On This Day, October 6 in Music History
EVENTS ON OCTOBER 6 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day October 6 in 1958 – Pop singer Johnny Mathis released his first Christmas album ‘Merry Christmas’. The album went to on to sale over 5 million copies, making it one of the best-selling holiday records.
1969 – The Beatles released the double A-side singles ‘Something’/’Come Together’, songs written by George Harrison and John Lennon. Both songs were big hits and topped the charts in several countries, including the US.
1972 – David Bowie recorded ‘The Jean Genie’. It was released as a single on November 24 and it featured on his sixth studio album ‘Aladdin Sane’ and it became a No.2 hit in the UK.
1973 – With her rendition of ‘Half-Breed’, Cher scored her second solo number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1973 – Rock band Slade reached number one in the UK with their compilation album ‘Sladest’.
1978 – Australian rock and roll singer Johnny O’Keefe died at the age of 43 from a drug overdose. Best remembered for hit songs such as ‘Wild One’ and ‘Shout!’.
1979 – The Knack‘s six-week reign at No.1 on the US Singles chart with ‘My Sharona’ came to an end when Robert John took the top sport with ‘Sad Eyes’.
1979 – With his debut solo studio album ‘The Pleasure Principle’, new wave musician Gary Numan topped the UK Albums chart.
1984 – The number one album in the United Kingdom on this day was David Bowie‘s 16th studio album ‘Tonight’. The LP also reached No.1 in the Netherlands and was a Top 10 hit in a dozen countries worldwide.
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1985 – American composer, bandleader, arranger, and orchestrator Nelson Riddle died at the age of 63.
1990 – Reggae singer Maxi Priest topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Close to You’.
2001 – English singer-songwriter Dido reached number one in the UK with her debut studio album ‘No Angel’. The album was an international hit and it also topped the charts in nine other countries.
2007 – Rapper Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em returned for a five-week run at No.1 on the US Singles chart with ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy)’.
2007 – Girl group Sugababes hit number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘About You Now’ for the first of four consecutive weeks.
2007 – Country music singer Reba McEntire went to number one on the US Billboard 200 with her twenty-seventh studio album ‘Reba: Duets’.
2007 – With their sixth studio album ‘Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace’, rock band Foo Fighters were at number one in the UK.
2012 – With her sixth studio album ‘The Truth About Love’, P!nk reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
2012 – Rock band Mumford & Songs went to number one in the UK with their second studio album ‘Babel’. It also reached No.1 in seven other countries, including the US.
2012 – South Korean rapper Psy topped the UK Singles chart with his worldwide hit ‘Gangnam Style’ which took the world by storm at the time.
2016 – Passenger‘s seventh studio album ‘Young as the Morning, Old as the Sea’ reached the top spot on the UK Albums chart.
2016 – With ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’, singer-songwriter James Arthur started a three-week run at number one on the UK Singles chart.
2018 – The fourth studio album ‘Iridescence’ by the Boy band Brockhampton debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
2019 – English drummer Peter “Ginger” Baker died at age 80. He was dubbed the “first rock superstar drummer” and is best remembered as one third of the supergroup Cream.
2020 – American singer and songwriter Johnny Nash died at the age of 80. Best remembered for his 1971 hit single ‘I Can See Clearly Now’.
2020 – Guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65 from throat cancer.
BORN ON OCTOBER 6 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1943 – Vocalist for the pop group The Flower Pot Men, Robin George Scrimshar also known as Robin Shaw was born in London, England.
1947 – Jamaican singer and songwriter Millicent “Millie” Small was born in Clarendon, Jamaica. Best known for her hit single ‘My Boy Lollipop’ which peaked at No.2 on both sides of the Atlantic.
1949 – Singer, DJ and dancer Roberto “Bobby” Farrel was born in San Nicolaas, Aruba. Best known as a founding member of the Euro-Caribbean vocal group Boney M.
1949 – Founding member and lead guitarist of the funk and soul group The Commodores, Thomas McClary was born in Eustis, Florida.
1951 – American singer-songwriter, guitar player, and pianist Kevin CRonin was born in Evanston, Illinois. Best known as a member of the rock band REO Speedwagon.
1951 – One half of the folk and soft rock duo The Sutherland Brothers, Gavin Sutherland was born in Peterhead, Scotland.
1954 – American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist David Hidalgo was born in Gila, Arizona. He came to prominence as the co-founder of the rock band Los Lobos.
1958 – Multi-instrumentalist and record producer Tim Mooney was born in Las Vegas, Nevada. Best known for his work with bands such as Sleepers, Toiling Midgets, Negative Trend, and others.
1964 – American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer Matthew Sweet was born in Lincoln, Nebraska.
1966 – Bassist, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Thomas “Tommy” Stinson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Best known for his work with the bands The Replacements, Guns N’ Roses, Bash & Pop and Perfect.
1971 – Co-founder and guitarist of the heavy metal band Slipknot, Donnie Steele was born in Des Moines, Iowa.
1982 – American multi-instrumentalist and composer William “Will” Butler was born in Truckee, California. He rose to fame as a member of the indie rock band Arcade Fire.