On This Day, July 2 in Music History
EVENTS ON JULY 2 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day July 2 in 1954 – David Whitfield and the Mantovani Orchestra started a ten-week stint at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘Cara Mia’.
1956 – Elvis Presley recorded his version of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller‘s song ‘Hound Dog’. It was released as a single on July 13 and it became a chart-topper in the US and a No.2 hit in the UK.
1957 – 15-year-old singer-songwriter Paul Anka released his single ‘Diana’ on this day July 2 in music history. The song was a big international hit and it topped the charts in the US, Australia, Belgium, Canada, the UK, and the Netherlands.
1966 – Frank Sinatra reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Strangers in the Night’. The song became a chart-topper in seven other countries that year.
1969 – With ‘Something in the Air’, Thunderclap Newman started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK Singles chart on this day July 2.
1977 – Composer and conductor Bill Conti topped the US Singles chart with ‘Gonna Fly Now’, the theme song from the sports drama film ‘Rocky’ starring Sylvester Stallone.
1977 – Disco group Hot Chocolate hit No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘So You Win Again’ on this day July 2 for the first of three consecutive weeks.
1977 – Barbra Streisand topped the UK Albums chart with the soundtrack ‘A Star Is Born’ to the film of the same name in which she starred along Kris Kristofferson.
1982 – American country and blues multi-instrumentalist DeFord Bailey died on this day July 2 in music history, aged 82. He was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.
1983 – Rod Stewart went to number one in the UK with ‘Baby Jane’. The song was a worldwide hit that year and it topped the charts in Belgium, Ireland, South Africa, Spain, and West Germany. In the US it peaked at No.14.
1988 – With ‘Dirty Diana’, Michael Jackson scored his third No.1 single of the year in the US on this day July 2. He previously topped the Hot 100 with ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ on January 23 and ‘Man in the Mirror’ on March 26.
1988 – Singer-songwriter and guitarist Tracy Chapman topped the UK Albums chart with her eponymous debut studio release.
1994 – Swedish pop group Ace of Base started a two-week run at number one in the UK with their debut studio album ‘Happy Nation’ on this day July 2.
2005 – With her debut single ‘Inside Your Heaven’, Carrie Underwood reached number one on the Canadian and US Singles charts.
2005 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day July 2 in music history was ‘Ghetto Gospel’ by rapper 2Pac featuring Elton John.
2Pac ft. Elton John – Ghetto Gospel
2005 – Roger Waters and Pink Floyd reunited for the first time in 24 years to perform at the Live 8 concert for global awareness at Hyde Park in London.
15 Pink Floyd Facts You May Have Not Known
2007 – American lyricist and composer Hyman Zaritsky also known as Hy Zaret died on this day July 2 at the age of 99. Best remembered for writing ‘Unchained Melody’, one of the most recorded songs in music history.
2011 – Hip hop duo Bad Meets Evil composed of rappers Eminem and Royce da 5’9″ went to number one on the US Billboard 200 with their debut EP ‘Hell: The Sequel’. Also a No.1 hit in Canada and the UK that year.
2011 – R&B singer and songwriter Jason Derulo started a two-week stint at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘Don’t Wanna Go Home’ on this day July 2.
2018 – Founding member and bassist of the pop group Bay City Rollers, Alan Longmuir died on this day at the age of 70.
2020 – 79-year-old Bob Dylan scored his ninth No.1 album in the United Kingdom with his 39th studio release ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ on this day July 2 in music history.
2022 – With this seventh studio album ‘Honestly, Nevermind’, rapper Drake hit number one in the US. Drake also topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day with ‘Jimmy Cooks’ featuring 21 Savage.
BORN ON JULY 2 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1925 – American country and rockabilly singer-songwriter Marvin Rainwater was born in Wichita, Kansas on this day July 2 in music history. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Whole Lotta Woman’ and ‘Gonna Find Me a Bluebird’.
1927 – American tenor saxophone player Lee Allen was born on this day in Pittsburg, Kansas. He is considered one of the most important instrumentalists in rock and roll history.
1934 – Singer, producer and songwriter Dion O’Brien also known professionally as Tom Springfield was born on this day July 2 in Hampstead, London. Best known as a member of the pop-folk trio The Springfields which he formed together with his sister Dusty Springfield and Tim Feild.
1937 – English keyboardist, composer and arranger Dee Palmer was born in Hendon, London. Best known for her work with the rock band Jethro Tull from 1968 until 1980.
1939 – Baritone singer and choreographer Paul Williams was born on this day July 2 in Ensley, Alabama. He rose to fame as a founding member and lead singer of the vocal group The Temptations.
1949 – American multi-instrumentalist Roy Bittan was born today in Queens, New York. Best known as a longtime member of Bruce Springsteen’s backing group the E Street Band.
1952 – Prolific pianist Gene Taylor was born in Norwalk, California on this day July 2 in music history. Besides his solo work, he is also known for playing with the rock group Canned Heat.
1952 – Guitarist, saxophonist and founding member of Huey Lewis and the News, Johnny Colla was born in Sacramento, California.
1954 – Irish bassist, composer and producer Patrick Cusack also known professionally as Pete Briquette, was born on this day July 2 in Ballyjamesduff, Ireland.
1964 – Bassist and founding member of the grunge band Bush, Dave Parsons was born in London, England.
1970 – British rapper Simone Johnson better known by her stage name Monie Love was born on this day July 2 in London.
1974 – Drummer and guitarist William Rocky Gray was born in Jacksonville, Arkansas. He came to prominence as a member of the bands Evanescence and Solus Deus.
1983 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist Michelle Branch was born in Sedona, Arizona on this day July 2 in music history.