EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY SEPTEMBER 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day September 4 in 1961 – The Highwaymen started a two-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Michael, Row the Boat Ashore’.
1962 – The Beatles finished recording the UK single version of ‘Love Me Do’ which peaked at No.17 in the country. A week later on September 11 they recorded the US version which topped the singles charts in North America in 1964.
1965 – The number one single in the United States on this day September 4 in music history was ‘Help!’ by The Beatles. The song was an international hit that year and it topped the charts in ten other countries worldwide.
1968 – The Bee Gees scored their second number one single in the UK with ‘I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You’ on this day September 4 in music history. It was also their first Top 10 hit in America.
1970 – The Rolling Stones released their second live album ‘Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out’ on Decca Records in the UK and London Records in the US. The album was a Top 10 hit in nine countries around the world, including a No.1 in the UK.
1971 – Husband-and-wife duo Paul & Linda McCartney topped the US Singles chart with ‘Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey’. Also a chart-topper in Canada and New Zealand that year.
1976 – The Bee Gees scored their second number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘You Should Be Dancing’.
1976 – Swedish pop group ABBA started a six-week run at number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Dancing Queen’. The song was a worldwide hit and it topped the charts in thirteen other countries, including the US and USSR.
1976 – Fleetwood Mac went to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with their self-titled tenth studio album on this day September 4 in music history.
1982 – With ‘Abracadabra’, the Steve Miller Band topped the US Singles chart. The song also topped the charts in Australia, Austria, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland that year.
1982 – The theme song ‘Eye of the Tiger’ of the sports drama film ‘Rocky III’ by Survivor started a four-week at number one in the UK.
1991 – American country music singer and songwriter Dorothy “Dottie” West died on this day September 4, aged 58 due to complications following a car crash.
1999 – Enrique Iglesias took the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with the Spanglish song ‘Bailamos’ (‘We Dance’).
1999 – With his rendition of ‘Mambo No.5 (A Little Bit Of…)’, Lou Bega topped the UK Singles chart on this day September 4. The song was a big international hit that year and it went to No.1 in twenty-two countries.
Lou Bega – Mambo No.5 (A Little Bit Of…)
2000 – American musician and songwriter David Brown died of liver and kidney failure, aged 53. Best known as a member of the rock band Santana with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2001 – Heavy metal band System of a Down released their second studio album ‘Toxicity’ on this day September 4. The album peaked at number one in North America and it features three of their most famous songs ‘Chop Suey!’, ‘Toxicity’, and ‘Aerials’.
2004 – Electronic music group The Prodigy scored their third consecutive No.1 album in the UK with ‘Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned’.
2010 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day September 4 in music history was ‘Dynamite’ by Taio Cruz. Also a chart-topper in six other countries, and a hit in the US where it peaked at No.2 on the Hot 100.
2010 – With his seventh studio album ‘Recovery’, American rapper Eminem climbed to the top spot on the UK albums chart.
2021 – Singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo returned for the third time at number one in the US with her debut studio album ‘Sour’. The album peaked at No.1 in eighteen countries worldwide and it earned her a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. It also features three singles that reached the Top 3 on the Hot 100 chart, including two chart-toppers in ‘Drivers License’ and ‘Deja Vu’.
BORN ON THIS DAY SEPTEMBER 4 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1940 – American soul singer Sonny Charles was born as Charles Hemphill in Blytheville, Arkansas. He came to prominence as the lead singer of the R&B group Checkmates, Ltd.
1942 – American soul and R&B singer Merald “Bubba” Knight was born in Atlanta, Georgia on this day September 4 in music history. Best known as a member of the vocal group Gladys Knight & the Pips.
1944 – Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Gene Parsons was born on this day in Morongo Valley, California. He rose to fame as a member of The Byrds from 1968 until 1972 before establishing himself as a solo artist and collaborating with other bands.
1946 – American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Gary Duncan was born on this day September 4 in San Diego, California. Best known for his work with the bands The Brogues and Quicksilver Messenger Service.
1951 – Founding member and drummer of the rock band The Pretenders, Martin Chambers was born in Hereford, England.
1960 – Multi-instrumentalist Kim Thayil was born in Seattle, Washington on this day September 4 in music history. Best known as the co-founder and lead singer of the rock/metal band Soundgarden.
1970 – Co-founder and drummer of the heavy metal band Sepultura, Igor Cavalera was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
1974 – American singer and dancer Carmit Bachar was born on this day in Los Angeles, California. Best known as a member of the girl group the Pussycat Dolls.
1975 – British-American DJ, record producer, and songwriter Mark Ronson was born on this day September 4 in London, England.
1981 – American singer and songwriter Beyonce Knowles was born in Houston, Texas on this day September 4 in music history. She’s one of the best-selling music artists of all time with over 150 million records sold worldwide.
1990 – Singer-songwriter and guitarist James Bay was born in Hitchin, England. He came to prominence with his chart-topping debut studio album ‘Chaos and the Calm’ in 2014.