On This Day in Music History – December 1

On This Day in Music History – December 1

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Artistically, December 1st is a day filled with important events. It is a day that is filled with memories. Artists have produced legendary tracks, legendary tracks have topped the charts, and numerous artists share birthdays on this day. For example, on this day, The Teddy Bears, Phil Spector’s band, began a No. 1 hit on the US charts in 1958. Tom Jones had a No. 1 hit record in the UK in 1966, and The Carpenters had a No. 1 hit record on the USA charts, ‘Top of the World’, in 1973.

Also born on this day are performers such as soul singer Lou Rawls, singer Bette Midler, singer Janelle Monáe, drummer John Densmore of The Doors, and singer Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots. A host of music legends lost their lives on this day, namely blues guitarist Magic Sam, soul singer Lee Dorsey.

Over the years, there have also appeared music albums on this day, for example, Jimi Hendrix Experience’s ‘Axis: Bold as Love’ and ‘The Visitor’ by Neil Young. Big hits such as ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ by Whitney Houston and ‘Diamonds’ by Rihanna have also topped charts to the No. 1 position on December 1. This piece highlights events, birthdays, deaths, releases, and hits that have occurred on this day.

Major Events in Music History (December 1)

  • 1958 – The Teddy Bears’ song “To Know Him Is to Love Him” begins a three-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
  • 1966 – Tom Jones scores a UK No.1 with his single “Green, Green Grass of Home.”
  • 1967 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience releases the album Axis: Bold as Love on this date.
  • 1973 – The Carpenters top the US charts with “Top of the World,” becoming No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • 1983 – Neil Young is famously served with a lawsuit by Geffen Records for making music they called un-commercial.
  • 1984 – Jim Diamond’s ballad “I Should Have Known Better” hits No.1 on the UK singles chart.
  • 1990 – Vanilla Ice reaches No.1 in the UK with the rap single “Ice Ice Baby.”
  • 1990 – Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight” climbs to No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
  • 2001 – British pop group S Club 7 score a UK No.1 single with “Have You Ever.”
  • 2007 – Alicia Keys tops the US charts with her R&B single “No One.”

Notable Birthdays in Music (December 1)

  • 1930 – Matt Monro, English singer known for his smooth voice, was born.
  • 1933 – Lou Rawls, American soul and jazz singer, was born.
  • 1934 – Billy Paul, American soul singer (“Me and Mrs. Jones”), was born.
  • 1938 – Sandy Nelson, American drummer known for rock instrumentals, was born.
  • 1944 – John Densmore, American drummer of The Doors, was born.
  • 1945 – Bette Midler, American singer and actress, was born.
  • 1946 – Gilbert O’Sullivan, Irish singer-songwriter, was born.
  • 1951 – Jaco Pastorius, American jazz bassist, was born.
  • 1985 – Janelle Monáe, American singer-songwriter and producer, was born.
  • 1988 – Tyler Joseph, American singer (Twenty One Pilots), was born.

Music Legends We Lost (December 1)

  • 1969 – Magic Sam (American blues guitarist and singer) died at age 32.
  • 1986 – Lee Dorsey (American soul singer, “Working in the Coal Mine”) died at age 61.
  • 1989 – Billy Lyall (Scottish keyboardist of Pilot) died at age 36.
  • 1993 – Ray Gillen (American hard rock singer) died at age 34.
  • 2013 – Richard Coughlan (English drummer of Caravan) died at age 66.
  • 1755 – Maurice Greene (English composer) died at age 59.
  • 1950 – Ernest Moeran (English composer) died at age 56.
  • 1951 – Edward J. Collins (American composer) died at age 78.
  • 2021 – Alvin Lucier (American experimental composer) died at age 90.
  • 2023 – Todd Snider (American singer-songwriter) died at age 59.

Notable Albums Released (December 1)

  • 1967 – Axis: Bold as Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience was released.
  • 1970 – Watt by Ten Years After was released.
  • 1972 – Eagles by the Eagles was released.
  • 1975 – Equinox by Styx was released.
  • 1982 – Live Evil by Black Sabbath was released.
  • 1983 – She’s So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper was released.
  • 1993 – The Automatic Box by R.E.M. was released.
  • 2017 – The Visitor by Neil Young & Promise of the Real was released.
  • 2017 – On Air by The Rolling Stones was released.
  • 2023 – The Diary of Alicia Keys 20 (20th anniversary edition) by Alicia Keys was released.

Chart-Topping Hits (December 1)

  • 1958 – “To Know Him Is to Love Him” by The Teddy Bears (US No.1 hit).
  • 1966 – “Green, Green Grass of Home” by Tom Jones (UK No.1 hit).
  • 1973 – “Top of the World” by The Carpenters (US No.1 hit).
  • 1984 – “I Should Have Known Better” by Jim Diamond (UK No.1 hit).
  • 1990 – “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice (UK No.1 hit).
  • 1990 – “I’m Your Baby Tonight” by Whitney Houston (US No.1 hit).
  • 2001 – “Have You Ever” by S Club 7 (UK No.1 hit).
  • 2007 – “No One” by Alicia Keys (US No.1 hit).
  • 2012 – “Diamonds” by Rihanna (US No.1 hit).
  • 2012 – “Troublemaker” by Olly Murs (feat. Flo Rida) (UK No.1 hit).

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