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 2024 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.
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.
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 on this day February 4.
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 hit worldwide 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 on this day February 4 in music history 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.
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2021 – With the commercial release ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’, metal band Bring Me the Horizon topped the UK Albums chart on this day February 4.
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 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.