On This Day, September 3 in Music History
EVENTS ON SEPTEMBER 3 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day September 3 in 1966 – Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan scored his first and only number one single in the US with ‘Sunshine Superman’. In the UK, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands the song peaked at No.2.
1968 – Pop rock quarter Wet Wet Wet were at number one in the UK with their first compilation album ‘End of Part One: Their Greatest Hits’.
1970 – After twelve years of rocking and releasing fourteen studio albums, The Dave Clark Five also known as the DC5 decided to disband.
1970 – American singer-songwriter and composer Alan Wilson nicknamed “Blind Owl’ died of an apparent accidental barbiturate intoxication, aged 27. Best remembered as the co-founder and co-lead singer of the blues rock band Canned Heat.
1977 – Elvis Presley started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK Singles chart with ‘Way Down’ on this day September 3 in music history. It was the King of Rock and Roll‘s last single released before his untimely death.
1977 – English recording engineer Keith Harwood died in a car accident, aged 27. Best remembered for his work with the likes of David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin.
1983 – British pop duo Eurythmics went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)’. The song also reached No.1 in Canada and France, and it made the Top 10 in a dozen other countries.
1983 – With their rendition of Neil Diamond‘s 1967 song ‘Red Red Wine’, UB40 started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK Singles chart.
1988 – Def Leppard returned for the third time at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with their fourth studio album ‘Hysteria’. The LP originally topped the chart on July 23 and it also reached No.1 in Australia, Norway, New Zealand, and the UK.
1990 – Singer-songwriter George Michael released his second studio album ‘Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1’ through Columbia and Epic Records. The LP went on to sell over 8 million copies and was a Top 3 hit in a dozen countries, including No.1 in the UK.
1991 – Canadian rock band Rush released their fourteenth studio album ‘Roll the Bones’ through Anthem Records. The album sold over 1 million copies, reached No.3 in the US and peaked at No.10 in the UK.
1994 – American R&B singer Major Lance died on this day September 3 in music history. Best remembered for his hit singles ‘Um, Um, Um, Um, Um , Um’ and ‘The Monkey Time’.
2005 – American singer and actress Hilary Duff started a two-week run at No.1 in the US with her first compilation album ‘Most Wanted’. Also a chart-topper in Canada and a Top 3 hit in Japan and Australia.
2005 – Rock band Oasis scored their second number one single of the year in the UK with ‘The Importance of Being Idle’. They previously topped the chart with ‘Lyla’ on May 28.
2007 – American rockabilly and country music singer Janis Martin died on this day September 3 at the age of 67 from cancer.
2011 – The number one single in the United Kingdom on this day September 3 was ‘Heart Skips a Beat’ by Olly Murs featuring Rizzle Kicks.
Olly Murs ft. Rizzle Kicks – Heart Skips a Beat
2010 – English cellist and music teacher Michael “Mike” Edwards also known as Pramada died in a car accident, aged 62. Best remembered for his work with Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) in the 1970s.
2011 – English singer-songwriter Will Young went to number one in the UK with his fifth studio album ‘Echoes’.
2015 – American singer and songwriter Rachel Platten scored her first number one single in the UK with ‘Fight Song’.
2015 – With her debut studio album ‘I Cry When I Laugh’, Jess Glynne topped the UK Albums chart on this day September 3 in music history.
2016 – The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey started a twelve-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Closer’.
2017 – Co-founder, songwriter, guitarist, and bassist of the jazz rock band Steely Dan, Walter Becker died on this day September 3, aged 67.
2017 – Founding member and lead guitarist of the rock band Molly Hatchet, David “Dave” Hlubek died at the age of 66.
2019 – American songwriter, arranger, and vocal producer LeShawn Daniels lost his life in a car crash, aged 41. Best remembered for his work with the likes of Michael Jackson, Destiny’s Child, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, and Jennifer Lopez among others.
2020 – The sixth studio album ‘Imploding the Mirage’ by the pop rock band The Killers was at No.1 in the UK. The LP was also a chart-topper in Australia and Ireland that year.
BORN ON SEPTEMBER 3 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1915 – American blues singer, pianist, and composer John Len Chatman better known as Memphis Slim was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
1933 – American country music singer and guitar player Thomas Paul “Tompall” Glaser was born in Spalding, Nebraska.
1934 – Blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Freddie King was born on this day September 3 in Gilmer, Texas. Best known as one of the “Three Kings of the Blues Guitar” alongside Albert King and B.B. King.
1942 – Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of The Beach Boys, Alan “Al” Jardine was born in Lima, Ohio.
1942 – English singer Mike Harrison was born in Carlisle. He came to prominence as the lead singer of the rock band Spooky Tooth.
1945 – American musician George Biondo was born on this day September 3 in Brooklyn, New York. Best known as a member of the rock band Steppenwolf from 1970 until 1976.
1947 – Guitarist and founding member of the hard rock band Thin Lizzy, Eric Bell was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
1948 – American drummer and singer Donald “Don” Brewer was born in Flint, Michigan on this day September 3 in music history. Best known as a founding member of the band Grand Funk Railroad.
1955 – Co-founder, guitarist, and vocalist of the punk rock band Sex Pistols, Stephen “Steve” Jones was born in London, England.
1963 – American multi-instrumentalist and composer Jonathan Segel was born on this day September 3 in Marseille, France. Best known for his work with the bands Camper Van Beethoven and Sparklehorse.
1973 – Pop singer Jennifer Paige was born in Marietta, Georgia. Best known for her hit songs ‘Crush’, ‘Always You’, and ‘Sober’.
1979 – Croatian-American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Tomislav “Tomo” Milicevic was born in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. He rose to fame as a member of the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars from 2003 until 2018.
1980 – Canadian bassist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer Jason “Cone” McCaslin was born in North York, Ontario on this day September 3 in music history. Best known as a longtime member of the rock band Sum 41.
1986 – Jamaican singer Omar Samuel Pasley also known as OMI was born in Clarendon, Jamaica. Best known for his worldwide hit single ‘Cheerleader’.