On This Day in Music History – March 5

On this day in 1963, Patsy Cline gave her last performance before her tragic plane crash. In 1973, Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon in the U.S., which became one of the best-selling albums ever. Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983, marking a huge moment in pop music.

Many famous artists were born on this day, including Andy Gibb, John Frusciante from Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Eddy Grant, known for Electric Avenue. Sadly, March 5 is also a day when music lost greats like Patsy Cline, John Belushi, and George Martin, the legendary producer of The Beatles.

This day also saw the release of 50 Cent’s The Massacre in 2005, selling over a million copies in days. Madonna’s Like a Prayer and U2’s With or Without You were among the songs that topped the charts on this date.

Major Events in Music History (March 5)

1. Patsy Cline’s Last Performance (1963) – Country music star Patsy Cline performed for the last time at a benefit concert in Kansas City. She tragically died in a plane crash the next day.
2. The Beatles’ “Help!” Wins at the Grammy Awards (1965) – The Beatles won a Grammy Award for Help!, marking another major success for the legendary band.
3. Led Zeppelin Begins Working on “Stairway to Heaven” (1971) – Led Zeppelin started recording Stairway to Heaven, which became one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
4. Pink Floyd Releases “The Dark Side of the Moon” in the U.S. (1973) – Pink Floyd released their iconic album The Dark Side of the Moon in the U.S., which went on to become one of the best-selling albums in history.
5. John Belushi of The Blues Brothers Dies (1982) – John Belushi, actor and musician from The Blues Brothers, passed away at age 33 from a drug overdose.
6. Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” Hits No. 1 (1983) – Michael Jackson’s hit song Billie Jean reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking his first solo No. 1 hit from the Thriller album.
7. David Gilmour Releases “About Face” (1984) – David Gilmour, guitarist of Pink Floyd, released his second solo album About Face, featuring songs about his time in the band.
8. Grace Slick Arrested for Threatening a Police Officer (1994) – Former Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick was arrested for pointing a shotgun at police officers at her home in California.
9. Ace of Base’s “The Sign” Tops the Charts (1995) – Swedish pop group Ace of Base set a record when The Sign spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
10. Napster Ordered to Stop Music Sharing (2001) – A U.S. court ruled that Napster, the popular file-sharing service, must block copyrighted songs, marking a major shift in the digital music industry.
11. The Osbournes TV Show Premieres (2002) – Ozzy Osbourne and his family debuted their reality TV show The Osbournes on MTV, which became a huge success.
12. 50 Cent Releases “The Massacre” (2005) – 50 Cent released his second album The Massacre, which sold over 1.1 million copies in four days.
13. U2’s “No Line on the Horizon” Tops the Charts (2009) – U2’s album No Line on the Horizon debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming their twelfth chart-topping album.
14. Davy Jones of The Monkees Laid to Rest (2012) – A funeral was held for Davy Jones, lead singer of The Monkees, who had passed away from a heart attack.
15. David Bowie Releases “The Next Day” (2013) – After a 10-year break, David Bowie released The Next Day, his first studio album since 2003.
16. Justin Bieber Breaks a UK Chart Record (2016) – Justin Bieber became the first artist to hold the top three positions on the UK Singles Chart with Love Yourself, Sorry, and What Do You Mean?
17. Ed Sheeran Dominates the UK Charts (2017) – Ed Sheeran’s songs Shape of You and Castle on the Hill held the top two spots on the UK Singles Chart, breaking streaming records.
18. The Prodigy’s Keith Flint Found Dead (2019) – Keith Flint, frontman of The Prodigy, was found dead at age 49, shocking the electronic music world.
19. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Announce Silk Sonic (2021) – Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak announced their new duo Silk Sonic and released Leave the Door Open, which became a worldwide hit.
20. Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” Tops Charts Worldwide (2023) – Miley Cyrus’ song Flowers stayed at No. 1 on global charts, breaking streaming records and becoming one of the biggest songs of the year.

Notable Birthdays in Music (March 5)

