EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day December 4 in 1959 – Adam Faith started a three-week run a No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘What Do You Want?’.
1965 – The Beatles released their fourth studio album ‘Beatles for Sale’ through Parlophone Records on this day December 4 in music history.
1965 – The Rolling Stones released their fifth studio album ‘December’s Children (And Everybody’s)’ in the US where it peaked at No.4 on the Billboard 200. The album features two chart-topping singles ‘Get Off of My Cloud’ and ‘As Tears Go By’.
1965 – With their rendition of the Pete Seeger song ‘Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)’, The Byrds hit No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the first of three weeks straight.
1971 – Led Zeppelin started a two-week stint at the top of the UK Albums chart with their untitled fourth studio LP also known as ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ on this day December 4.
10 Interesting Led Zeppelin Facts
1971 – Sly and the Family Stone hit number one on the US Singles chart with ‘Family Affair’ for the first of three consecutive weeks.
1976 – With their rendition of ‘Under the Moon of Love’, Showaddywaddy topped the UK Singles chart on this day December 4. It stayed at No.1 for three weeks straight.
1976 – American guitarist and songwriter Thomas “Tommy” Bolin died on this day at the age of 25 from an overdose. Best remembered for his work with the bands Zephyr, The James Gang, and Deep Purple.
1982 – English band The Jam went to number one in the UK with their final single ‘Beat Surrender’ for the first of two weeks straight.
1982 – John Lennon‘s posthumously released compilation album ‘The John Lennon Collection’ hit No.1 in the UK for the first of six consecutive weeks on this day December 4.
1993 – American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, songwriter, and bandleader Frank Zappa died on this day at the age of 52 from cancer.
1999 – Cliff Richard scored his fourteenth number one single in the UK with ‘The Millennium Prayer’ on this day December 4 in music history.
1999 – British pop group Steps scored their first domestic chart-topper with ‘Steptacular’, their second studio album.
1999 – The number one album in the United States on this day December 4 was ‘Issues’ by the nu metal band Korn. Also a chart-topper in Australia that year.
Korn – Falling Away from Me
2004 – The number one album in the UK on this day was ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ by the Irish rock band U2. The album was a worldwide hit and it peaked at No.1 in 30 countries.
2007 – American rapper and producer Chad Lamon Butler also known by his stage name Pimp C died on this day December 4, aged 33.
2010 – The X Factor Finalists topped the UK Singles chart with their rendition of the David Bowie song ‘Heroes’.
2010 – Rihanna scored her fourth No.1 single of the year in the US with ‘Only Girl (In the World)’ on this day December 4 in music history. The song was a worldwide hit and it also reached No.1 in fifteen other countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia.
2016 – Bassist, vocalist, and founding member of the band Daddy Cool, Wayne Duncan died on this day December 4, aged 72.
2021 – With her fourth studio album ’30’, singer-songwriter Adele hit number one on the US Billboard 200 for the first of six consecutive weeks. The album was a big hit worldwide and it also reached No.1 in 23 other countries.
2021 – Country music singer and acoustic guitar player Stonewall Jackson died on this day December 4 at the age of 89.
BORN ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1930 – American jazz music guitarist, arranger, and composer James “Jim” Hall was born in Buffalo, New York on this day December 4 in music history.
1940 – Rock and roll singer and guitarist Frederick Picariello also known professionally as Freddy Cannon was born in Revere, Massachusetts. Best known for songs such as ‘Tallahassee Lassie’, ‘Palisades Park’, and, ‘Way Down Yonder in New Orleans’.
1942 – Bassist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock band Moby Grape, Robert “Bob” Mosley was born on this day December 4 in San Diego, California.
1944 – Founding member and bassist of the rock band The Byrds, Christopher “Chris” Hillman was born in Los Angeles, California.
1944 – Drummer, singer, and songwriter Dennis Wilson was born on this day December 4 in Inglewood, California. He rose to fame as the co-founder of the band The Beach Boys.
1947 – Folk rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Terence “Terry” Woods was born on this day in Dublin, Ireland.
1948 – Blues rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John Lyon also known by his stage name Southside Johnny was born in Neptune, New Jersey on this day December 4 in music history.
1951 – Guitarist and founding member of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gary Rossington was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
1955 – Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Cassandra Wilson was born on this day December 4 in Jackson, Mississippi.
1962 – Founding member and frontman of the rock band Sponge, Mark “Vinnie” Dombroski was born in Detroit, Michigan.
1963 – American musician and songwriter Danny Weinkauf was born on this day December 4 in New York City. Best known as a member of the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants (TMBG).
1969 – American multi-genre singer, songwriter and producer Dionne Yvette Farris was born in Plainfield, New Jersey.
1969 – American rapper, songwriter, and producer Shawn Corey Carter better known by his stage name Jay-Z was born in New York City on this day December 4 in music history.
1972 – British drummer Justin Welch was born on this day in Nuneaton, England. Best known as a member of the bands Elastic, Lush, and Suede.
1981 – Country music singer Lila McCann was born on this day December 4 in Puyallup, Washington.
1992 – South Korean musician Kim Seok-jin also known professionally as Jin was born in Gwacheon, South Korea. He came to prominence as a member of the boy band BTS.