On This Day, July 3 in Music History
EVENTS ON JULY 3 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day July 3 in 1959 – Singer-songwriter Bobby Darin started a four-week stint at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘Dream Lover’.
1965 – The Four Tops returned to number one on the US Singles chart with ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)’.
1968 – With ‘Baby, Come Back’, The Equals hit No.1 in the UK for the first of three weeks straight on this day July 3 in music history. The song was a chart-topper in Belgium and South Africa as well.
1969 – English multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Brian Jones drowned in a swimming pool, aged 27. Best remembered as the founder and original leader of the Rolling Stones.
1971 – Folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel returned for a five-week run at No.1 in the UK on this day July 3 with their fifth and final studio album ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.
1971 – American singer-songwriter and poet Jim Morrison died of a heart failure at the age of 27. Best remembered as the co-founder and frontman of The Doors.
1972 – American hill country blues singer and guitarist Mississippi Fred McDowell died on this day July 3 at the age of 68.
1982 – Synthpop group the Human League topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Don’t You Want Me’. The song was a big international hit and it went to No.1 in Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK as well.
1982 – With their debut studio album ‘The Lexicon of Love’, pop group ABC started a four-week run at No.1 in the UK on this day July 3 in music history.
1982 – With his rendition of the 1949 show tune ‘Happy Talk’, singer and guitarist Captain Sensible reached number one on the UK Singles chart.
1999 – German DJ and record producer ATB started a two-week rut at No.1 in the UK with ‘9 PM (Till I Come)’ on this day July 3.
1999 – With their third studio album ‘Surrender’, electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers reached number one in the UK.
2001 – American country singer, songwriter and comedian Johnny Russell died on this day July 3, aged 61. Best remembered for his rendition of ‘Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer’ which peaked at No.4 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
2004 – Pop rock group McFly scored their second No.1 single of the year in the UK with ‘Obviously’. They previously topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Five Colours In Her Hair’ on April 10.
2004 – Hip hop group the Beastie Boys topped the US Billboard 200 chart with their sixth studio album ‘To the 5 Boroughs’ on this day July 3 in music history. Also a chart-topper in Canada, and a No.2 hit in the UK and Australia.
2004 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day was ‘A Grand Don’t Come for Free’ by the rapper and producer Mike Skinner.
2008 – Singer, multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of the Climax Blues Band, Colin Cooper died on this day July 3 at the age of 69.
2010 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day was ‘California Gurls’ by Katy Perry featuring rapper Snoop Dogg.
2010 – Canadian rapper Drake scored his first number one album in the United States with his debut studio release ‘Thank Me Later’ on this day July 3.
2010 – With his seventh studio release ‘Recovery’, rapper Eminem topped the UK Albums chart. The album also hit No.1 in the US, Canada, Australia and several other countries.
2021 – With her debut studio album ‘Sour’, Olivia Rodrigo returned to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart on this day July 3 in music history. The album topped eighteen charts worldwide and it won her a Grammy Award.
BORN ON JULY 3 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1930 – American guitarist, composer and studio musician Thomas Tedesco was born in Niagara Falls, New York on this day July 3 in music history. Best known as a member of the music collective The Wrecking Crew.
1940 – R&B and soul singer and songwriter Fontella Bass was born on this day in St. Louis, Missouri. She rose to fame with her 1965 chart-topping single ‘Rescue Me’.
1943 – Australian singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Judith Durham was born on this day July 3 in Essendon. She came to prominence as the lead singer of the pop-folk group The Seekers.
1947 – American actress and singer Betty Buckley was born in Big Spring, Texas. She has released 18 solo albums and has featured on many Broadway compilation recordings.
1947 – English guitarist and artist Anthony “Top” Topham was born on this day July 3 in Southall. Best known as a founding member and first lead guitarist of The Yardbirds.
1948 – American guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Paul Barrere was born in Los Angeles, California. Best known as a member of the rock band Little Feat.
1949 – Co-founder and co-lead singer of the disco funk band Heatwave, Johnnie Wilder was born in Dayton, Ohio on this day July 3 in music history.
1951 – Multi-instrumentalist and founding member of the rock band The Babys, Michael Corby was born on this day in Windsor, England.
1952 – American singer-songwriter Laura Branigan was born on this day July 3 in Brewster, New York. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Gloria’, ‘Solitaire’, ‘Self Control’, etc.
1956 – Founder and frontman of the heavy metal band Ratt, Stephen Pearcy was born in Long Beach, California.
1960 – Multi-instrumentalist, DJ, producer and songwriter Vincent Martin also known as Vince Clarke was born on this day July 3 in South Woodford, England. Best known as a founding member of Depeche Mode, and as one half of the synth pop duos Erasure and Yazoo.
1969 – Canadian multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn was born in Toronto, Ontario. Best known as a member of the bands Barenaked Ladies, Rheostatics, and his own group Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle.
1975 – Argentinian drummer Javier Weyler was born in Buenos Aires on this day July 3 in music history. He rose to fame as a member of the Welsh rock band Stereophonics from 2004 until 2012.
1976 – Irish singer Shane Lynch was born on this day in Dublin. He gained popularity as a member of the boy band Boyzone.