On This Day, January 4 in Music History
EVENTS ON JANUARY 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day January 4 in 1957 – With his rendition of ‘Singing the Blues’, Guy Mitchell reached number one on the UK Singles chart. Interestingly, the very next week Tommy Steele & The Steelmen hit No.1 in the UK with their version of the same song.
1960 – Singer-songwriter Marty Robbins started a two-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘El Paso’.
1964 – With his rendition of ‘There! I’ve Said It Again’, Bobby Winton hit number one in the US for the first of four consecutive weeks on this day January 4 in music history.
1967 – Rock band The Doors released their debut self-titled studio album through Elektra Records. The album peaked at No.2 in the US and it went on to sell over 7 million copies worldwide. It also features the band’s first chart-topping single ‘Light My Fire’.
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1970 – Keith Moon of The Who accidentally killed his chauffeur, bodyguard, and friend Neil Boland on this day January 4 while trying to escape from a mob that was attacking his Bentley.
1975 – With his rendition of The Beatles hit song ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’, Elton John started a two-week run at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
1986 – Irish singer, songwriter, and bassist Philip “Phil” Lynott died on this day January 4, aged 36 due to years of heavy drug and alcohol abuse. Best remembered as the original frontman of the hard rock band Thin Lizzy.
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1992 – Pop band Simply Red returned for a five-week stint at number one in the UK with their fourth studio album ‘Stars’.
2011 – Scottish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Gerald “Gerry” Rafferty died on this day January 4 in music history, aged 63. Best remembered as the co-founder of the rock band Stealers Wheel and also for his solo career which spawned the hits ‘Baker Street’, ‘Night Owl’, and ‘Right Down the Line’.
2013 – American singer and songwriter Sammy Johns died on this day at the age of 66. Best remembered for his 1975 hit single ‘Chevy Van’.
2014 – American musician Pharrell Williams topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Happy’ on this day January 4. The song was a hit worldwide that year and it reached No.1 in over 20 countries, including the US and Canada.
2018 – After a one week break from the top spot, Ed Sheeran returned at number one in the UK with his third studio album ‘÷’ (pronounced ‘Divide’).
BORN ON JANUARY 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1906 – American jazz trumpeter Frank “Frankie” Newton was born in Emory, Virginia.
1907 – Italian-American jazz music clarinet player and songwriter Joseph “Joe” Marsala was born in Chicago, Illinois.
1922 – American jazz saxophonist and flue player Frank Wellington Wess was born in Kansas City, Missouri.
1936 – British musician and comedian John Gorman was born in Birkenhead, England. He came to prominence as the founder of the comedy music group The Scaffold.
1942 – Multi-genre guitarist, composer, and bandleader John McLaughlin also known professionally as Mahavishnu John was born in Yorkshire, England.
1946 – American soul singer Arthur Lee Conley better known by his stage name Lee Roberts was born in McIntosh County, Georgia. He came to prominence with his 1967 hit single ‘Sweet Soul Music’.
1947 – English percussionist, lyricist, and composer Chris Cutler was born in Washington, D.C. Best known for his work with bands such as Henry Cow, Art Bears, News from Babel, and The Residents among others.
1955 – Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Clive Gregson was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, England. Best known as the frontman of the new wave band Any Trouble.
1956 – American musician and composer Nels Cline was born in Los Angeles, California. Best known for playing guitar with the alternative rock band Wilco.
1956 – Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Bernard Sumner was born in Broughton, England. He rose to fame as a founding member of the bands Joy Division, New Order, and Electronic.
1957 – Country music singer Patty Loveless was born Patricia Lee Ramey in Pikeville, Kentucky. Best known for chart-topping hits such as ‘Timer, I’m Falling in Love’, ‘Chains’, ‘Blame It on Your Heart’, ‘You Can Feel Bad’, and ‘Lonely Too Long’.
1960 – Founding member and frontman of the alternative rock band R.E.M., Michael Stipe was born in Decatur, Georgia.
1962 – Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and composer Robin Guthrie was born in Grangemouth, Scotland. He came to prominence as the co-founder of the rock band Cocteau Twins.
1965 – British bass guitarist and composer Caitlin “Cait” O’Riordan also known by her stage name Rocky O’Riordan was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Best known for her work with The Pogues and Elvis Costello.
1965 – Singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Beth Gibbons was born in Exeter, England. Best known for fronting the band Portishead.
1966 – Country music singer-songwriter and guitarist Deana Carter was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Best known for chart-topping hits such as ‘How Do I Get There’, ‘Strawberry Wine’, and ‘We Danced Anyway’.
1967 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Benjamin Darvill also known professionally as Son of Dave was born in Winnipeg, Canada. Best known as a member of the folk rock band Crash Test Dummies.
1971 – British jazz saxophonist Nigel Hitchcock was born in Rustington, England. Best known for his work with the likes of Tom Jones, Ray Charles, Mark Knopfler, and Robbie Williams among others.
1977 – Northern Irish singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Timothy “Tim” Wheeler was born in Downpatrick. He rose to fame as the co-founder and frontman of the alternative rock band Ash.