EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY OCTOBER 8 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day October 8 in 1955 – Pop music quarter The Four Aces topped the US singles chart with ‘Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing’, a song from the eponymous movies. Besides being a chart topper in the US and a No.2 hit in the UK, it also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
1964 – The Beatles recorded the Lennon-McCartney penned song – ‘She’s a Woman’. It was released a month later in November and became a Top 10 hit in multiple countries worldwide.
1964 – With ‘Pretty Woman’, Roy Orbison scored his third No.1 single in the United Kingdom on this day October 8 in music history. While in the United States, the song entered the second week as a chart topping hit where it stayed for three weeks in total. Also a massive hit worldwide and a chart topper in dozen more countries.
1966 – Ginger Baker collapsed on stage during a Cream concert after a legendary drum solo lasting more than 20 minutes. He was then rushed to a local hospital and made a quick recovery.
1969 – Rising star David Bowie kicked off a tour around England on this day October 8 as the supporting act for newly formed hard rock supergroup Humble Pie.
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1977 – Actor and singer David Soul topped the UK and Irish singles chart with ‘Silver Lady’. But despite his musical talent, David is best known for his portrayal of Hutch in the popular 1970s TV series ‘Starsky & Hutch’.
1980 – American rock band Talking Heads released their fourth studio album ‘Remain in Light’. The album became a certified Gold record and and it peaked at No.19 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
1980 – Eccentric singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Prince released his third studio album ‘Dirty Mind’ on this day October 8 in music history. It features hit singles such as ‘Uptown’, ‘Do It All Night’ and ‘Dirty Mind’.
Prince – Dirty Mind
1987 – Chuck Berry received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame before the premiere of his documentary film ‘Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll’.
1988 – The number one single in the United States on this day October 8 was ‘Love Bites’ by the glam metal band Def Leppard.
1988 – With ‘Desire’, Irish rock band U2 scored their first chart topping single in the UK and Australia. The song also became a No.1 hit in multiple countries worldwide and peaked at No.3 in the US.
1990 – English rock drummer Barrie James “B.J” Wilson died on this day October 8, aged 43. Best known as a member of the band Procol Harum.
1991 – American rock band Soundgarden released their third studio album ‘Badmotorfinger’ on this day October 8 in music history.
2000 – With their fourth studio album ‘Kid A’, Radiohead went to number one on the UK Albums chart. Later became a chart topper in the US, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and France as well.
2002 – Rock band Bon Jovi released their eight studio album ‘Bounce’ through Island Records. The record became a Top 10 hit in a dozen countries worldwide, peaking at No.2 on the UK and US album charts.
2005 – The number one album in the US on this day October 8 was ‘Ten Thousand Fists’ by the heavy metal band Disturbed.
2006 – With their second studio album ‘Sam’s Town’, American rock band The Killers topped the albums chart in the United Kingdom. They also had a great success in the US where the album peaked at No.2.
2011 – Aged 85, Tony Bennett became the oldest living musician to top the US Billboard 200 when his album ‘Duets II’ debuted at No.1 on this day October 8.
2011 – American musician and artist Michael “Mikey” Welsh died at the age of 40 of a drug overdose. Best known for his work as a bassist with the rock band Weezer.
2011 – Popular music pianist Roger Williams died on this day October 8 in music history from pancreatic cancer, aged 87.
2019 – Founding member and tenor saxophonist for the Average White Band, Malcom “Molly” Duncan died at the age of 74.
BORN ON THIS DAY OCTOBER 8 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1932 – American record producer and pedal steel guitar player Roddis “Pete” Drake was born on this day October 8 in Augusta, Georgia. He was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2021.
1940 – American soul singer Fred Cash was born on this day in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Best known as a member of The Impressions with whom he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
1941 – American pop singer and songwriter Reese Francis Clifford III also known as Buzz Clifford was born in Berwyn, Illinois. Most famous for his 1961 hit single ‘Baby Sittin’ Boogie’ that peaked at No.6 in the US.
1944 – American country music singer Susan Raye was born on this day October 8 in Eugene, Oregon. She had multiple Top 10 hits with the most notable one being ‘L.A. International Airport’.
1947 – Trinidadian vocalist, songwriter and bass guitarist Anthony ‘Tony’ Wilson was born on this day October 8 in music history. Best known for his work with soul and funk band Hot Chocolate. He also co-wrote the hit songs ;Love Is Life’, ‘Emma’ and ‘Brother Louie’.
1948 – John William Cummings also known as Johnny Ramone was born on this day October 8 in New York City. Best known as a founding member, guitarist and songwriter for the punk rock band the Ramones.
1949 – Scottish singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer James Hamish Stuart was born on this day in Glasgow. Best known as a founding member of the funk and R&B group the Average White Band.
1963 – American singer-songwriter and guitarist Stephen “Steve” Perry was born in Syracuse, New York. Best known as a founding member of the ska-swing band Cherry Poppin’ Daddies.
1965 – American musician Christopher Joseph Ward also known as C.J. Ramone was born on this day October 8 in Queens, New York. He sang and played bass for the punk rock group the Ramones between 1989 and 1996.
1967 – American musician and record producer Edward Theodore “Teddy” Riley was born in New York City. Best known as one of the founders of the new jacks wing genre which is a fusion of hip-hop, R&B and dance-pop.
1985 – American singer-songwriter and record producer Peter Gene Hernandez also known as Bruno Mars was born on this day October 8 in music history.