On This Date In Music

May 11 – On this date in 1990, Sinead O’Connor was wrapping up her four week residence at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U.”  The song is by far her most successful single, in fact it’s her only Top 40 hit and her career would quickly…

May 4 – On this date in 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard, which had been deployed to disperse an on-campus protest at Kent State, began firing into a crowd of unarmed students.  Four young people were killed and nine were wounded.  The incident, sometimes referred to as the Kent State Massacre, would not…

April 27 – On this date in 1932, Kemal Amin Kasem (“Casey Kasem”) was born in Detroit, Michigan.  He would go on to be one of the most recognizable voices in pop radio and his weekly countdown shows were must-listen-to programs for anyone who wanted to know what was riding the charts on any given…

April 20 – On this date in 1970, Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky” was sitting at its peak position, #3 on the pop chart, blocked from reaching #1 by the Beatles’ “Let It Be” and Jackson 5’s “ABC.”  The song has become an iconic example of rock meeting gospel and lifts most people up…

April 13 – On this date in 2010, Train’s huge comeback single “Hey, Soul Sister” had peaked at #3 on the pop chart.  Though the song never made it to #1 in the U.S., it did top the charts in 16 other countries and went on to be one of the highest-selling songs of 2010…

For weeks, we’ve highlighted “On this Date In Music” by Michael Walter.  It provides a day to day history of the music that inspires us and the bands and artists who create it.  What inspired Eric Clapton to write “Wonderful Tonight?” How did Hootie & the Blowfish get their name?  Who turned down “Happy” before…

April 6 – On this date in 1974, the Swedish band ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Waterloo.”  The band would quickly become worldwide superstars and they’ve gone on to be one of the most successful international bands in history.  And then, just as it seemed their fame was about to diminish, a hit…

March 30 – On this date in 1963, The Chiffons, a previously unheard of group, took over the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “He’s So Fine.”  The song had been composed by a young man who loved music and viewed his passion as a way to get his family out of…

March 23 – On this date in 1990, “Just A Friend” by Biz Markie was sitting at #9 on the pop chart.  It was the highest the song would get and the only time the rapper would crack the Top 40.  But if you’re going to be a One Hit Wonder, let it be as…