On This Day, January 5 in Music History
EVENTS ON JANUARY 5 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day January 5 in 1964 – American jazz multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Cecil Scott died at the age of 58.
1968 – The Swedish police arrested and jailed Jimi Hendrix after the rockstar went crazy and destroyed everything in his hotel room in Stockholm. He spent one night behind bars.
1968 – The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded Bob Dylan a Gold Record for his ‘Greatest Hits’ album which sold more than 500,000 copies in less than nine months. The album features all of Dylan’s Top 40 singles up to 1967.
1973 – Bruce Springsteen released his debut studio album ‘Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J’ through Columbia Records on this day January 5 in music history. The album peaked at No.60 in the US and it went on to sell over 2 million copies over the years.
1973 – Progressive rock band Yes scored their first number one album in the UK with ‘Tales from Topographic Oceans’, their sixth studio release.
1974 – With their greatest hits collection ‘The Singles: 1969-1973’, The Carpenters reached the top spot on the US Billboard 200 chart on this day January 5. The album also went to No.1 in the UK and Canada.
1979 – American jazz double bassist, pianist, composer and bandleader Charles Mingus died at the age of 56 from ALS.
1980 – The number one album in the United States on this day January 5 was ‘On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volume I & II’ by Donna Summer. The LP features 16 hits, including ‘Hot Stuff’, ‘Bad Girls’, ‘On the Radio’, and ‘No More Tears (Enough is Enough)’.
1980 – With ‘Please Don’t Go’, KC and the Sunshine Band scored their fifth and final number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also became a chart-topper in Australia, Canada, and South Africa, while in the UK it peaked at No.3.
1991 – Madonna scored her ninth number one single in the United States with ‘Justify My Love’ on this day January 5 in music history. The song was a Top 10 hit in over a dozen countries and a chart-topper in three more.
1991 – With ‘Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter’, heavy metal band Iron Maiden scored their first and only number one single in the UK.
1998 – Bass guitarist and founding member of the rock band Love, Kenneth “Ken” Forssi died on this day January 5, aged 54
1998 – American singer, actor and politician Salvatore Philip “Sonny” Bono died in a skiing accident, aged 62. Best remembered as one half of the husband-and-wife pop duo Sonny & Cher.
2008 – Rappers Flo Rida and T-Pain started a massive ten-week stint at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Low’ on this day January 5.
2009 – American jump blues singer, songwriter, and guitar player Sam Taylor died at the age of 74.
2010 – American trumpeter, singer, bandleader, and producer William “Willie” Mitchell died on this day January 5 in music history, aged 81.
2017 – British girl group Little Mix scored their first domestic chart-topping album with their fourth studio LP ‘Glory Days’.
2019 – British bass guitarist Eric Haydock died on this day January 5, aged 75. Best remembered as a founding member of the band The Hollies.
2019 – With his second studio album ‘I Am > I Was’, rapper 21 Savage started a two-week run at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
BORN ON JANUARY 5 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1923 – Record producer and businessman Samuel “Sam” Phillips was born in Florence, Alabama. Best known as the founder of Sun Records.
1932 – American R&B, gospel, jazz, and blues singer Johnny Adams was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Best known for his hit recordings of ‘Release Me’ and ‘Reconsider Me’.
1940 – Australian double bassist and vocalist Athol Guy was born in Colac, Victoria. Best known as a member of the pop group The Seekers.
1941 – American bass and baritone vocalist Grady Thomas was born in Newark, New Jersey. He came to prominence as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic.
1949 – Jazz and funk music drummer and keyboardist George “Funky” Brown was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Best known as a founding and longtime member of Kool & the Gang.
1950 – Founding member and guitarist of the new wave band Blondie, Christopher “Chris” Stein was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1953 – American drummer, producer, and educator Paul Wertico was born in Chicago, Illinois. He rose to fame as a member of the Pat Metheny Group.
1957 – Avant-garde jazz pianist and composer Myra Melford was born in Evanston, Illinois.
1960 – British songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Phil Thornalley was born in Worlington, England. Best known for his work with the rock band The Cure.
1961 – Country music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Iris DeMent was born in Paragould, Arkansas.
1964 – American drummer Grant Young was born in Iowa City, Iowa. He came to prominence as a member of the rock band Soul Asylum.
1966 – Drummer and founding member of the Beastie Boys, Kate Schellenbach was born in New York City.
1969 – American singer-songwriter Brian Hugh Warner better known by his stage name Marilyn Manson was born in Canton, Ohio.
1973 – New Zealand singer-songwriter and bass guitarist Philip “Phil” Joel was born in Auckland. Best known for playing with the Christian rock band Newsboys.
1976 – Bass guitarist and keyboardist Matthew “Matt” Wachter was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Best known as a member of the bands Angels & Airwaves and Thirty Seconds to Mars.