On This Day, December 7 in Music History
EVENTS ON DECEMBER 7 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day December 7 in 1954 – With his version of ‘That’s All Right’, Marty Robbins became the first major artist to cover an Elvis Presley song.
1956 – One of the first rock and roll musicals ‘Rock, Rock, Rock!’ was released on this day. The film features performances by artists such as Chuck Berry, The Teenagers, The Flamingos, Teddy Randazzo, LaVern Baker, and the Moonglows.
1961 – With his rendition of ‘Tower of Strength’, Frankie Vaughan hit No.1 on the UK Singles chart for the first of three weeks straight on this day December 7 in music history.
1962 – At a pub in Chelsea, London – The Rolling Stones held an audition for a bass player which resulted in the hiring of Bill Wyman because he had “cool” equipment the band could use.
1963 – After topping the UK Albums chart for 30 consecutive weeks with ‘Please Please Me’, The Beatles extended their run at No.1 for 21 more weeks with their second studio LP ‘With the Beatles’ on this day December 7.
1963 – With ‘Dominique’, The Singing Nun started a four-week stint at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was a best-selling record in a dozen countries worldwide and it also peaked at No.1 in Australia, Argentina, Canada, New Zealand, and Venezuela. She also topped the Billboard 200 on this day with her eponymous debut studio album.
1967 – On this day December 7 – Graham Nash announced the formation of his new group Crosby, Stills and Nash. Only two days after he left The Hollies.
1968 – With their self-titled ninth and only double studio album also known as ‘The White Album’, The Beatles hit No.1 in the UK for the first of seven consecutive weeks.
1971 – Paul McCartney & Wings released their debut studio album ‘Wild Life’ through Apple Records on this day December 7. The LP was a Top 10 hit in seven countries, including the US and peaked at No.11 in the UK.
1973 – Progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer released their fourth studio album ‘Brain Salad Surgery’. The album was a commercial success and it peaked at No.2 in the UK while in the US it reached No.11.
1974 – With ‘You’re The First, The Last, My Everything’, Barry White scored his first number one single in the UK.
1974 – Carl Douglas started a two-week stint at the top of the US Singles chart with ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ on this day December 7 in music history. The song was recorded in only 10 minutes and it went on to sell over 10 million copies while reaching No.1 in several countries worldwide.
1980 – American punk rock singer Jan Paul Beahm better known by his stage name Darby Crash committed suicide at the age of 22 by overdosing on heroin.
1985 – With ‘Broken Wings’, pop rock band Mr. Mister went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day December 7. Also a chart-topper in Canada and a Top 5 hit in seven other countries, including the UK.
1987 – Singer and founding member of the vocal group The Manhattans, Richard Taylor died on this day at the age of 47
1990 – American soul and R&B singer Dee Clark died on this day December 7 from a heart attack, aged 52. Best remembered for the 1961 hit song ‘Raindrops’.
1991 – George Michael & Elton John started a two-week run at the top of the UK Singles chart with ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’.
1991 – With their seventh studio album ‘Achtung Baby’, U2 topped the US Billboard 200 chart on this day December 7.
1991 – Rock band Queen started a four-week stint at the top of the UK Albums chart with their compilation LP ‘Greatest Hits II’.
1991 – With ‘Black or White’, Michael Jackson hit number one in the US on this day December 7 in music history for the first of seven consecutive weeks. The song was a worldwide hit and it became a chart-topper in over 20 countries.
1996 – Singer-songwriter Peter Andre scored his second consecutive number one single in the UK with ‘I Feel You’.
1996 – R&B singer Toni Braxton started a huge eleven-week stint at the top of the US Singles chart with ‘Un-Break My Heart’ on this day December 7.
Toni Braxton – Un-Break My Heart
1996 – After a two-week break from the top spot, girl group Spice Girls returned to No.1 in the UK for an eight-week run at No.1 with their debut studio album ‘Spice’.
1997 – British rock band Bush went to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with their second studio album ‘Razorblade Suitcase’ on this day December 7.
2002 – With her fourth studio album ‘Up’, Shania Twain hit number one in the US for the first of five consecutive weeks.
2002 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day December 7 was ‘If You’re Not the One’ by Daniel Bedingfield.
2008 – Founder and frontman of the soft rock band Classics IV – Dennis Yost died on this day December 7 in music history, aged 65.
2013 – Boy band One Direction reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart with their third studio release ‘Midnight Memories’.
2013 – With ‘Under Control’, Djs Calvin Harris and Alesso featuring the musical duo Hurts topped the UK Singles chart on this day December 7.
2014 – Thanks to the discount price on the Google Play Store app Pink Floyd made a surprise return at No.13 on the Billboard 200 chart with the ‘Dark Side of the Moon’.
15 Pink Floyd Facts You May Have Not Known
2017 – The number one album in the UK on this day December 7 was ‘Who Built the Moon?’ by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
2019 – With his fourth commercial mixtape ‘A Love Letter to You 4’, rapper Trippie Redd topped the US Albums chart.
BORN ON DECEMBER 7 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1910 – American singer, songwriter, trumpeter, and bandleader Louis Prima was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1937 – American jazz music pianist and electronic organ player Sonny Phillips was born in Mobile, Alabama.
1942 – Singer- songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and activist Harold “Harry” Chapin was born in New York City.
1949 – American singer, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Thomas “Tom” Waits was born in Pomona, California.
1954 – Singer and founding member of the pop group Bucks Fizz, Michael “Mike” Nolan was born in Dublin, Ireland.
1955 – Jazz guitarist, producer, and composer Charles “Chuck” Loeb was born in Nyack, New York. Best known as a member of the bands Metro, Steps Ahead, and Fourplay.
1958 – Co-founder and bassist of The Psychedelic Furs, Timothy “Tim” Butler was born in Teddington, England.
1963 – American singer Barba Weathers was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. She came to prominence as the lead singer of the R&B group Atlantic Starr.
1973 – Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Damien Rice was born in Kildare, Ireland.
1974 – Canadian singer and TV presenter Nicole Appleton was born in Hamilton, Ontario. Best known as a member of the group All Saints and as one half of the siblings duo Appleton.
1977 – Founding member and drummer of the rock band Muse, Dominic Howard was born in Stockport, England.
1979 – Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and pianist Sara Bareilles was born in Eureka, California.
1987 – American rapper, singer, and actor Aaron Carter was born in Tampa, Florida.