On This Day, March 4 in Music History
EVENTS ON MARCH 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day March 4 in 1946 – Frank Sinatra released his debut solo album ‘The Voice of Frank Sinatra’ through Columbia Records. The LP peaked at No.1 on the US Billboard Best-Selling Popular Record Albums chart.
1963 – The Beach Boys released ‘Surfin’ U.S.A.’ through Capitol Records on this day March 4. The song is a rewritten version of Chuck Berry‘s hit ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’. It was the title track of their second studio album and became a Top 3 hit in the US and Canada.
1966 – John Lennon gave his infamous interview for ‘The London Evening Standard’ where he stated that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ. The statement led to great uproar, controversy, protests, and radio stations banning Beatles’ music in the US. In the UK, however, there were no problems.
1967 – With ‘Ruby Tuesday’, The Rolling Stones scored their fourth number one single in the US on this day March 4 in music history.
1972 – The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded Badfinger with a Gold Record for their single ‘Day After Day’. It was the band’s first and only gold single.
1978 – With ‘(Love Is) Thicker Than Water’, Andy Gibb replaced his older brothers – the Bee Gees at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 who topped the chart with ‘Stayin’ Alive’ for a month.
1986 – Canadian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Richard Manuel committed a suicide at the age of 42 on this day March 4. Best remembered for his work with the rock group The Band.
1989 – Singer-songwriter Debbie Gibson hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Lost in Your Eyes’ for the first of three consecutive weeks.
1992 – American jazz guitarist and guitar manufacturer Mary Osborne died on this day March 4 in music history at the age of 70.
1994 – Kurt Cobain was rushed to a hospital in Rome, Italy after he overdosed on a combination of Rohypnol pills and champagne. According to his wife Courtney Love, that was Cobain‘s first suicide attempt.
1996 – The Beatles released ‘Real Love’ through Apple Records on this day March 4. It’s a John Lennon demo song recorded in 1979 and 1980 that was completed by Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
1997 – American bass singer Raymond Edwards died on this day March 4, aged 74. Best known as a member of the doo wop/R&B group The Silhouettes who had the No.1 hit ‘Get a Job’.
1998 – The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded Bad Religion a Gold Record for their eight studio album ‘Stranger Than Fiction’ which sold over 500,000 copies. This was the group’s breakthrough album and the first to chart on the Billboard 200.
2000 – Country music group Lonestar started a two-week stint at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Amazed’ on this day March 4 in music history.
2001 – American singer Glenn Hughes died from lung cancer at the age of 50. Best remembered for his work with the disco group The Village People.
2003 – Nu metal band Evanescence released their debut studio album ‘Fallen’ through Wind-up Entertainment on this day March 4. The album became an international hit topping the charts in eight countries and it went on to sell more than 17 million copies worldwide.
2006 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day March 4 was ‘Sorry’ by Madonna, her 12th chart-topper in Britain.
2006 – American singer and songwriter Jack Johnson was at number one in the UK with his third studio album ‘In Between Dreams’.
2010 – Mexican-American guitarist and vocalist Lolly Vegas died on this day March 4 in music history, aged 70. Best remembered as a member of the bands The Avantis and Redbone which he co-founded with his brother Pat Vegas.
2019 – Singer, dancer, and founding member of the electronic dance music band The Prodigy, Keith Flint committed suicide at the age of 49.
2021 – With their tenth studio album ‘As the Love Continues’, post-rock band Mogwai topped the UK Albums chart on this day March 4.
BORN ON MARCH 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1925 – French orchestra leader Paul Mauriat was born in Marseille, France. Best known for his chart-topping remake of André Popp’s “Love is Blue”.
1932 – South African singer-songwriter and civil-rights activist Miriam Makeba also known as Mama Africa was born in Johannesburg.
1936 – Trombonist, songwriter, and bandleader Eric Allandale was born in Dominica, West Indies.
1944 – American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer Bobby Womack was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Best known for hit songs such as ‘Woman’s Gotta Have It’, That’s the Way I Feel About Cha’, and ‘Lookin’ for a Love’
1944 – Welsh singer-songwriter Shakin’ Stevens was born Michael Barratt in Cardiff, Wales. He was the biggest-selling artist of the 1980s in the UK and is known for hit singles such as ‘This Ole House’, ‘Green Door’, and ‘Oh Julie’.
1948 – Bassist, singer, songwriter, and founding member of the progressive rock band Yes, Chris Squire was born in London, England.
1951 – Singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Christopher “Chris” Rea was born in Middlesbrough, England.
1951 – Guitarist, vocalist, and composer Peter “Pete” Haycock was born in Stafford, England. He rose to fame as a founding member of the Climax Blues Band.
1955 – Multi-instrumentalist and founding member of the jazz-funk band Level 42, Rowland Charles “Boon” Gould was born in Shanklin, Isle of Wight.
1963 – American bass guitarist and vocalist Jason Newsted was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. Best known as a member of the metal bands Metallica, Voivod, and Flotsam and Jetsam.
1967 – American musician singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Evan Dando was born in Essex, Massachusetts. He came to prominence as the frontman of the alternative rock band The Lemonheads.
1968 – English singer and actress Patricia “Patsy” Kensit was born in London. Best known as a member of the pop band Eight Wonder.
1971 – Irish drummer and composer Fergal Lawler was born in Limerick. Best known as a founding member of the rock band The Cranberries.