On This Day, July 30 in Music History
EVENTS ON JULY 30 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day July 30 in 1955 – Johnny Cash recorded ‘Folsom Prison Blues’. It was released on December 15 and it became one of his signature songs.
1960 – With his fourth studio album ‘Elvis Is Back!’, Elvis Presley reached number one in the UK. In the US the album peaked at No.2
1965 – The Rolling Stones released their fourth studio album ‘Out of Our Heads’ on this day July 30 in music history. The album features one of their biggest hits ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ and it peaked at No.1 in the US and reached No.2 in the UK, Germany, Finland, and Australia.
1966 – The Troggs reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Wild Thing’. In the UK and Canada, the song peaked at No.2.
1966 – The Beatles scored their second number one album of the year in the US with ‘Yesterday and Today’ on this day July 30. They previously topped the Billboard 200 with ‘Rubber Soul’ in January.
1977 – With ‘I Just Want to Be Your Everything’, Andy Gibb hit No.1 in the US for the first of three weeks straight. The song also went to No.1 in Australia, Brazil, Chile, and Canada.
1988 – Steve Winwood started a four-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day July 30 with ‘Roll With It’.
1993 – American saxophonist Donald Myrick was killed by a police officer during a narcotics investigation, aged 53. Best remembered as a member of The Phenix Horns, and for his work with the likes of Phil Collins and Earth, Wind & Fire.
1994 – Pop-rock quartet Wet Wet Wet went to No.1 in the UK on this day July 30 in music history with their first compilation album ‘End of Part One: Their Greatest Hits’. The album also reached number one in Australia, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Sweden.
2001 – Indie rock band the Strokes released their debut studio album ‘Is This It’ on RCA and Rough Trade Records. The album was a Top 5 hit in the UK, Australia, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden, while in the US it reached No.33.
2002 – Bruce Springsteen released his twelfth studio album ‘The Rising’ through Columbia Records on this day July 30. The album was a commercial success and it topped the charts in twelve countries worldwide, including the US and UK.
2011 – Country music singer Blake Shelton scored his first number one album on the US Billboard 200 chart with ‘Red River Blue’. The album features four chart-topping singles ‘Honey Bee’, ‘God Gave Me You’, Drink on It’, and ‘Over’.
2014 – American guitarist and songwriter Richard “Dick” Wagner died on this day July 30 at the age of 71. Best remembered as the frontman of The Frost and for his work with the likes of Alice Cooper, Lou Reed and Kiss.
2015 – American country music singer and TV personality Lynn Anderson died at the age of 67. Best remembered for chart-topping hits such as ‘You’re My Man’, ‘Keep Me in Mind’, and ‘How Can I Unlove You’.
2020 – English DJ Joel Corry and singer MNEK scored their first number one single in the UK with ‘Head & Heart’ on this day July 30 in music history which held the top spot for six consecutive weeks.
2020 – Singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding scored her third number one album in the UK with ‘Brightest Blue’. In the US the album reached No.29 on the Billboard 200 chart.
BORN ON JULY 30 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1930 – Blues guitarist, singer and songwriter George “Buddy” Guy was born in Lettsworth, Louisiana on this day July 30 in music history. He is the recipient of eight Grammy Awards and his music has influenced the likes of Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, etc.
1941 – Singer, songwriter and actor Paul Anka was born in Ottawa, Canada. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Put Your Head on My Shoulder’, ‘Lonely Boy’, ‘Diana’, and ‘(You’re) Having My Baby’ among others.
1944 – Singer and multi-instrumentalist James Chambers also known professionally as Jimmy Cliff was born on this day July 30 in St. James, Jamaica. Best known for songs such as ‘Hakuna Matata’, ‘Many Rivers to Cross’, and ‘The Harder They Come’.
1944 – Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Christopher Darrow was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is considered a pioneer of the country rock music genre.
1945 – American jazz alto saxophonist and pianist David William Sanborn was born on this day July 30 in Tampa, Florida.
1946 – Bass guitarist Jeffrey Hammond was born on this day in Blackpool, England. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band Jethro Tull in the 1970s.
1948 – American blues multi-instrumentalist Otis Taylor was born in Chicago, Illinois on this day July 30 in music history.
1949 – Guitarist and vocalist Andrew “Andy” Scott was born in Wrexham, Wales. Best known as a longtime member of the glam rock band Sweet.
1955 – Drummer Christopher Millar also known by his stage name Rat Scabies was born on this day July 30 in Kingston upon Thames, England. Best known as a founding member of the punk rock band The Damned.
1956 – Jamaican-English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Phil Fearon was born on this day in Jamaica. He rose to fame as the frontman of the 1980s band Galaxy.
1958 – English singer-songwriter, pianist and producer Catherine “Kate” Bush was born on this day July 30 in Bexleyheath. Best known as the first female artist to top the UK Singles chart with a self-written song –‘Wuthering Heights’.
1958 – Country music singer Neal McCoy was born Hubert Neal McGaughey Jr. in Jacksonville, Texas.
1959 – Singer and co-founder of the post-punk/new wave band Department S., Vaughn Toulouse was born in St. Helier, Jersey on this day July 30 in music history.
1966 – English guitarist Craig Gannon was born on this day in Manchester. He came to prominence as a member of the indie rock band The Smiths.
1966 – Indian-British musician Jyoti Mishra better known by his stage name White Town was born on this day July 30 in Rourkela, India. Best known for his chart-topping hit single ‘Your Woman’.
1968 – Multi-instrumentalist Sean Moore was born in Pontypool, Wales. Best known as the co-founder and drummer of therock band Manic Street Preachers.
1980 – Founding member and lead singer of the folk-rock band The Avett Brothers, Seth Avett was born on this day July 30 in Charlotte, North Carolina.