On This Day, September 2 in Music History
EVENTS ON SEPTEMBER 2 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day September 2 in 1964 – The Rolling Stones recorded their rendition of the blues standard ‘Little Red Rooster’ by Willie Dixon. It was released on November 13 and it topped the UK Singles chart and to this day it’s the only blues song to achieve this feat.
1972 – Gilbert O’Sullivan returned to the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Alone Again (Naturally)’. Also a chart-topper in Canada and France that year, and a Top 3 hit in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.
1972 – With ‘You Wear It Well’, Rod Stewart reached number one on the UK Singles chart on this day September 2 in music history.
1982 – Fleetwood Mac played the second show of their 33 dates Mirage Tour at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia.
1989 – Singer and songwriter Richard Marx scored his first and only number one album on the US Billboard 200 chart with ‘Repeat Offender’.
1989 – Paula Abdul scored her third number one single of the year in the US with ‘Cold Hearted’. She previously topped the Hot 100 chart with ‘Straight Up’ and ‘Forever Your Girl‘.
1995 – Michael Jackson scored his thirteenth and final No.1 single in the US with ‘You Are Not Alone’ on this day September 2. It also topped the singles charts in twelve other countries, including the UK.
1995 – The soundtrack album to the drama film of the same name ‘Dangerous Minds’ started a four-week run at No.1 in the United States. It’s an album with hip hop, funk, and R&B songs, and it features hits such as ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’, ‘Feel the Funk’, and ‘Gin & Juice’.
1995 – Boy band Boyzone topped the UK Albums chart with their debut studio release ‘Said and Done’ on this day September 2 in music history.
1995 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum opened in Cleveland, Ohio. Artists such as Bod Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Iggy Pop, Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Berry, The Animals, Al Green, Johnny Cash, and others performed at the opening ceremony.
2000 – The number one song in the United Kingdom on this day September 2 in music history was ‘Music’ by Madonna. The song was a worldwide hit and it topped the singles charts in seventeen countries, including the US and Canada.
2001 – American jazz saxophonist Jay Migliori died at the age of 70. Best remembered as the co-founder of the Charlie Parker tribute band Supersax.
2005 – American musician Barry Cowsill died at the age of 50 as a result of the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Best known as a member of family vocal group The Cowsills.
2006 – Alternative rock band Snow Patrol went to number one in the UK with their fourth studio album ‘Eyes Open’. With over 1.5 million copies sold, it was the best-selling album of the year in the UK.
2006 – With her fifth studio album ‘Back to Basics’, Christina Aguilera topped the US Albums chart on this day September 2 in music history. The album was an international hit and it topped the charts in nine other countries, including the UK and Canada.
2006 – Beyonce and Jay-Z topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Déjà Vu’. In the United States the song peaked at No.4.
2017 – Singer and songwriter Kesha was at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with her third studio album ‘Rainbow’ on this day September 2.
2018 – Australian multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Conway Savage died at the age of 58 from brain tumor. Best remembered as the longtime member of the Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
2021 – American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo was at number one in the UK with her debut studio album ‘Sour’.
BORN ON SEPTEMBER 2 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1925 – English pop music pianist and composer Russ Conway was born as Trevor Hebert Stanford in Bristol. Best known for his chart-topping singles ‘Side Saddle’ and ‘Roulette’.
1925 – American film scores composer and orchestra leader Hugo Montenegro was born in New York City.
1934 – Singer and founding member of the R&B vocal group The Impressions, Samuel Gooden was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1938 – American singer Jimmy Clanton was born on this day September 2 in Raceland, Louisiana. Best known for his 1958 hit song ‘Just a Dream’.
1939 – One half of the R&B singing duo James & Bobby Purify, Robert Lee Dickey was born in Tallahassee, Florida.
1943 – American soul and R&B singer Rosalind “Roz” Ashford was born in Detroit, Michigan on this day September 2 in music history. She came to prominence as a founding member of the group Martha and the Vandellas.
1945 – Multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and arranger Martin “Marty” Grebb was born in Chicago, Illinois. He rose to fame as a member of the pop band The Buckinghams.
1946 – American keyboardist, songwriter, and vocalist William “Billy” Preston was born on this day September 2 in Houston, Texas. Best known for hits such as ‘That’s the Way God Planned It’, ‘Outa-Space’, ‘Space Race’, ‘Nothing from Nothing’, etc.
1947 – Founding member, drummer, and percussionist of the prog rock band Caravan, Richard Coughlan was born in Herne Bay, England.
1951 – English violinist and keyboards player Michael “Mik” Kaminski was born on this day September 2 in Harrogate. Best known as a member of the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
1953 – American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer, and conductor John Zorn was born in New York City.
1957 – Keyboardist, songwriter, and film scores composer Steven Porcaro was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Best known as a founding member of the rock band Toto.
1958 – Founding member, keyboardist, and backing vocalist of the pop band Simply Red, Fritz McIntyre was born in Birmingham, England.
1958 – American musician Jerome “Jerry” Augustyniak was born in Sloan, New York. Best known as the longtime drummer for the rock band 10,000 Maniacs.
1966 – Co-founder and lead guitarist of the metal band Fear Factory, Dino Cazares was born on this day September 2 in El Centro, California. He’s also known for his work with the bands Asesino, Divine Heresy, and Brujeria.
1969 – American singer and songwriter Cedric Renard Hailey also known professionally as K-Ci was born in Monroe, North Carolina. Best known as a member of the groups Jodeci and K-Ci & JoJo.
1975 – Heavy metal singer Jill Janus was born in New York City on this day September 2 in music history. She’s best known for fronting the bands Huntress, The Starbreakers and Chelsea Girls.
1975 – Singer and songwriter Anthony “Tony” Thompson was born in Waco, Texas. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist of the R&B quintet Hi-Five.
1987 – Co-founder, drummer, and songwriter of the pop rock band Panic! at the Disco, Spencer Smith was born in Denver, Colorado.