On This Day, September 5 in Music History
EVENTS ON SEPTEMBER 5 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day September 5 in 1957 – Elvis Presley recorded his version of the Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson Christmas song ‘Blue Christmas’. However, it wasn’t released as a single until November 1964.
1964 – With ‘The House of the Rising Sun’, The Animals started a three-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also became a chart-topper in Canada, Finland, Spain, and the UK.
1969 – American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Joshua Daniel White died on this day September 5, aged 55. He was also known under the stage names Pinewood Tom and Tippy Barton.
1978 – American singer Joe Negroni died at the age of 37 from a cerebral hemorrhage. Best known as a founding member of the band Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.
1981 – Singer and songwriter Stevie Nicks went to number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with her debut solo studio album ‘Bella Donna’. The album also reached No.1 in Australia and it features several hit singles such as ‘Edge of Seventeen’ and ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’.
1981 – Synthpop duo Soft Cell started a two-week run at No.1 in the UK with their rendition of Gloria Jones‘ 1965 single ‘Tainted Love’.
1989 – Grunge band Soundgarden released their second studio album ‘Louder Than Love’ through A&M Records. The LP peaked at No.108 in the US and it features the singles ‘Loud Love’, and ‘Hands All Over’.
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1992 – Australian singer Kylie Minogue went to number one in the UK with her first compilation album ‘Kylie Greatest Hits’. It features 22 songs, including ‘I Should Be So Lucky’, ‘It’s No Secret’, ‘The Loco-Motion’, ‘Got to be Certain’, etc.
1998 – American singer-songwriter and pianist Joseph Coleman Smith also known as Sonny Knight died at the age of 64.
1998 – Aerosmith started a four-week run at number one on the US Singles chart with ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ – the theme song of the sci-fi disaster film ‘Armageddon’. The song was a worldwide hit and it topped the charts in ten countries.
1998 – Irish boy band Boyzone scored their third consecutive number one album in the UK with ‘Where We Belong’.
1998 – With their third studio album ‘Follow the Leader’, nu metal band Korn topped the US Billboard 200 chart on this day September 5 in music history. Also a chart-topper in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand that year.
1998 – Alternative rock and Manic Street Preachers topped the UK Singles chart with ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’.
2009 – Country music singer Reba McEntire topped the US Billboard 200 with her twenty-eighth studio album ‘Keep On Loving You’.
2009 – Rock band Arctic Monkeys scored their third consecutive number one album in the UK with ‘Humbug’. Also a chart-topper in Ireland and Belgium. In the United States it peaked at No.15.
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2009 – English rapper Dizzee Rascal and singer Chrome topped the UK Singles chart with ‘Holiday’ on this day September 5.
2012 – American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Joseph Souter also known professionally as Joe South died at the age of 72. Best remembered for his Grammy Award-winning song ‘Games People Play’ and the chart-topper ‘Rose Garden’.
2014 – Singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress Simone Battle committed suicide on this day September 5, aged 25. Best known as a member of the girl group G.R.L.
2019 – Singer and songwriter Taylor Swift went to number one on the UK Albums chart with her seventh studio release ‘Lover’.
2019 – With ‘Take Me Back to London’, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and rapper Stormzy started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK Singles chart.
2020 – South Korean boy band BTS scored their first number one single in the US with ‘Dynamite’ on this day September 5 in music history.
2021 – English singer and actress Sarah Harding died from breast cancer at the age of 39. Best known as a member of the girl group Girls Aloud.
BORN ON SEPTEMBER 5 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1912 – American composer, music theorist and philosopher John Cage was born in Los Angeles, California on this day September 5 in music history.
1939 – Songwriter and singer John Stewart was born in San Diego, California. Best known as a member of the Kingston Trio and for writing the Monkees‘ chart-topping single ‘Daydream Believer’.
1941 – American record producer and audio engineer Elliot Mazer was born in New York City. Best known for his work with artists such as Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, and others.
1945 – Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alastair “Al” Stewart was born on this day September 5 in Greenock, Scotland. Best known for his hit single ‘Year of the Cat’.
1946 – Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Loudon Wainwright III was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
1946 – Singer and songwriter Dean Ford was born as Thomas McAleese in Coatbridge, Scotland. He came to prominence as the frontman of the pop group Marmalade in the 1960s and 1970s.
1946 – Singer and songwriter Freddie Mercury was born as Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town, Zanzibar on this day September 5 in music history. Best known as the frontman of the rock band Queen with whom he achieved worldwide fame.
1947 – American multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist, and producer George Allen “Buddy” Miles was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Best known as a founder of the bands Electric Flag and Buddy Miles Express, and also for his work with Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana.
1947 – British multi-instrumentalist and session musician Melvyn “Mel” Collins was born on this day September 5 on the Isle of Man. He rose to fame as a member of the progressive rock band King Crimson.
1949 – English rock musician David “Clem” Clempson was born in Tamworth, England. Best known as a member of the bands Humble Pie and Colosseum.
1951 – American multi-genre drummer and percussionist James Oldaker was born on this day September 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1963 – Singer-songwriter and founding member of the vocal group En Vogue, Terry Ellis was born in Houston, Texas.
1964 – Electronic music DJ and record producer Kevin Saunderson was born in New York City. Best known as a member of the techno music pioneering group The Belleville Three.
1968 – Founding member of the band Rage Against the Machine, Brad Wilk was born in Portland, Oregon on this day September 5 in music history. He’s also known for playing with Audioslave and Prophets of Rage.
1969 – American rock musician Dweezil Zappa was born in Los Angeles, California. He’s the son of musician Frank Zappa.
1980 – English pop singer Kevin Simm was born on this day September 5 in Chorley, England. Best known as a member of the groups Liberty X and Wet Wet Wet.