On This Day in Music History – March 9

One of the biggest moments was the tragic death of The Notorious B.I.G. in 1997. The legendary rapper was shot and killed in Los Angeles at just 24 years old. His song Hypnotize became a hit shortly before his passing, making his loss even more shocking.

On this day in 1987, U2 released The Joshua Tree, one of their most successful albums. Songs like With or Without You helped the band reach worldwide fame. Another major event was the release of We Are the World in 1985, a charity single featuring stars like Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. It was made to help fight hunger in Africa.

Many music legends were also born on March 9. John Cale of The Velvet Underground and rapper Bow Wow both share this birthday. BTS member Suga, a major figure in K-pop, was also born on this day.

March 9 has also seen many big hits top the charts, including I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles and Vogue by Madonna.

Major Events in Music History (March 9)

1. The Notorious B.I.G. was killed (1997) – The legendary rapper, also known as Biggie Smalls, was shot and killed in Los Angeles at age 24. His death remains one of hip-hop’s biggest mysteries.
2. The Beatles played at the Cavern Club (1961) – The Beatles performed at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, where they became a regular act before their worldwide fame.
3. U2 released The Joshua Tree (1987) – The Irish rock band U2 released their fifth album, The Joshua Tree. It became one of their biggest albums, featuring hits like With or Without You and Where the Streets Have No Name.
4. “We Are the World” was released (1985) – The charity single We Are the World, featuring stars like Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, and Stevie Wonder, was released to help fight famine in Africa.
5. The Beach Boys recorded “God Only Knows” (1966) – The Beach Boys recorded God Only Knows, a song widely considered one of the greatest of all time.
6. Brad Delp of Boston passed away (2007) – Brad Delp, the lead singer of the rock band Boston, was found dead at age 55. His voice was iconic in classic rock.
7. Santana had their first hit song (1970) – Santana’s song Evil Ways entered the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making them a major band in rock music.
8. The Beatles reached #1 in the U.S. again (1964) – The Beatles’ song I Want to Hold Your Hand stayed at number one on the U.S. charts, proving their growing popularity.
9. R.E.M. released “Losing My Religion” (1991) – R.E.M. released Losing My Religion, their biggest hit, which helped them become one of the most important bands of the ’90s.
10. Bad Company signed with Led Zeppelin’s label (1974) – The rock band Bad Company signed with Swan Song Records, a label started by Led Zeppelin.
11. 50 Cent’s album The Massacre broke records (2005) – Rapper 50 Cent released The Massacre, which sold over 1 million copies in just four days.
12. Bob Dylan recorded “All Along the Watchtower” (1968) – Bob Dylan recorded All Along the Watchtower, a song that Jimi Hendrix later turned into a rock classic.
13. Adele’s 21 set a new record (2012) – Adele’s album 21 became the first album by a British woman to sell more than 10 million copies in the U.S.
14. Robert Plant played his first solo gig (1981) – After Led Zeppelin broke up, Robert Plant played his first solo concert, marking the start of his solo career.
15. Britney Spears got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2004) – Pop star Britney Spears received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to music.
16. Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody made history (1976) – Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody became the longest-running number-one song in the UK charts at the time.
17. Eric Clapton won six Grammy Awards (1993) – Eric Clapton won six Grammy Awards for his album Unplugged, including Song of the Year for Tears in Heaven.
    
18. Andy Gibb passed away (1988) – Andy Gibb, the younger brother of the Bee Gees, died at age 30 due to heart problems.
19. George Martin passed away (2016) – The Beatles’ producer, George Martin, known as the “Fifth Beatle,” died at age 90.
20. Madonna topped the UK charts (2000) – Madonna’s song American Pie reached number one in the UK, proving she was still a pop icon.

