On This Day, July 11 in Music History
EVENTS ON JULY 11 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day July 11 in 1960 – The musical ensemble Hollywood Argyles went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Alley Oop’.
1969 – David Bowie released ‘Space Oddity’, five days before the Moon landing mission. The song became his biggest hit at the time and it peaked at No.5 on the UK Singles chart.
1970 – The live album of the 1969 Woodstock festival which features selected performances of various artists topped the US Billboard 200 chart on this day July 11 in music history. It also became a chart-topper in Canada while in Australia and the Netherlands it peaked at No.2.
1970 – With their rendition of ‘Mama Told Me (Not to Come)’, Three Dog Night topped the US Singles chart. Also a hit in the UK and Canada where it peaked at No.3 and No.2 respectively.
1970 – Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan reached number one in the UK with his tenth studio album ‘Self Portrait’ on this day July 11.
1975 – Fleetwood Mac released their self-titled tenth studio album also known as ‘The White Album’ through Reprise Records. The album peaked at No.1 in the US and was a Top 5 hit in Canada, Australian, New Zealand, and Norway.
1981 – American singer Hubert Johnson committed suicide on this day July 11, aged 40. Best remembered as a founding member of the R&B vocal group The Contours.
1981 – With his greatest hits compilation ‘Love Songs’, Cliff Richard hit No.1 on the UK Albums chart for the first of five consecutive weeks. Also a chart-topper in Australia.
1981 – Two tone and ska revival band The Specials hit No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘Ghost Town’ for the first of three consecutive weeks on this day July 11 in music history.
1987 – Rock band Heart started a three-week stint at No.1 in the US with their version of ‘Alone‘. Also a chart-topper in Canada and a No.3 hit in the UK.
1991 – American songwriter and radio personality Roger Christian died on this day July 11, aged 57. Best remembered for his work with the Beach Boys and for writing the hit songs ‘Little Deuce Coupe’, ‘Don’t Worry Baby’, and ‘Shut Down’.
1994 – The Rolling Stones released their 22nd studio album ‘Voodoo Lounge’ through Virgin Records. The album became a chart-topper in eight countries around the world, including the UK and Canada. In the US it peaked at No.2.
1998 – Fifteen year old pop singer Billie became the youngest artist to debut at number one in the UK when her song ‘Because We Want To’ topped the Singles chart on this day July 11.
1999 – Traditional pop and swing music singer Helen Fogel also known professionally as Helen Forrest died at the age of 82.
2002 – American blues pianist and singer-songwriter Roscoe Gordon died on this day July 11 in music history at the age of 74. Best remembered for the hit songs ‘Just a Little Bit’ and ‘No More Doggin’.
Roscoe Gordon – Just a Little Bit
2009 – Two weeks after his death, the “King of Pop” – Michael Jackson started a seven-week stint at No.1 on the UK Albums chart with his greatest hits compilation ‘The Essential’.
2009 – After topping the Billboard Hot 100 for twelve consecutive weeks with ‘Boom Boom Pow’, The Black Eyed Peas extended their run at No.1 for fourteen more weeks with ‘I Gotta Feeling’. They also topped the US Albums chart with ‘The E.N.D.’ on this day July 11.
2009 – German Eurodance group Cascada reached the top spot on the UK Singles chart today with ‘Evacuate the Dancefloor’.
2011 – American singer, songwriter and bassist Robert “Rob” Grill died on this day July 11 at the age of 67. Best remembered as the frontman of The Grass Roots.
2013 – Rock band Pearl Jam released the single ‘Mind Your Manners’. It featured on their tenth studio album ‘Lightning Bolt’ and it topped the Canadian Rock chart.
2014 – Drummer Thomas Erdelyi also known professionally as Tommy Ramone died on this day July 11 in music history, aged 65. Best known as a founding member of the punk rock band The Ramones.
2015 – Rock band Breaking Benjamin scored their first number one album in the US with ‘Dark Before Dawn’. Also a chart-topper in Canada.
2019 – With her greatest hits album ‘Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection’, Kylie Minogue reached number one in the UK on this day July 11.
BORN ON JULY 11 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1931 – American singer and songwriter Thurston Harris was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on this day July 11 in music history. Best known for his 1957 hit single ‘Little Bitty Pretty One’.
1931 – American actor and singer Arthur Kelm better known professionally as Tab Hunter was born in New York City. Best known for his 1957 chart-topping single ‘Young Love’.
1944 – Country music singer-songwriter Robert Gene Rice also known professionally as Bobby G. Rice was born on this day July 11 in Boscobel, Wisconsin.
1946 – English singer John Lawton was born in Halifax. Best known for his work with the rock bands Uriah Heep, Lucifer’s Friend, and Les Humphries Singers.
1947 – Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter John Holt was born on this day July 11 in Kingston. He rose to fame as a member of The Paragons.
1947 – Singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Jeffrey Hanna was born in Detroit, Michigan. He came to prominence as a founding member of the country rock group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
1949 – Classical guitarist Liona Boyd dubbed the “First lady of the Guitar’ was born in London, England on this day July 11 in music history.
1950 – American singer Patricia Eva “Bonnie” Pointer was born in Oakland, California. She rose to fame as a member of the R&B vocal group the Pointer Sisters.
1953 – American singer-songwriter and producer Peter Brown was born on this day July 11 in Blue Island, Illinois. Best known for the disco hits ‘Dance With Me’ and ‘Do Ya Wanna Get Funky with Me’.
1957 – English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Peter Murphy was born in Northampton. Best known as the frontman of the post-punk band Bauhaus.
1959 – Folk music singer and songwriter Suzanne Vega was born on this day July 11 in Santa Monica, California.
1959 – American guitarist, singer and songwriter Richard “Richie” Sambora was born in Pert Amboy, New Jersey. Best known as a member of the hard rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 until 2013.
1965 – American bass guitarist Scott Shriner was born in Toledo, Ohio on this day July 11 in music history He rose to fame as a member of the rock band Weezer.
1974 – American rapper and actress Kimberly Jones better known professionally as Lil’ Kim was born in New York City.
1975 – Finnish bassist Samer el Nahhal also known by his stage name Ox was born on this day July 11 in Espoo. Best known as a member of the hard rock band Lordi.