‘Twist and Shout, ‘Piece of My Heart’, ‘Here Comes the Night’, ‘Cry to Me’, and ‘Everybody Needs Somebody to Love’.
1967 – With ‘Hello Goodbye’, The Beatles went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first of three consecutive weeks.
1968 – Frank Sinatra recorded his rendition of ‘My Way’ on this day December 30 in music history. It was released on March 21, 1969 and it became a bit hit in the UK where it spent 75 weeks in the Top 40 on the Singles chart, making it the second longest charting song in Britain. However, it never held the top spot, peaking at No.5.
1989 – With his fourth studio album ‘…But Seriously’, Phil Collins topped the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was a hit worldwide and it also reached No.1 in nineteen other countries.
1998 – American R&B and pop singer Johnny Moore died on this day December 30 from pneumonia, aged 64. Best remembered as one of the lead singers of The Drifters.
1999 – An intruder broke into George Harrison‘s property and attacked him and his wife Olivia with a knife. The intruder managed to stab George multiple times but luckily the former Beatle miraculously survived despite suffering a collapsed lung.
2004 – American composer, bandleader and clarinetist Arthur Arshawsky also known professionally as Artie Shaw died on this day December 30, aged 94.
2006 – With his second studio album ‘Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration’, rapper Young Jeezy topped the US Billboard 200 chart.
2006 – Leona Lewis started a four-week stint at the top of the UK Singles chart on this day December 30 in music history with her rendition of the Kelly Clarkson song ‘A Moment Like This’.
2010 – Vocalist and dancer of the pop group Boney M. – Roberto “Bobby” Farrell died on this day December 30, aged 61.
2017 – Country music singer and songwriter Luke Bryan topped the US Billboard 200 chart with his sixth studio album ‘What Makes You Country’.
2021 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day December 30 was ‘Sausage Rolls for Everyone’ by the British blogger couple LadBaby featuring Ed Sheeran and Elton John. The song is a parody version of ‘Merry Christmas’ by Sheeran and Elton.
BORN ON DECEMBER 30 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1918 – American jazz pianist and arranger James “Jimmy” Jones was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
1926 – British jazz pianist and composer Stanley “Stan” Tracey was born in Denmark Hill, South London.
1928 – Rock and roll pioneer Ellas McDaniel better known by his stage name Bo Diddley was born in McComb, Mississippi. His work influenced the likes of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, etc.
1931 – Country and pop music singer Skeeter Davis was born Mary Frances Penick in Dry Ridge, Kentucky. Best known for the song ‘The End of the World’.
1934 – Singer-songwriter and guitarsit Charles Westover also known as Del Shannon was born in Coopersville, Michigan. Best known for his 1961 chart-topping single ‘Runaway’.
1935 – Pianist and co-founder of the United Jazz + Rock Ensemble, Wolfgang Dauner was born in Stuttgart, Germany.
1937 – Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter John Hartford was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Best known for the Grammy Award-winning song ‘Gentle on My Mind’.
1937 – Singer-songwriter Noel Paul Stookey was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He came to prominence as a member of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary.
1939 – American singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Felix Pappalardi was born in Manhattan, New York. Best known as a member of the hard rock band Mountain.
1942 – American guitarist Robert Quine was born in Akron, Ohio. Best known for his work with Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Brian Eno, and Lou Reed among others.
1942 – Founding member of the pop rock band The Monkees, Michael Nesmith was born in Houston, Texas.
1945 – Singer and co-founder of the The Monkees, David “Davy” Jones was born in Manchester, England.
1946 – Founding member and drummer of the rock band Jethro Tull, Clive Bunker was born in Luton, England.
1946 – Influential punk rock singer-songwriter Patricia “Patti” Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
1947 – Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, co-founder and leader of the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Jeffrey Lynne was born in Birmingham, England.
1956 – American country music singer-songwriter Susan “Suzy” Bogguss was born in Aledo, Illinois.
1969 – Founding member and the lead vocalist of the band Jamiroqual, Jason Cheetham also known professionally as Jay Kay was born in Stretford, England.
1970 – British DJ, keyboardist, and record producer Ayalah Bentovim also known by her stage name Sister Bliss was born in London, England.
1973 – American drummer Jon Theodore was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Best known for his work with the bands Queens of the Stone Age and The Mars Volta.
1986 – British pop singer and songwriter Elena “Ellie” Goulding was born in Hereford, England. Best known for the chart-topping singles ‘Burn’ and ‘Love Me like You Do’.
1995 – South Korean singer and songwriter Kim Tae-hyung also known by his stage name “V” was born in Daegu. He came to prominence as a member of the K-pop boy band BTS.