Notable Birthdays in Music (March 9)

1. Ornette Coleman was born (1930) – Jazz saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman was born on this day. He was a pioneer of free jazz and influenced many musicians.
2. John Cale was born (1942) – Welsh musician John Cale, co-founder of The Velvet Underground, was born. He helped shape the sound of experimental rock.
3. Mark Lindsay was born (1942) – Mark Lindsay, the lead singer of Paul Revere & the Raiders, was born. The band was famous in the 1960s for songs like Kicks and Indian Reservation.
4. Jeffrey Osborne was born (1948) – R&B singer and drummer Jeffrey Osborne was born. He was the lead singer of L.T.D. before having a successful solo career.
5. Trevor Burton was born (1949) – British musician Trevor Burton, guitarist for The Move, was born. The Move later evolved into the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
6. Chris Thompson was born (1948) – Singer Chris Thompson, best known as the lead vocalist of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, was born. He sang on the hit Blinded by the Light.
7. Martin Fry was born (1958) – Martin Fry, lead singer of the British new wave band ABC, was born. The band had hits like The Look of Love and Poison Arrow.
8. Robert Sledge was born (1968) – Robert Sledge, bassist for the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five, was born. The band was known for songs like Brick.
9. Shannon Leto was born (1970) – Drummer Shannon Leto, a member of 30 Seconds to Mars and the brother of Jared Leto, was born.
10. C-Murder was born (1971) – Rapper C-Murder, a member of No Limit Records and brother of Master P, was born. He was known for his deep voice and street anthems.
11. Chingy was born (1980) – Rapper Chingy was born on this day. He gained fame in the early 2000s with hits like Right Thurr and Holidae In.
12. Chad Gilbert was born (1981) – Chad Gilbert, guitarist for the pop-punk band New Found Glory, was born. The band was part of the early 2000s punk-rock scene.
13. Taeyeon was born (1989) – South Korean singer Taeyeon, the leader of Girls’ Generation, was born. She is one of K-pop’s most popular vocalists.
14. Bow Wow was born (1987) – Rapper Bow Wow, originally known as Lil’ Bow Wow, was born. He became a star as a child with songs like Bounce with Me.
15. Suga was born (1993) – Min Yoon-gi, known as Suga from BTS, was born. He is a rapper, songwriter, and producer who helped make BTS a global phenomenon.
    
16. Kerli was born (1987) – Estonian singer-songwriter Kerli was born. She is known for her unique electronic-pop sound and hits like Walking on Air.
17. Matt Bowen was born (1983) – Matt Bowen, drummer for the metalcore band The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, was born. The band is best known for Face Down.
18. Raul Malo was born (1965) – Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks, was born. His rich voice helped the band blend country, rock, and Latin influences.
19. Jimmie Fadden was born (1948) – Jimmie Fadden, drummer and harmonica player for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, was born. The band had country-rock hits like Mr. Bojangles.
20. Yuri was born (1964) – Mexican singer Yuri was born. She is one of the most successful Latin pop artists, known for songs like Maldita Primavera.

Music Legends We Lost (March 9)

1. The Notorious B.I.G. passed away (1997) – Legendary rapper The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, was shot and killed in Los Angeles at age 24. His death remains one of the biggest mysteries in hip-hop.
2. Brad Delp passed away (2007) – Brad Delp, the lead singer of the rock band Boston, was found dead at age 55. He was known for his powerful voice in songs like More Than a Feeling.
3. Andy Gibb passed away (1988) – Pop singer Andy Gibb, the younger brother of the Bee Gees, died at age 30 due to heart problems. He had hits like Shadow Dancing and I Just Want to Be Your Everything.
4. George Martin passed away (2016) – The Beatles’ producer, George Martin, died at age 90. He was known as the “Fifth Beatle” and helped shape the band’s sound.
5. Alan Sievewright passed away (2007) – Alan Sievewright, a music producer and manager, passed away. He worked with artists in the rock and pop world.
6. Clive Burr passed away (2013) – Clive Burr, the original drummer of Iron Maiden, died at age 56 after battling multiple sclerosis. He played on the band’s early albums.
7. Robert Sherman passed away (2012) – Songwriter Robert Sherman, known for writing Disney classics like Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, passed away at age 86.
8. Bill Cowsill passed away (2006) – Bill Cowsill, lead singer of The Cowsills, passed away at age 58. The band inspired The Partridge Family TV show.
9. Peter Skellern passed away (2017) – British singer-songwriter Peter Skellern passed away at age 69. He was known for the song You’re a Lady.
10. Keely Smith passed away (2017) – Jazz and pop singer Keely Smith, known for working with Louis Prima, passed away at age 89.
11. Helen Kelesi’s father, George Kelesi, passed away (2012) – Though not a musician, George Kelesi supported his daughter, a famous tennis player, and had ties to the music industry.
12. Charles Tolliver’s father passed away (2012) – The father of jazz trumpeter Charles Tolliver passed away, leaving behind a musical legacy.
    
