This Day in Music

Billboard Staff
Updated ·2 min read
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2005 – Gorillaz scores its first U.K. No. 1 single with “Dare,” while boy band McFly’s sophomore set “Wonderland” (Universal Island) becomes its second chart-topping album.

2003 – Rapper D.O. Cannon, who was signed to Murder Inc. Records, is shot to death in Queens, N.Y., according to reports. The 26-year-old Cannon, whose real name is Gerard Fields, appeared on a number of tracks on the 2002 compilation “Irv Gotti Presents … The Remixes.”

1997 – MTV Online webcasts behind-the-scenes happenings at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards Show. The exclusive webcast includes a live pre-show performance by Meredith Brooks.

1997 – After performing during the MTV Video Music Awards pre-show in New York, Pat Smear publicly announces that he will no longer be the guitarist for the Foo Fighters, and introduces Franz Stahl as his replacement. Stahl exits the band in late 1998.

1991 – Saxophonist Charlie Barnet dies of pneumonia in San Diego at the age of 77. He was one on the first white jazzmen to racially integrate his band. His biggest hits were in the late 1930s and ’40s, including “Cherokee,” “Redskin” and “Rhumba.”

1991 – Country music singer Dottie West dies at age 58 from injuries sustained five days earlier in a car accident. West was the first female country Grammy winner and was considered a trailblazer for women country performers.

1983 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Maniac,” Michael Sembello. The song is the second No. 1 single from the film “Flashdance,” following “Flashdance … What a Feeling,” by Irene Cara.

1973 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Let’s Get It On,” Marvin Gaye.

1966 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “You Can’t Hurry Love,” The Supremes.

1964 – The Animals give their debut U.S. performance at the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, N.Y.

1962 – The Beatles record “Love Me Do” at Abbey Road studios in London.

1960 – Kim Thayil, guitarist for the Seattle-based grunge-group, Soundgarden, is born in Seattle, Wash.

1952 – Gladys Knight & the Pips are formed after a birthday party for member Bubba Knight.

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