On This Day, June 6 in Music History
EVENTS ON JUNE 6 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day June 6 in 1962 – The Beatles had their first recording session at Abbey Road Studios. Manager and producer George Martin evaluated their performances and arrived to the conclusion that Pete Best wasn’t up to the task. He was replaced with Ringo Starr in mid-August.
1964 – With ‘Chapel of Love’, The Dixie Cups hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the first of three consecutive weeks. The song became a chart-topper in Canada as well that year while in the UK it peaked at No.22.
1964 – The original cast of the Broadway musical ‘Hello, Dolly!’ went to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart on this day June 6 in music history with their self-titled studio album.
1969 – British singer Elton John released his debut studio album ‘Empty Sky’ in the UK on DJM Records. In the US it was released six years later on January 13, 1975 and peaked at No.6 on the albums chart.
1970 – Soft rock band Christie topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Yellow River’ on this day June 6. The song also hit number one in Finland, Ireland, Mexico, and Norway that year, while in the US it peaked at No.23.
1982 – A concert for nuclear disarmament called ‘We Have a Dream’ took place today at the Rose Bowl stadium in California. Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Linda Ronstadt among others performed at the event.
1986 – British record producer and music executive Richard “Dick” Rowe died on this day June 6 in music history, aged 64 of diabetes. Best remembered as the man who rejected the Beatles but signed the Rolling Stones to Decca Records
1987 – Scottish rock band Simple Minds topped the UK Albums chart with ‘Live in the City of Light’, their first live LP. The album was recorded on 12 & 13 August in 1986 at Le Zenith in Paris, France.
1987 – With her version of The Supremes song ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’, Kim Wilde reached number one in the US on this day June 6. The song was an international hit and it topped the charts in Australia, Canada and Norway as well, and peaked at No.2 in the UK.
1987 – Whitney Houston reached number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)’. The song was a huge hit worldwide that year hitting No.1 in over 15 countries, including the US.
1991 – American jazz saxophonist Stanley “Stan” Getz nicknamed “The Sound” died on this day June 6 at the age of 64.
1992 – With his first greatest hits compilation ‘Back to Front’, singer-songwriter Lionel Ritchie reached No.1 on the UK Albums chart for the first of six consecutive weeks.
1998 – Irish girl group B*Witched started a two-week stin at No.1 n the United Kingdom with their debut single ‘C’est la Vie’ on this day June 6 in music history.
1998 – R&B singers Brandy and Monica hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘This Boy Is Mine’ for the first of thirteen consecutive weeks.
1998 – Rapper Earl Simmons better known professionally as DMX topped the US Billboard 200 on this day June 6 with his debut studio album ‘It’s Dark and Hell Is Not’.
1998 – With their third studio LP ‘Where We Belong’, Irish boy band Boyzone scored their third consecutive number one album in the UK.
2002 – American guitarist Robbin Crosby died of a heroin overdose, aged 42. Best remembered as a member of the glam metal band Ratt.
2003 – English pianist and organist David “Dave” Rowberry died at the age of 62. Best remembered for his work with with the rock band The Animals in the 1960s.
2006 – Keyboardist, singer, and songwriter William “Billy” Preston died on this day June 6 in music history at the age of 59 from kidney disease.
2009 – With his sixth studio album ‘Relapse’, rapper Eminem scored his fourth chart-topper on the US Billboard 200. The album was an international hit that year and reached No.1 in twelve other countries as well.
2010 – The youngest member and bassist of the Isley Brothers, Marvin Isley died on this day June 6 at the age of 56 from complications of diabetes.
2015 – Pop singer and songwriter Jason Derulo hit No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘Want to Want Me’ for the first of four consecutive weeks.
2015 – With ‘Bad Blood’, singer Taylor Swift featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar topped the US Billboard Hot 100 on this day June 6.
2015 – Musical duo Twenty One Pilots scored their first number one album in the US with their fourth studio release ‘Blurryface’.
2015 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day June 6 in music history was ‘85% Proof’ by the singer-songwriter William Young.
2019 – American singer-songwriter Malcom John Rebennack better known professionally as Dr. John died at the age of 77.
2020 – The number one single in the United States on this day June 6 was ‘Rain on Me’ by the pop music singers Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande.
2020 – American rapper Gunna reached the top spot on the US Billboard 200 with his second studio album ‘Wunna’.
BORN ON JUNE 6 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1890 – Bandleader, singer, and clarinetist Ted Lewis was born Theodore Leopold Friedman in Circleville, Ohio.
1936 – American baritone singer Levi Stubbs was born in Detroit, Michigan. Best known as the lead vocalist of the R&B group the Four Tops.
1939 – American singer Gary Anderson also known professionally as Gary U.S. Bonds was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Best known for his hit singles ‘Quarter to Three’ and ‘New Orleans’.
1944 – German electronic music pioneer Edgar Froese was born in Tilsit. Best known as a founding member of the electronic music group Tangerine Dream.
1946 – Singer and multi-instrumentalist Anthony “Tony” Levin was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Best known for his work with Peter Gabriel and King Crimson.
1951 – Hip hop music pioneer Edward Gernel Fletcher also known professionally as Duke Bootee was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
1960 – American guitarist, songwriter and composer Steven “Steve” Vai was born in New York.
1961 – British singer Diane Sealy also known by her stage name Dee C. Lee was born in South London.
1961 – Bass guitarist and singer Tom Araya was born in Vina del Mar, Chile. He rose to fame as a member of the thrash metal band Slayer.
1970 – Guitarist and co-founder of the nu metal band Korn, James Shaffer also known as Munky was born in Rosedale, California.
1974 – American singer and rapper Matthew Shafer better known professionally as Uncle Kracker was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Best known for songs such as ‘Follow Me’ and ‘Drift Away’.
1978 – Canadian drummer Jeremy Gara was born in Ottawa, Ontario. He came to prominence as a member of the indie rock band Arcade Fire.
1987 – Co-founder and frontman of the indie rock band The View, Kyle Falconer was born in Dundee, Scotland.