On This Day, May 8 in Music History
EVENTS ON MAY 8 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day May 8 in 1954 – Actress and singer Doris Day returned for an eight-week run at number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Secret Love’.
1967 – The eldest sister of the sibling close harmony singing group The Andrews Sisters, LaVerne Sophia died from cancer at the age of 55.
1968 – American journalist, announcer, and radio personality George D Hay died on this day May 8 in music history at the age of 72. Best remembered as the founder of the country radio program Grand Ole Opry,
1970 – The Beatles released their twelfth and final studio album ‘Let It Be’ on Apple Records. The album wasn’t well received by the bitter critics but it was a commercial success and it peaked at No.1 in several countries worldwide. It also features three chart-topping singles.
1971 – With their ninth British studio album ‘Sticky Fingers’, The Rolling Stones started a four-week stint at number one in the UK on this day May 8. The album was an international hit that year and reached the top spot in ten other countries.
1974 – British vocalist, multi- instrumentalist and occultist Graham Bond committed suicide at the age of 36. He was considered a founding father of the English rhythm and blues music scene.
1976 – With ‘Fernando’, Swedish pop group ABBA topped the UK Singles chart. The group also hit number one on the UK Albums chart on this day May 8 in music history with ‘Greatest Hits’ for the first of nine consecutive weeks.
1976 – With the theme song of the TV sitcom “Welcome Back Kotter”, John Sebastian went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1982 – American record executive and founder of Casablanca Records, Neil Bogart died on this day May 8 at the age of 39 from cancer.
1982 – Paul McCartney reached No.1 in the UK with his third solo studio album ‘Tug of War’. Also a chart-topper in the US, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands that year.
1982 – With the instrumental theme song from the eponymous film ‘Chariots of Fire’, composer Vangelis topped the US Billboard Hot 100.
1991 – Bohemian-born pianist Rudolf Serkin died from cancer at the age 88. Often regarded as one of the greatest Beethoven interpreters of the 20th century.
1993 – With their eleventh studio album ‘Get a Grip’, Aerosmith went to number one in the US on this day May 8 in music history. The LP is the band’s best-selling album with over 20 million units sold worldwide.
1999 – Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin started a five-week stint at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca’. The song was a massive hit worldwide that year, reaching the top spot in over 20 countries.
1999 – American jazz and blues vocalist Amos Leon Thomas died on this day May 8, aged 61 from heart failure as a result of leukemia.
2001 – Canadian pop rock band Sum 41 released their debut studio album ‘All Killer, No Filler’. The album peaked at No.7 in the UK and reached No.13 in the US, and was certified platinum in three countries.
2004 – American hip hop supergroup D12 reached number one in the UK on this day May 8 with their second and final studio album ‘D12 World’.
2008 – American country music singer and songwriter Edward ‘Eddy’ Arnold died at the age of 89. Best known for scoring 147 songs on the Billboard Country charts and for selling over 85 million records worldwide.
2010 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day May 8 in music history was ‘Good Times’ by grime music collective Roll Deep. It held the top spot for three consecutive weeks.
2010 – The cast of the musical TV series Glee reached No.1 in the US with their debut extended play (EP) ‘Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna’.
2021 – With his fourth studio album ‘A Gangsta’s Pain’, rapper Moneybagg Yo topped the US Billboard 200 on this day May 8.
2021 – The Weeknd and Ariana Grande started a two-week run at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Save Your Tears’.
BORN ON MAY 8 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1910 – American jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger Mary Lou Williams was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
1911 – American blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. He is considered “the first ever rock star”.
1940 – Rock and roll singer-songwriter and actor Ricky Nelson was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. Best known for hit songs ‘Poor Little Fool’, ‘Travelin’ Man’, ‘A Teenager’s Romance’, ‘Stood Up’, etc.
1940 – Singer, songwriter and keyboardist Cathryn “Toni” Tennille was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Best known as one half of the husband and wife music duo Captain & Tennille.
1941 – Singer and songwriter John Gourrier also known by his stage name John Fred was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Best known for his 1967 hit song ‘Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)’.
1943 – Multi-instrumentalist and record producer Paul Samwell-Smith was born in London, England. Best known as a founding member of The Yardbirds
1943 – Guitarist and songwriter Danny Whitten was born in Columbus, Georgia. Best known as a member of the rock band Crazy Horse and for writing the hit song ‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It’.
1951 – American drummer and record producer Chris Frantz was born in Campbell, Kentucky. He gained fame as the co-founder of the band Talking Heads with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1951 – Singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Philip Bailey was born in Denver, Colorado. He rose to fame as one of the two lead singers of Earth, Wind & Fire.
1953 – Drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, Alexander “Alex” Van Halen was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
1953 – American guitarist, singer, and songwriter William “Billy” Burnette was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Best known for his work with Fleetwood Mac from 1987 until 1995.
1964 – Drummer and founding member of the pop rock band Blur, David Rowntree was born in Colchester, England
1972 – Singer, songwriter and producer Darren Hayes was born in Brisbane, Australia. He came to prominence as one half of the pop duo Savage Garden.
1975 – Spanish singer and songwriter Enrique Igleasias nicknamed the ‘King of Latin Pop’ was born in Madrid. Best known for the chart-topping singles ‘Bailamos’, and ‘Rhythm Divine’.
1976 – Singer and actor Ian Watkins also known as H was born in Llwynypia, Wales. Best known as a member of the pop group Steps.
1977 – American blues rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist Joseph “Joe” Bonamassa was born in New Hartford, New York.
1983 – Bassist, vocalist, and co-founder of the pop rock group Busted, Mathew Willis was born in London, England.