13. James L. Venable passed away (2020) – James L. Venable, a film and TV composer, passed away. He worked on soundtracks for animated series and films.
14. Steve Coy passed away (2018) – Steve Coy, drummer for Dead or Alive, passed away at age 56. The band was famous for You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).
15. John Stump passed away (2006) – John Stump, a composer known for writing humorous and complex sheet music, passed away.
16. Robert Dick passed away (2020) – Robert Dick, an experimental flutist, passed away. He was known for his work in avant-garde music.
17. Hans Keller passed away (1985) – Swiss-born musicologist and writer Hans Keller passed away. He contributed greatly to classical music analysis.
18. Darrell “Dash” Crofts passed away (2020) – Darrell Crofts, half of the soft rock duo Seals and Crofts, passed away. They were known for Summer Breeze.
19. Norma Tanega passed away (2019) – Singer-songwriter Norma Tanega, known for Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog, passed away.
20. Mickey Baker passed away (2012) – Mickey Baker, a pioneering rock and blues guitarist, passed away at age 87. He was known for Love Is Strange.

Notable Albums Released (March 9)

1. U2 released The Joshua Tree (1987) – U2 released their fifth album, The Joshua Tree, which became one of their most successful albums. It featured hit songs like With or Without You and Where the Streets Have No Name.
2. Pink Floyd released The Final Cut (1983) – Pink Floyd released The Final Cut, their last album with Roger Waters. The album was deeply emotional and focused on war and loss.
3. Bryan Adams released Into the Fire (1987) – Bryan Adams released Into the Fire, the follow-up to his hit album Reckless. It included songs like Heat of the Night.
4. 50 Cent released The Massacre (2005) – 50 Cent released The Massacre, which sold over 1 million copies in just four days. It featured hit songs like Candy Shop and Just a Lil Bit.
5. Deep Purple released Stormbringer (1974, U.S. release) – Deep Purple’s album Stormbringer, which had already been released in the UK, was officially released in the U.S. It mixed rock and funk sounds.
6. Eric Clapton released No Reason to Cry (1976, U.S. release) – Eric Clapton’s album No Reason to Cry was released in the U.S. It featured collaborations with Bob Dylan and The Band.
7. R.E.M. released Lifes Rich Pageant (1986, U.K. release) – R.E.M. released Lifes Rich Pageant in the UK, an album that helped define their alternative rock sound.
8. Nine Inch Nails released Hesitation Marks (2013, Japan release) – Hesitation Marks by Nine Inch Nails was released in Japan before its global release. The album returned to their electronic rock roots.
   
