On This Day, April 4 in Music History
EVENTS ON APRIL 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day April 4 in 1960 – Elvis Presley recorded his version of ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight?’ at the RCA Victor studios in Nashville. It was released as a single on November 1 and it became a chart-topper in Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, and South Africa.
1960 – At the 33rd Annual Academy Awards, Frank Sinatra won an Oscar for Best Original Song with ‘High Hopes’. The song featured in the comedy film ‘A Hole In The Head’.
1964 – After topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks with ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ and ‘She Loves You’, The Beatles extended their run at No.1 for five more weeks with ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’.
1981 – With their tenth and commercially most successful studio album ‘Paradise Theatre’, rock band Styx topped the US Billboard 200 chart. In the UK the album peaked at No.8.
1987 – Charity supergroup Ferry Aid started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with their rendition of The Beatles song ‘Let it Be’. The group also includes Paul McCartney who wrote the song.
1987 – Pop rock band Starship started a two-week stint at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’.
1992 – Rap rock group the Beastie Boys performed at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on this day April 4 in music history. It was a charity concert to raise funds for Magic Johnson’s AIDS Benefit organization.
1992 – Singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen scored his third consecutive number one album in the UK with ‘Human Touch’. The album also reached No.1 in Denmark, Italy, Norway, and Spain, while in the US it peaked at No.16.
1992 – The soundtrack album ‘Wayne’s World’ to the film of the same name topped the US Billboard 200 chart.
1998 – With ‘All My Life’, R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the first of three consecutive weeks. The single was an international hit that year and it became a chart-topper in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands as well.
1998 – Alternative rock band James went to number one in the UK with their first compilation album ‘The Best Of James’.
2007 – Keith Richards had to issue a statement to deny a quote from NME magazine that claimed he snorted his father’s ashes.
2009 – The annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held on this day April 4 in Cleveland. Inductees: Little Anthony and The Imperials, Metallica, Jeff Beck, Run-DMC and Bobby Womack.
May interest you: Metal Bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2015 – English singer and songwriter Jess Glynne hit number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Hold My Hand’ for the first of three consecutive weeks.
2015 – Singer and songwriter James Bay reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart with this debut album ‘Chaos and the Calm’.
2015 – With his third studio album ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’, rapper Kendrick Lamar started a two-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard 200.
2019 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day was ‘Coming Home to You’ by Michael Ball.
2020 – Canadian singer The Weeknd topped the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Blinding Lights’. He also hit No.1 on the Billboard 200 today with his fourth studio album ‘After Hours’ for the first of four weeks straight.
BORN ON APRIL 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1913 – Influential blues singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist McKinley Morganfield also known professionally as Muddy Waters was born in Issaquena County, Mississippi.
1939 – South African jazz multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, bandleader, and composer Hugh Masekela was born in Emalahleni, South Africa.
1939 – English multi-instrumentalist Daniel “Danny” Thompson was born in Teignmouth, Devon.
1940 – American songwriter Sharon Sheeley was born in Newport Beach, California. Best known for writing hit songs for artists such as Ricky Nelson, Glen Campbell, Eddie Cochran, Brenda Lee, and others.
1948 – Drummer and founding member of the rock band Dire Straits, David “Pick” Withers was born in Leicester, England.
1948 – American bass guitarist and vocalist Berry Oakley was born in Chicago, Illinois. He came to prominence as a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band.
1952 – Northern Irish singer, songwriter, and guitarist Gary Moore was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He rose to fame as a member of the rock bands Skid Row and Thin Lizzy before establishing himself as a solo artist.
1952 – Lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and co-founder of the rock band Slade, David “Dave” Hill was born in Holbeton, England.
1962 – Bass guitarist, record producer, and songwriter Craig Adams was born in Otley, England. Best known for his work with the bands The Mission and The Sisters of Mercy.
1966 – Bassist and founding member of the rock band Alice In Chains, Michael “Mike” Starr was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
1972 – Swedish bass guitarist Magnus Sveningsson was born in Falkoping, Sweden. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band The Cardigans.
1972 – American multi-genre singer, songwriter, and actress Jill Heather Scott was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1973 – American R&B and gospel music singer Kelly Price was born in Queens, New York City. She is best known for her chart-topping single ‘A Friend of Mine’ and for featuring on Whitney Houston’s hit ‘Heartbreak Hotel’.
1978 – British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer Lemar Obika was born in North London.
1980 – Co-founder and frontman of the indie rock band Razorlight, Jonathan Borell was born in Surron, England.