On This Day, September 16 in Music History
EVENTS ON SEPTEMBER 16 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day September 16 in 1963 – The Beatles released ‘She Loves You’ in the US. The song became a chart-topper in seven countries worldwide.
1963 – The Beach Boys released their third studio album ‘Surfer Girl’ through Capitol Records. It peaked at No.7 in the United States.
1968 – British lyricist and composer of popular music Maurice Alfred Cohen better known professionally as Michael Carr died at the age of 63. Best remembered for co-writing the 1939 song ‘South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)’.
1972 – With their rendition of ‘Black and White’, pop rock band Three Dog Night topped the US Billboard Hot 100 on this day September 16 in music history.
1972 – Rod Stewart went to number one in the UK with his fourth studio album ‘Never a Dull Moment’. The album reached No.1 in Canada as well and it peaked at No.2 in the US.
1977 – Rock band Talking Heads released their debut studio album ‘Talking Heads: 77’ on this day September 16. It features their signature debut hit ‘Psycho Killer’.
1977 – Guitarist and singer-songwriter Marc Bolan died in a car crash at the age of 29. Best remembered as the founder and leader of the rock band T.Rex.
1978 – The second studio album ‘Don’t Look Back’ by the rock band Boston topped the US Billboard 200 chart on this day September 16. Also a chart-topper in Canada.
1979 – The first hit hip hop song was released on this day by The Sugarhill Gang titled ‘Rapper’s Delight’. It became a chart-topper in Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain, while in the US it peaked at No.36. The song was also a Top 10 hit in a dozen countries, including the UK.
1985 – Singer and songwriter Kate Bush released her fifth studio album ‘Hounds of Love’ on EMI Records. The album was a commercial success and it topped the charts in the Netherlands and the UK.
1989 – Singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan scored her second number one single in the US with ‘Don’t Wanna Lose You’.
1995 – Folk rock band Levellers went to number one in the United Kingdom with their fourth studio album ‘Zeitgeist’.
2000 – With ‘Music’, Madonna started a four-week stint at No.1 in the US on this day September 16. The song was a big international hit and it topped the singles charts in 25 countries worldwide.
2000 – French house musical duo Modjo went to number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Lady (Hear Me Tonight)’. The song was a European hit and it topped the charts in 10 other countries on the old continent.
2003 – American singer-songwriter and actor Shelby “Sheb” Wooley died on this day at the age of 82. Best remembered for his 1958 hit single ‘The Purple People Eater’.
2006 – Bob Dylan topped the US Billboard 200 with his 32nd studio album ‘Modern Times’. His first chart-topper in America since 1976. The album also reached No.1 in Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia that year.
2006 – Pop rock band Scissor Sisters started a four-week run at number one in the UK with ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’‘.
Scissor Sisters – I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’
2006 – With their fourth studio album ‘Eyes Open’, alternative rock band Snow Patrol topped the UK Albums chart on this day September 16. It became a chart-topper in Australia and Ireland as well.
2006 – Influential Motown songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield died at the age of 68. Best remembered for penning and producing hit songs such as ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’, Cloud Nine’, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’, ‘Papa was a Rollin’ Stone’, and many other.
2009 – American singer-songwriter Mary Travers died on this day September 16 in music history at the age of 72.
2011 – Electric blues singer and multi-instrumentalist Willie Lee “Big Eyes” Smith died on this day at the age of 75.
2017 – Taylor Swift scored her fifth number one single in the United States with ‘Look What You Made Me Do’. The song broke multiple streaming records and it peaked at No.1 in fifteen countries worldwide, including the UK.
2017 – The number one album in the US on this day September 16 was ‘Luve Is Rage 2’ by the rapper Lil Uzi Vert.
2018 – English multi-instrumentalist and record producer Maartin Allcock died on this day at the age of 61 from liver cancer.
2021 – Canadian rapper Drake was at number one in the UK with his sixth studio album ‘Certified Lover Boy’. The album was a worldwide hit and it topped the charts in a dozen countries.
BORN ON SEPTEMBER 16 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1925 – American jazz guitarist and vocalist Charlie Byrd was born on this day September 16 in Suffolk, Virginia.
1925 – Blues singer-songwriter and guitarist Riley B. King better known professionally as B.B. King was born in Berclair, Mississippi.
1941 – Founding member of the rock band The Lovin’ Spoonful, Joseph “Joe” Butler was born on Long Island, New York.
1942 – English musician Bernard “Bernie” Calvert was born in Brierfield. Best known as a member of the band The Hollies from 1966 until 1981.
1944 – American R&B and soul music singer Betty Kelly was born on this day September 16 in Attalla, Alabama. She rose to fame as a member of the vocal group Martha and the Vandellas.
1948 – British drummer Kenney Jones was born in London, England. Best known for his work with the bands Small Faces/Faces and The Who.
1948 – American musician Ronald “Ron” Blair was born in San Diego, California. Best known as the original bass guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
1954 – Singer-songwriter Frank “Tchallah” Reed was born in Omaha, Nebraska on this day September 16 in music history. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group The Chi-Lites.
1959 – Musician, film producer, writer, and photographer Victory Tischler-Blue also known as Vicki Blue was born in Newport Beach, California. She came to prominence as the bassist of The Runaways before embarking on a career in the film industry.
1961 – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and keyboards player Bilinda Butcher was born on this day September 16 in London, England. Best known as a longtime member of the band My Bloody Valentine
1963 – Pop rock singer-songwriter Richard Marx was born in Highland Park, Illinois. Best known for his chart-topping singles ‘Right Here Waiting’, ‘Endless Summer Nights’, ‘Satisfied’, and ‘Hold On to the Nights’.
1964 – Co-founder and guitarist of the heavy metal band Skid Row, Dave Sabo nicknamed ‘The Snake’ was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
1968 – American singer, songwriter, and actor Marc Anthony was born in New York City. He’s the best-selling tropical/salsa music artist.
1969 – English musician and painter Justine Frischmann was born on this day September 16 in London. Best known for her work with the bands Elastica and Suede.
1977 – Multi-genre singer-songwriter and producer Musiq Soulchild was born as Taalib Hassan Johnson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1979 – American rapper Tramar Lacel Dillard also known professionally as Flo Rida was born in Miami Gardens, Florida on this day September 16 in music history.
1984 – Georgian-British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Katevan “Katie” Melua was born in Kutaisi, Georgia.
1992 – Singer and co-founder of the band Rixton now known as Push Baby, Jake Roche was born on this day September 16 in Reigate, England.
1992 – Singer-songwriter and co-founder of the family pop rock band Jonas Brothers, Nick Jonas was born in Dallas, Texas.