1. Rex Harrison (1908) – English actor and singer known for his role in My Fair Lady, where he famously sang I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.
2. Sam Spence (1927) – American composer best known for creating powerful music used in NFL Films.
3. Barry Tashian (1945) – American rock musician and member of The Remains, who toured with The Beatles in 1966.
4. Eddy Grant (1948) – British-Guyanese singer-songwriter known for hits like Electric Avenue and Gimme Hope Jo’anna.
5. Alan Clark (1952) – English musician and keyboardist for Dire Straits, playing on hits like Money for Nothing.
6. Charlie and Craig Reid (1962) – Twin brothers from Scotland, best known as The Proclaimers, famous for I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).
7. Andy Gibb (1958) – Younger brother of Bee Gees members and solo singer with hits like Shadow Dancing before his tragic death at 30.
8. Mark E. Smith (1957) – Lead singer and songwriter of the British post-punk band The Fall, known for his unique vocal style.
9. John Frusciante (1970) – American guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers, known for his work on albums like Californication.
10. Paul Bergmann (1976) – American folk singer and songwriter known for his deep, soulful voice.
11. Kevin Connolly (1974) – Actor and occasional musician, best known for his role in Entourage.
12. Joel O’Keeffe (1982) – Australian rock singer and guitarist, frontman of the band Airbourne, known for their AC/DC-inspired sound.
13. Jake Lloyd (1989) – Though mostly known for acting (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace), he has dabbled in music production.
14. Madeline Juno (1995) – German pop singer-songwriter known for emotional songs like Error and Stupid Girl.
15. Elaine Paige (1948) – British singer and actress, known as the “First Lady of British Musical Theatre,” with hits like Memory from Cats.
16. James B. Sikking (1934) – Mostly an actor but involved in various film soundtracks as a vocalist.
17. Niki Haris (1962) – American singer who performed as a backup vocalist for Madonna and later had a solo career in jazz and gospel.
18. Teena Marie (1956) – American R&B singer-songwriter with hits like Lovergirl and Square Biz, known as the “Ivory Queen of Soul.”
19. Murray Head (1946) – English actor and singer, famous for One Night in Bangkok from the musical Chess.
20. Taylor Goldsmith (1985) – American singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of the folk-rock band Dawes, and husband of actress Mandy Moore.

Music Legends We Lost (March 5)

1. Patsy Cline (1963) – Famous country singer known for Crazy and Walkin’ After Midnight. She died in a plane crash at just 30 years old.
2. John Belushi (1982) – Actor, comedian, and musician from The Blues Brothers. He died from a drug overdose at age 33.
3. Richard Manuel (1986) – Singer and pianist of The Band, known for songs like The Weight. He tragically took his own life at age 42.
4. Antonio Carlos Jobim (1994) – Brazilian musician and composer, famous for The Girl from Ipanema. He helped make bossa nova popular worldwide.
5. Paul Mauriat (2006) – French orchestra leader and composer, best known for Love Is Blue, which topped U.S. charts in 1968.
6. Lou Richards (2008) – Guitarist for The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, a popular rock band in the 2000s. He passed away at age 32.
7. George Martin (2016) – Legendary producer of The Beatles, known as the “Fifth Beatle.” He helped shape their biggest hits.
8. Bobby Rogers (2013) – Singer with The Miracles, known for Motown hits like Shop Around and Tears of a Clown.
9. Speedy West (2003) – Country and rock guitarist known for his work with Merle Travis and Tennessee Ernie Ford.
10. Pearl Carr (2020) – British pop singer who, along with Teddy Johnson, represented the UK in Eurovision 1959.
11. Danny Kirwan (2018) – Guitarist of Fleetwood Mac in the late 1960s and early 1970s, known for Dragonfly and Bare Trees.
12. Fred Below (1988) – American blues drummer who played with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Chuck Berry.
13. Peter Banks (2013) – Original guitarist of Yes, a key figure in early progressive rock.
14. Floyd Dixon (2006) – American blues and R&B pianist known for Hey Bartender, later covered by The Blues Brothers.
15. Vivian Stanshall (1995) – British musician and comedian, frontman of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, known for I’m the Urban Spaceman.
16. David McComb (1999) – Lead singer and songwriter of The Triffids, an Australian alternative rock band.
17. Hugo Montenegro (1981) – Composer famous for his version of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly theme song.
18. Francesco Molinari-Pradelli (1996) – Italian conductor known for opera recordings of Puccini and Verdi.
19. Hal Blaine (2019) – Drummer of the famous Wrecking Crew, played on hits like Be My Baby and Good Vibrations.
20. Bebo Valdés (2013) – Cuban jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who helped shape Latin jazz.