9. Lana Del Rey released Born to Die: The Paradise Edition (2012, Japan release) – Lana Del Rey’s expanded edition of Born to Die, featuring new songs like Ride, was released in Japan.
10. Luther Vandross released Power of Love (1991, U.K. release) – The album Power of Love by Luther Vandross was released in the UK, featuring hits like Power of Love/Love Power.
11. Tori Amos released Scarlet’s Walk (2003, U.K. release) – Tori Amos released Scarlet’s Walk, an album that told a deep and emotional story through its songs.
12. The Stooges released The Stooges (reissue, 2010) – A reissue of The Stooges’ groundbreaking debut album was released, bringing back the raw punk energy of songs like I Wanna Be Your Dog.
13. Supertramp released Brother Where You Bound (1985, Japan release) – Supertramp’s album Brother Where You Bound was released in Japan, featuring more political themes in their music.
14. Dio released Dream Evil (1987, Japan release) – Heavy metal band Dio released Dream Evil in Japan before its worldwide release, featuring the song I Could Have Been a Dreamer.
15. Tina Turner released Wildest Dreams (1996, U.K. release) – Tina Turner’s album Wildest Dreams was released in the UK, featuring her hit Whatever You Want.
16. Green Day released International Superhits! (2001, Japan release) – Green Day’s greatest hits album, International Superhits!, was released in Japan, featuring songs like Basket Case and Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).
17. Fleetwood Mac released Fleetwood Mac Live (1980, U.K. release) – The live album from Fleetwood Mac, featuring performances of their greatest songs, was released in the UK.
18. Nas released Illmatic XX (2014, reissue) – A special edition of Nas’ classic album Illmatic was released to celebrate its 20th anniversary, featuring rare remixes and demos.
19. The Clash released Combat Rock (1982, Japan release) – The Clash’s album Combat Rock, featuring Should I Stay or Should I Go, was released in Japan before the rest of the world.
20. Kylie Minogue released Fever (2001, Japan release) – Kylie Minogue’s album Fever, which included her global hit Can’t Get You Out of My Head, was released in Japan before becoming a worldwide success.

Chart-Topping Hits (March 9)

1. Hypnotize (1997) by The Notorious B.I.G. – Just weeks before his tragic death, The Notorious B.I.G.’s song Hypnotize topped the charts. It became one of his most iconic hits.
2. I Want to Hold Your Hand (1964) by The Beatles – The Beatles’ hit song I Want to Hold Your Hand was still at No. 1 in the U.S., helping to spark Beatlemania.
3. Vogue (1990) by Madonna – Madonna’s song Vogue climbed to No. 1, introducing the world to a dance style inspired by the underground ballroom scene.
4. Candy Shop (2005) by 50 Cent feat. Olivia – Candy Shop reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of 50 Cent’s biggest and most recognizable songs.
5. With or Without You (1987) by U2 – U2’s song With or Without You, from their album The Joshua Tree, became their first No. 1 hit in the U.S.
6. I Will Always Love You (1993) by Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston’s emotional ballad remained at No. 1, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time.
7. When Doves Cry (1984) by Prince – When Doves Cry dominated the charts, showcasing Prince’s unique sound and songwriting genius.
8. Rude Boy (2010) by Rihanna – Rihanna’s hit Rude Boy climbed to No. 1, becoming one of her most popular songs worldwide.
9. Candle in the Wind 1997 (1997) by Elton John – Elton John’s tribute song for Princess Diana continued to top charts, breaking records as one of the best-selling singles ever.
10. Waterfalls (1995) by TLC – Waterfalls became TLC’s biggest hit, topping the charts with its deep message and catchy melody.
11. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (2009) by Beyoncé – Beyoncé’s song Single Ladies stayed at No. 1, inspiring viral dance moves and becoming an anthem for independence.
12. Lose Yourself (2003) by Eminem – Eminem’s Lose Yourself remained a No. 1 hit, earning him an Oscar for Best Original Song.
13. Firework (2011) by Katy Perry – Katy Perry’s Firework dominated the charts, becoming one of her signature songs and a motivational anthem.
14. Let’s Get It On (1973) by Marvin Gaye – Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On climbed the charts, becoming one of the most famous love songs in music history.
15. Billie Jean (1983) by Michael Jackson – Billie Jean was a chart-topping hit that helped make Thriller the best-selling album of all time.
16. Someone Like You (2012) by Adele – Adele’s heartfelt ballad Someone Like You topped the charts and became one of her most emotional songs.
17. My Heart Will Go On (1998) by Celine Dion – Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On, from Titanic, was No. 1 worldwide and became one of the most famous movie songs ever.
18. Shape of You (2017) by Ed Sheeran – Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You reached No. 1 and became one of the most-streamed songs of all time.
19. I Want It That Way (1999) by Backstreet Boys – The Backstreet Boys’ hit I Want It That Way became a pop classic, dominating charts worldwide.
20. Uptown Funk (2015) by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk reached No. 1 and became a massive global hit, making people dance everywhere.