On This Day, June 3 in Music History
EVENTS ON JUNE 3 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day June 3 in 1967 – The “Queen of Soul” – Aretha Franklin scored her first No.1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her signature rendition of ‘Respect’.
1967 – After their first single flopped, The Doors decided to shorten their second single ‘Light My Fire’ (from 7:06 to 2:52) in order to be played by radio stations. This proved to be a smart decision as it became their first number one single in the US on July 29.
1970 – Jimi Hendrix received a Gold Plaque by the RIAA for his live album ‘Band of Gypsys’ which sold over 500,000 copies on this day June 3 in music history.
1972 – Family vocal group The Staple Singers went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘I’ll Take You There’.
1972 – British rock band Jethro Tull topped the US Billboard 200 chart with their fifth studio album ‘Thick as a Brick’ on this day June 3 The album was also a chart-topper in Australia and Canada that year, while in the UK it peaked at No.5.
1977 – Bob Marley and the Wailers released their ninth album ‘Exodus’. The album peaked at No.8 in the UK and it features hit songs such as ‘Three Little Birds’, ‘One Love’, and ‘Jamming’.
1978 – Deniece Williams and Johnny Mathis topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Too Much, Too Little, Too Late’ on this day June 3. Deniece was celebrating her 27th birthday that day as well, what a present!
1989 – With their thirteenth studio album ‘The Miracle’, Queen went to number one in the UK. The album also topped the charts in Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Germany, and Switzerland that year, while in the US it peaked at No.24.
1989 – Actor and singer Michael Damian hit No.1 in the US with his rendition of the David Essex song ‘Rock On’ on this day June 3 in music history.
1989 – The number one album in the United States on this day was the second and final studio LP ‘The Raw & the Cooked’ by the British pop rock band Fire Young Cannibals. It held the top spot for seven weeks straight.
1990 – American pianist, songwriter and arranger Richard Sohl died on this day June 3, aged 37 of a heart attack. Best remembered for his work with Patti Smith and Iggy Pop.
1995 – Bryan Adams hit No.1 on the US Billboard 100 with ‘Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?’ for the first of five consecutive weeks. The song was also a chart-topper in Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and Austria that year.
1995 – With her first greatest hits compilation ‘Singles’, English singer Alison Moyet topped the UK Albums chart on this day June 3.
1997 – Hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan released their second studio album ‘Wu-Tang Forever’ on the Loud and RCA record labels. The LP was a commercial success and it reached No.1 in the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand.
2000 – Pop singer Britney Spears topped the US Billboard 200 with her studio album ‘Oops!…I Did It Again’ on this day June 3 in music history. It was an international hit that year and reached No.1 in 15 countries worldwide.
2000 – Singer and DJ Sonia Clarke better known by her stage name Sonique hit No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘It Feels So Good’ for the first of three weeks straight.
2006 – Rapper Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone started a two-week stint at No.1 in the US with ‘Ridin” on this day June 3.
2009 – American blues singer Cora Anna Walton also known professionally as Koko Taylor died at the age of 80.
2011 – American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Gold died on this day June 3, aged 59. Best remembered for songs such as ‘Never Let Her Slip Away’, ‘Lonely Boy’, and ‘Thank You for Being a Friend’.
2017 – With his eponymous debut solo studio album, singer and songwriter Harry Styles went to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
2021 – After topping the UK Singles chart for nine consecutive weeks with ‘Drivers License’ earlier in the year, Olivia Rodrigo scored her second No.1 single of the year in Britain with ‘Good 4 U’ which topped the chart for five weeks straight. She was also at No.1 on the UK Albums chart on this day June 3 with her debut LP ‘Sour’.
BORN ON JUNE 3 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1927 – American saxophonist Homer Louis “Boots” Randolph was born in Paducah, Kentucky. Best known for the pop novelty instrumental ‘Yakety Sax’ that most people know as The Benny Hill Show song.
1932 – American singer and performer Lillian Briggs dubbed “The Queen of Rock and Roll” was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
1936 – Soul and R&B guitarist Eddie “Chank” Willis was born in Grenada, Mississippi. He rose to fame as a member of The Funk Brothers in the 1960s and 1970s.
1939 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ian Hunter was born in Oswestry, England. Best known as the co founder and frontman of the rock band Mott the Hoople.
1942 – Singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer Curtis Mayfield was born in Chicago, Illinois. Best known as a member of The Impressions and for his eminent solo career.
1946 – American drummer Michael James Dick also known professionally as Michael Clarke was born in Spokane, Washington. Best known as a member the rock band the Byrds from 1964 until 1967.
1947 – English percussionist Michael “Mickey” Finn was born in London. Best known for his work with Marc Bolan in his band T.Rex.
1947 – Founding member and bassist for The Stooges, David “Dave” Alexander was born in Whitmore Lake, Michigan.
1951 – American soul and R&B singer Deniece Williams was born in Gary, Indiana. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Let’s Hear It for the Boy’, ‘Too Much, Too Little, Too Late’, ‘Free’, ‘Silly’, etc.
1950 – American singer-songwriter and bassist Susan “Suzi” Quatro was born in Detroit, Michigan. Best known for her chart-topping singles ‘Can the Can’ and ‘Devil Gate Drive’.
1952 – Keyboardist William “Billy” Powell was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. He rose to fame as a longtime member of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.
1956 – Singer, multi-instrumentalist and one half of the rock duo The Rembrandts, Danny Wilde was born in Houlton, Maine. His birth name is Daniel Thomas.
1964 – American guitarist and songwriter Kerry King was born in Los Angeles, California. He came to prominence as the co-founder of the thrash metal band Slayer.
1968 – Lead singer of the alt-rock band Republica, Samantha Sprackling also known as Saffron was born in Lagos, Nigeria.
1974 – Co-founder and frontman of the rock band Stereophonics, Kelly Jones was born in Cwmaman, Wales.