On This Day, February 4 in Music History
EVENTS ON FEBRUARY 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day February 4 in 1965 – The Righteous Brothers had the number one single in the UK with ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’. The song also became a chart-topper in North America.
1967 – The band created for TV – The Monkees started a seven-week stint at No.1 in the UK with their eponymous debut studio album. It reached No.1 in the US, Canada, and Finland later that year as well.
1975 – American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader Louis Jordan also known as ‘The King of the Jukebox’ died on this day February 4 in music history, aged 66.
1976 – Fleetwood Mac released their eleventh studio album ‘Rumors’ through Warner Bros. Records. The album became a chart-topper in seven countries, including the UK and US. It also won the band a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. As of February 2025 it’s one of the best-selling albums of all time with over 40 million copies sold worldwide.
1978 – Jamaican teenage singers Althea & Donna topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Uptown Top Ranking’ on this day February 4.
1978 – With ‘Stayin’ Alive’, the Bee Gees scored their second number one single of the year in the US. They previously topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on January 7 with ‘How Deep Is Your Love’.
1978 – Swedish pop group ABBA started a seven-week run at number one in the UK with their fifth studio album ‘The Album’ on this day February 4. The LP features four singles, including ‘The Name of the Game’ and ‘Take a Chance on Me’.
1980 – Punk rock band Ramones released their fifth studio album ‘End of the Century’ on this day February 4. It’s their highest-charting and best-selling album. In the UK it peaked at No.14 and reached No.44 in the US.
1982 – Scottish musician Alex Harvey died on this day at the age of 46 from a heart attack. Best remembered as the frontman of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band in the 1970s.
1983 – Singer, drummer, and one half of the sibling duo the Carpenters, Karen Carpenter died on this day February 4 in music history, aged 32 of complications from anorexia.
1984 – Culture Club started a three-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Karma Chameleon’. The song was a big hit worldwide and it became a chart-topper in thirteen other countries, including the UK and Canada.
1984 – With their third studio album ‘Touch’, pop duo Eurythmics reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart. The LP features three singles, including ‘Here Comes the Rain Again’ which was a Top 10 hit in several countries, including the UK, Canada and the US.
1987 – American pianist, singer and actor Valentino Liberace died at the age of 67 from AIDS induced pneumonia. He was the highest-paid entertainer in the world during the 1950s and 60s.
1989 – The number one single in the United States on this day February 4 was ‘When I’m with You’ by the Canadian rock band Sheriff.
1995 – With ‘Think Twice’, Celine Dion started a seven-week stint at No.1 on the UK Singles chart. The song was a worldwide hit topping the charts in 7 other countries, but interestingly, in the US it barely made the Top 100 peaking at No.95 on the Hot 100.
2006 – Beyonce featuring rapper Slim Thug started a five-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Check on It’ on this day February 4.
2006 – The posthumously released song ‘Nasty Girl’ by rapper The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge and Avery Storm reached No.1 in the UK.
2006 – With their debut studio album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’, rock band Arctic Monkeys hit No.1 in the UK for the first of four weeks straight.
2007 – Prince performed at the half-time show of the 41st edition of Super Bowl (XLI) between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears.
2009 – Founding member and frontman of the punk band The Cramps, Eric Purkhiser also known professionally as Lux Interior died on this day February 4, aged 62.
2012 – With their second single ‘Twilight’, pop rock group Cover Driver went to number one in the UK on this day February 4.
2012 – Adele topped the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Set Fire to the Rain’. The song won the British singer a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance and was a Top 10 hit in over 20 countries worldwide.
2013 – American jazz and R&B trumpeter, flugelhorn player, and singer Donald Byrd died on this day February 4 at the age of 80.
2013 – Singer-songwriter Reginald Ball better known by his stage name Reg Presley died aged 71. Best remembered as the lead singer of the Troggs.
2016 – Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Maurice White died on this day February 4 in music history, aged 74. Best remembered as the founder and frontman of Earth, Wind & Fire.
2017 – Heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath played the last gig of their farewell tour in their home town of Birmingham.
10 Interesting Black Sabbath Facts
2021 – With the commercial release ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’, metal band Bring Me the Horizon topped the UK Albums chart.
BORN ON FEBRUARY 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1929 – Pioneer rockabilly guitarist Paul Burlison was born in Brownsville, Tennessee. Best known as a founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio.
1941 – British musician John Steel was born in Gateshead, England. Best known as a founding member and drummer of the rock band The Animals.
1941 – American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Michael “Mike” Deasy was born in Los Angeles, California.
1944 – Singer and actress Florence LaRue was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. She rose to fame as a founding member of the popular music vocal group The 5th Dimension.
1948 – Singer and songwriter Vincent Furnier better known by his stage name Alice Cooper was born in Detroit, Michigan.
10 Interesting Facts About Alice Cooper
1950 – American musician Phillip “Phil” Ehart was born in Coffeyville, Kansas. Best known as the longtime drummer of the rock band Kansas.
1952 – English musician Jerry Shirley was born in Waltham Cross. He came to prominence as a member of the rock band Humble Pie.
1962 – Country music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Clint Black was born in Long Branch, New Jersey.
1963 – American musician Kevin Wasserman also known professionally as Noodles was born in Los Angeles, California. He rose to fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band The Offspring.
1975 – Singer-songwriter and actress Natalie Imbruglia was born in Sydney, Australia. Best known for her 1995 chart-topping single ‘Torn’.
1976 – American rapper, producer, and record executive Cameron Giles also known professionally as Cam’ron was born in New York City.
1982 – Singer, dancer, and founding member of the girl group The Pussycat Dolls, Kimberly Wyatt was born in Warrensburg, Missouri.