On This Day, March 5 in Music History
EVENTS ON MARCH 5 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day March 5 in 1956 – Frank Sinatra released his tenth album ‘Songs for Swingin’ Lovers’ through Capitol Records. The album peaked at No.2 in the US and it became the first record to top the newly formed UK Albums chart on July 28.
1963 – Country music singers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins lost their lives when the plane they were traveling with crashed in a forest outside of Camden, Tennessee due to bad weather.
1963 – The Beatles recorded ‘From Me to You’ and the B-side single ‘Thank You Girl’ on this day March 5 in music history. ‘From Me to You’ reached No.1 on the UK Singles chart on May 4 and it held the top spot for seven weeks.
1965 – The Mannish Boys (featuring young David Bowie) released their first single on this day March 5 which was a rendition of Bobby Bland‘s song ‘I Pity the Fool’.
1965 – English rock band The Yardbirds released ‘For Your Love’, a commercial pop rock single. With the single going public, Eric Clapton announced he was leaving the band because he wanted to play blues music and was against the group’s new artistic direction.
1966 – With the patriotic song ‘The Ballad of the Green Berets’, SSgt Barry Sadler started a five-week stint at No.1 in the US on this day March 5.
1966 – Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass scored their second No.1 album of the year in the US with ‘Going Places’. They previously topped the Billboard 200 with ‘Whipped Cream and Other Delights’ in January and February.
1969 – The famous American music magazine Creem published their first issue on this day March 5. The magazine went on to issue 224 editions before suspending production in 1989.
1971 – As a sign of gratitude, Led Zeppelin kicked off their 13 dates ‘Back to the Clubs Tour’ with a show in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Instead of playing in large arenas and auditoriums, the band decided to reward their most loyal fans who have supported them since the beginning.
1977 – With ‘ Evergreen’, Barbra Streisand hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on this day March 5 in music history for the first of three weeks. It was the theme song for the 1976 film ‘A Star Is Born’ in which she starred alongside Kris Kristofferson.
1982 – American actor, comedian and musician John Belushi died of an overdose, aged 33. He is best remembered as an original cast member of the sketch comedy show SNL and for starring in the musical action comedy film “The Blues Brothers”.
1983 – With ‘Billie Jean’, Michael Jackson hit number one on both the UK and US Singles charts. He was also at No.1 on the UK Albums chart with ‘Thriller’ on this day March 5.
1984 – British singer and songwriter Howard Jones released his debut album ‘Human’s Lib’. The album became a chart-topper in the UK while in America it peaked at No.59.
1995 – English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, author, and poet Victor “Vivian” Stanshall died on this day March 5 in music history at the age of 51.
2002 – The first episode of the new MTV reality show The Osbournes premiered in the US. The show follows the lives of Ozzy Osbourne and his family. It lasted for four seasons and its cited as the most-watched MTV series.
10 Crazy Ozzy Osbourne Facts You May Have Not Known
2005 – Indie rock band Doves went to number one in the UK on this day March 5 with their third studio album ‘Some Cities’.
2005 – Rapper 50 Cent featuring singer Olivia started a nine-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Candy Shop’.
50 Cent ft. Olivia – Candy Shop
2005 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day March 5 in music history was ‘Over and Over’ by Nelly and Tim McGraw.
2005 – With his posthumously released final studio album ‘Genius Loves Company’, Ray Charles topped the US Billboard 200 on this day March 5.
2016 – Barbadian singer Rihanna featuring Canadian rapper Drake hit No.1 on the US Singles chart with ‘Work’ for the first of nine consecutive weeks.
2020 – South Korean boy band BTS reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart with ‘Map of the Soul: 7’.
BORN ON MARCH 5 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1933 – Blues singer-songwriter and pianist Tommy Tucker was born Robert Higginbotham in Springfield, Ohio. Best known for the 1964 hit song ‘Hi-Heel Sneakers’.
1938 – American rock and roll singer, songwriter and guitar player Paul Evans was born in Queens, New York. Best known for his Top 10 hit song ‘Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Backseat’.
1946 – English singer, guitarist and actor Murray Head was born in London. Best known for the hit songs ‘Superstar’ and ‘One Night in Bangkok’.
1948 – Guyanese-British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eddy Grant was born in Plaisance, British Guiana. Best known as a founding member of the rock band The Equals.
1948 – English singer and actress Elaine Jill Bickerstaff better known as Elaine Paige was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire.
1952 – Keyboardist and record producer Alan Clark was born in County Durham, England. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band Dire Straits.
1956 – Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Mary Christine Brockert better known by her stage name Teena Marie was born in Santa Monica, California.
1957 – English singer-songwriter Mark E. Smith was born in Broughton, Lancashire. Best known as the co-founder and frontman of the post-punk group The Fall.
1958 – English singer-songwriter and actor Andrew “Andy” Gibb was born in Manchester. Best known for his chart-topping singles ‘Shadow Dancing’, ‘I Just Want to Be Your Everything’, and ‘(Love Is) Thicker Than Water’. He is also the younger brother of the Bee Gees trio Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb
1962 – Scottish twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid of the rock duo The Proclaimers were born in Edinburgh. Best known for their hit song ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’.
1970 – American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter John Frusciante was born in New York City. He came to prominence as a member of the rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
1982 – Bass guitarist and vocalist Russel Leetch was born in Solihull, England. Best known for his work with the indie rock band Editors.