Notable Albums Released (March 5)

1. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) – One of the most famous albums ever, featuring Money and Time. It became one of the best-selling albums in history.
2. The Stooges – Raw Power (1973) – A loud and wild album from Iggy Pop and The Stooges, considered one of the first punk rock albums.
3. David Gilmour – About Face (1984) – A solo album by the Pink Floyd guitarist, with personal songs about his life and time in the band.
4. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Nocturama (2003) – An emotional album featuring Bring It On and Wonderful Life, blending rock and deep storytelling.
5. Marianne Faithfull – Before the Poison (2004) – A dark and poetic album with songs written by Nick Cave and PJ Harvey.
6. 50 Cent – The Massacre (2005) – A huge rap album with hit songs like Candy Shop and Just a Lil Bit. It sold over 1.1 million copies in four days.
7. U2 – No Line on the Horizon (2009) – A rock album by U2, featuring Get on Your Boots and Magnificent. It hit No. 1 on charts worldwide.
8. Tori Amos – Abnormally Attracted to Sin (2009) – A deep and emotional album from the singer-songwriter, with themes of love and religion.
9. Martha Wainwright – I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too (2008) – A folk-pop album full of personal stories and emotions.
10. The Magnetic Fields – Love at the Bottom of the Sea (2012) – A mix of indie pop and electronic sounds, featuring fun and quirky love songs.
11. David Bowie – The Next Day (2013) – After 10 years of silence, David Bowie made a huge comeback with this album, featuring Where Are We Now?.
12. Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak (Silk Sonic) – Leave the Door Open (2021) – This single launched their new duo Silk Sonic, blending R&B and funk.
13. Barenaked Ladies – Everything to Everyone (2003) – A fun and catchy album with songs like Another Postcard and Testing 1,2,3.
14. Jonas Brothers – Lines, Vines and Trying Times (2009) – A pop-rock album featuring Paranoid and Fly with Me, popular among teen fans.
15. Dolly Parton – The Grass Is Blue (1999) – A bluegrass album by the country music queen, proving her versatility beyond mainstream country.
16. The Rolling Stones – Shine a Light (2008) – A live album recorded during a concert filmed by Martin Scorsese, featuring their biggest hits.
17. Tina Turner – Twenty Four Seven (1999) – Her final solo studio album, featuring the hit When the Heartache Is Over.
18. Rod Stewart – Soulbook (2009) – A tribute to classic soul music, featuring covers of songs by Stevie Wonder and Sam Cooke.
19. Judas Priest – Angel of Retribution (2005) – A powerful comeback album from the legendary metal band, featuring Revolution and Judas Rising.
20. Madonna – American Life (2003) – A bold and experimental album blending pop, rock, and electronic music, featuring Hollywood and Die Another Day.

Chart-Topping Hits (March 5)

1. Billie Jean (1983) by Michael Jackson – The hit song from Thriller reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of Jackson’s most famous tracks.
2. Help! (1965) by The Beatles – The title track from Help! became a No. 1 hit, further solidifying The Beatles’ dominance in the music industry.
3. Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 (1980) by Pink Floyd – This rebellious school anthem reached No. 1 in the U.S. and UK, making it Pink Floyd’s biggest hit.
4. The Sign (1994) by Ace of Base – The Swedish pop hit spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the top songs of the year.
5. Like a Prayer (1989) by Madonna – This emotional and controversial song topped the charts worldwide, proving Madonna’s staying power in pop music.
6. With or Without You (1987) by U2 – One of U2’s most powerful songs, it became their first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
7. I’m a Believer (1967) by The Monkees – This catchy track held the No. 1 spot for seven weeks, becoming one of the most memorable songs of the 1960s.
8. I Will Always Love You (1993) by Whitney Houston – The legendary ballad stayed at No. 1 for 14 weeks, breaking records worldwide.
9. Candy Shop (2005) by 50 Cent – A major hip-hop hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and helping The Massacre sell over a million copies in a few days.
10. California Gurls (2010) by Katy Perry (feat. Snoop Dogg) – A summer anthem that topped the charts worldwide and became one of Perry’s signature songs.
11. Shape of You (2017) by Ed Sheeran – This pop hit reached No. 1 in over 30 countries, setting streaming records along the way.
12. Love Yourself (2016) by Justin Bieber – A heartfelt acoustic song that stayed at No. 1 for several weeks, becoming one of Bieber’s biggest hits.
13. Leave the Door Open (2021) by Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) – This smooth R&B hit debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning multiple awards.
14. We Found Love (2011) by Rihanna (feat. Calvin Harris) – A dance-pop anthem that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks.
15. Boom Boom Pow (2009) by The Black Eyed Peas – A futuristic dance track that dominated the No. 1 spot for 12 weeks.
16. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (2008) by Beyoncé – A massive hit that became a cultural phenomenon, staying No. 1 for four weeks.
17. Candle in the Wind 1997 (1997) by Elton John – A tribute to Princess Diana, this emotional ballad became the best-selling single of all time.
18. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (1965) by The Rolling Stones – This rock anthem reached No. 1 worldwide, becoming one of the most iconic songs in music history.
19. You’re Still the One (1998) by Shania Twain – A major crossover hit, topping both pop and country charts.
20. Flowers (2023) by Miley Cyrus – This empowering breakup song spent weeks at No. 1 globally, breaking streaming records.