On This Day, July 6 in Music History
EVENTS ON JULY 6 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day July 6 in 1963 – R&B vocal group The Essex started a two-week stint at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Easier Said Than Done’.
1967 – Pink Floyd performed ‘See Emily Play’ on the music show Top of the Pops. This was the group’s first appearance on British television.
1971 – American trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong died on this day July 6 in music history, aged 69. He is one of the most influential jazz musicians and is best remembered for songs such as ‘What a Wonderful World’, ‘Hello, Dolly’, ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’, etc.
1973 – Rock band Queen released their debut single ‘Keep Yourself Alive’ in the UK. It failed to chart on both sides of the Atlantic.
1974 – With ‘Rock the Boat’, pop/soul trio The Hues Corporation topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day July 6.
1974 – Paul McCartney and Wings made a third comeback at No.1 on the US Billboard 200 chart with their third studio album ‘Band on the Run’. The album was a chart-topper in five more countries, including the UK and Canada.
1979 – American songwriter, record producer, arranger and singer Van McCoy died on this day July 6 at the age of 39 from a heart attack. Best remembered for his international hit single ‘The Hustle’.
1985 – Phil Collins returned at No.1 in the US with his third solo studio album ‘No Jacket Required’. The album was a chart-topper in ten countries that year, including the UK, Canada, and Australia. He also topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day with the single ‘Sussudio’.
1985 – Bruce Springsteen started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK Albums chart with ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ on this day July 6 in music history. As of July 2024, the album has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.
1991 – Hard rock band Van Halen topped the US Billboard 200 chart with their ninth studio album ‘For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge’.
1996 – With their greatest hits compilation LP ‘Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House’, rock band Crowded House topped the UK Albums chart on this day July 6.
2003 – American singer-songwriter and bassist Clyde “Skip” Battin died at the age of 69. Best remembered for playing with the bands The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
2013 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day July 6 was the debut LP ‘Long Way Down’ by the singer and songwriter Tom Odell
2013 – With his sixth studio album ‘Yeezus’, rapper Kanye West went to No.1 in the US on this day July 6 in music history. It also became a chart-topper in the UK, Russia, New Zealand, Denmark, Canada, and Australia.
2013 – Swedish electropop duo Icona Pop featuring singer Charli XCX topped the UK Singles chart with ‘I Love It’.
2019 – Rock band The Raconteurs scored their first number one album in the US with ‘Help Us Stranger’ on this day July 6. Their third studio LP and first release since 2008.
2020 – American singer, songwriter and guitarist Charlie Daniels died at the age of 83. Best remembered for his chart-topping single ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia’.
BORN ON JULY 6 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1924 – American drummer, bandleader, composer and arranger Louie Bellson was born in Rock Falls, Illinois on this day July 6 in music history. Best known for pioneering the use of two bass drums.
1925 – Singer, songwriter, guitarist and bandleader William “Bill” Haley was born in Highland Park, Michigan. Best known for songs such as ‘Rock Around the Clock’, ‘See You Later Alligator’, ‘Skinny Minnie’, etc. that popularized rock and roll music.
1931 – Jazz and gospel singer and actress Delloreese Early better known professionally as Della Reese was born on this day July 6 in Detroit, Michigan. She rose to fame in the late 1950s with the hit single ‘Don’t You Know?’.
1932 – Singer and songwriter DiFosco T. Ervin also known professionally as Big Dee Irwin was born in Harlem, New York. Best known for his rendition of ‘Swinging on a Star’.
1937 – Singer-songwriter, producer and record-label executive Gene Chandler was born Eugene Drake Dixon on this day July 6 in Chicago, Illinois. Best known for the songs ‘Duke of Earl’ and ‘Groove Situation’.
1939 – English bass guitarist Terence “Jet” Harris was born in London. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band The Shadows from 1958 until 1962.
1940 – Country music singer, songwriter and producer Jeannie Seely was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania on this day July 6 in music history. Best known for her 1966 hit ‘Don’t Touch Me’.
1944 – American multi-genre fiddle player and mandolinist Byron Berline was born in Caldwell, Kansas.
1949 – Drummer, percussionist and composer Michael Shrieve was born on this day July 6 in San Francisco, California. Best known as a member of the rock band Santana.
1952 – Guitarist and founding member of the heavy metal band Saxon, Graham Oliver was born in Mexborough, England.
1953 – American singer, songwriter and guitarist Nanci Griffith was born on this day July 6 in Seguin, Texas. Best known for her Grammy Award-winning tenth studio album ‘Other Voices, Other Rooms’.
1956 – Multi-instrumentalist John Jorgenson was born in Madison, Wisconsin. Best known for his work with the bands Desert Rose Band and The Hellecasters.
1959 – Drummer and founding member of the new wave band Spandau Ballet, John Keeble was born in London, England on this day July 6 in music history.
1961 – Drummer and songwriter Robert Heaton was born in Knutsford, England. He came to prominence as a member of the rock band New Model Army.
1968 – Singer-songwriter, guitar player and poet Heather Nova was born Heather Allison Frith on this day July 6 in Bermuda.
1970 – American rapper and record producer Jason Richard Hunter also known as Inspectah Deck was born in New York City. Best known as a member of the hip hop groups Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface.
1975 – American rapper Curtis Jackson better known by his stage name 50 Cent was born on this day July 6 in New York City.
1987 – English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actress Kate Nash was born in London.