On This Day, August 9 in Music History
EVENTS ON AUGUST 9 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day August 9 in 1967 – Scott McKenzie started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)’. The song became a chart-topper in eight other countries that year.
1969 – Jethro Tull scored their first number one album in the UK with their second studio release ‘Stand Up’. It was the band’s first international hit, reaching No.20 in both the US and Canada.
1975 – The Bee Gees started a two-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Jive Talkin” on this day August 9 in music history. Also a chart-topper in Canada and a No.5 hit in the UK.
1975 – With their debut single ‘Barbados’, Typically Tropical topped the UK Singles chart. Also a chart-topper in Ireland and South Africa.
1975 – Russian composer and pianist Dimitri Shostakovich died on this day August 9, aged 68. He’s considered one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.
1980 – Pop group ABBA scored their eight number one single in the United Kingdom with ‘The Winner Takes It All’. The song also reached No.1 in Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
1980 – With their seventh studio album ‘Back in Black’ and the first to feature frontman Brian Johnson, AC/DC hit No.1 in the UK. The album topped the music charts in France, Australia, and Canada as well.
1986 – Queen finished their European tour with a show at the Knebworth Park festival in England. This turned out to be the band’s last live show with Freddie Mercury and John Deacon in the lineup.
1994 – Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd released their eighth studio album ‘Endangered Species’ through Capricorn Records on this day August 9.
1994 – American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. released his debut single ‘Juicy’ on this day August 9 in music history. The single peaked at No.27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it topped the Hot Rap Singles chart.
1995 – Founding member, songwriter, lead guitarist, and vocalist of the rock band Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia died on this day August 9 in music history, aged 53 of a heart attack.
1997 – The debut album ‘Now Way Out’ by Puff Daddy & The Family went to No.1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The LP also topped the charts in Austria, Canada, and Switzerland. In the UK it reached No.8.
2003 – Rock band The Coral scored their first number one in the UK with their second studio album ‘Magic and Medicine’.
2003 – American singer Blue Cantrell featuring Sean Paul topped the UK singles chart with ‘Breathe’ on this day August 9.
2008 – ABBA went to No.1 in the UK with the second remastered version of their compilation album ‘Gold: Greatest Hits’.
2008 – Kid Rock had the number one single in the UK with ‘All Summer Long’. The song also topped the charts in Australia, Austria, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
2010 – American electric blues bassist and singer Calvin “Fuzz” Jones died on this day at the age of 84.
2014 – With their self-titled debut studio album, pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer topped the US Billboard 200 chart on this day August 9 in music history. The album was an international hit and it also went to No.1 in fourteen countries worldwide.
2014 – Canadian band Magic! went to number one in the UK with their debut single ‘Rude’ which was also a chart-topper in the US and Canada.
2021 – American hip hop and R&B record producer Carl “Chucky” Thompson died on this day August 9, aged 53. Best remembered for his work with the likes of Mary J. Bilge, Faith Evans, and Biggie Smalls.
BORN ON AUGUST 9 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1934 – American singer, songwriter, and manager Wyatt Merle Kilgore was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
1939 – Singer and founder of the soul music vocal group The Spinners, William “Billy” Henderson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.
1941 – English drummer Vivian “Viv” Prince was born on this day August 9 in Loughborough. Best known as a member of the band Pretty Things.
1943 – American singer Wanda LaFaye Young also known as Wanda Rogers was born in Inkster, Michigan on this day August 9 in music history. Best known as the lead singer of the vocal group The Marvelettes.
1946 – Bassist and founding member of the rock band Golden Earring, Marinus Gerritsen was born in The Hague, Netherlands.
1947 – American singer-songwriter and actress Amanda McBroom was born on this day August 9 in Woodland Hills, California.
1947 – Soul and R&B music singer Barbara Mason was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Best known for her hit single ‘Yes, I’m Ready’.
1954 – English drummer Peter Thomas was born in Hillsborough, Sheffield. Best known for his work with Elvis Costello and as a member of the bands Squeeze and Works Progress Administration.
1955 – British singer, songwriter, and drummer Charles Morgan was born on this day August 9 in London, England.
1959 – American rap pioneer, songwriter, DJ, and producer Kurtis Walker also known as Kurtis Blow was born in New York City. Best known for hit songs such as ‘The Breaks’ and ‘Basketball’.
1963 – American singer and actress Whitney Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey on this day August 9 in music history. She is one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 200 million records sold worldwide.
1987 – Swedish singer, songwriter, and record producer Jonnali Parmenius also known professionally as Noonie Bao was born in Stockholm, Sweden.