On This Day in Music History – December 5

December 5th marks many significant events for the world of music. Artists have released major albums that shot up the charts and reached the number one position, and the world has celebrated the birthdays and remembered the passing of many legends on the 5th of December. For instance, in 2011, the UK’s best-selling album of the 21st century belonged to none other than the talented Adele, while, in 1965, the Beatles played their last gigs in Liverpool, and there was no stopping to their number one UK chart hit. Every year, new memories are created, and new stars like Taylor Swift emerge to release major albums on December 5th. Artists are remembered and celebrated on their birthdays and deaths, such as the likes of John Miles and the one and only Little Richard.

Whether it’s the arrival of an important music festival, the birthday of a celebrity, the last show for an iconic celebrity, the release of an iconic album, and the ascent of an important hit song to the charts, December 5th is always filled with important musical history. Below, each section showcases important occurrences that took place on the 5th of December for English-language music and the mark it left for the US and UK charts. Keep reading for the important history that took place on December 5.

Major Events in Music History (December 5)

• 1960 – Elvis Presley’s G.I. Blues soundtrack began a 10-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.
• 1964 – The Beach Boys scored their first US No.1 album with Beach Boys Concert (a live recording from Sacramento).
• 1964 – Actor Lorne Greene topped the US singles chart with the novelty song “Ringo” (named for Beatles drummer Ringo Starr).
• 1965 – The Beatles played their final hometown shows in Liverpool, with their double A-side “We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper” holding the UK No.1 single.
• 1973 – Paul McCartney and Wings released Band on the Run, featuring hits like “Jet” and the title track.
• 1981 – Julio Iglesias reached No.1 on the UK singles chart with his cover of “Begin the Beguine” (originally a Cole Porter song).
• 1987 – Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” became a No.1 hit in the US (and also topped the UK chart), marking her breakthrough as a solo artist.
• 1992 – Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” began a record 10-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart.
• 2004 – Band Aid 20’s charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (a remake of the 1984 original) started a four-week run at No.1 in the UK.
• 2004 – U2’s album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb hit No.1 on both the UK and US album charts, giving them their ninth UK and sixth US chart-topping album.
• 2011 – After 45 weeks on the chart, Adele’s album 21 was named the UK’s biggest-selling album of the 21st century.

Notable Birthdays in Music (December 5)

• 1932 – Little Richard: Influential rock’n’roll singer-pianist (born Richard Penniman), known for “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally.”
• 1938 – J. J. Cale: American singer-songwriter-guitarist who wrote songs later made famous by Eric Clapton (“After Midnight,” “Cocaine”).
• 1946 – Andy Kim: Canadian pop singer and songwriter; had the 1974 hit “Rock Me Gently” and co-wrote “Sugar, Sugar.”
• 1947 – Jim Messina: Rock musician (Buffalo Springfield, Poco) and half of soft rock duo Loggins & Messina.
• 1960 – Jack Russell: American hard rock vocalist, founder and longtime singer of the band Great White (hit “Once Bitten, Twice Shy”).
• 1965 – John Rzeznik: Lead singer and guitarist of the Goo Goo Dolls, known for the 1998 hit “Iris.”
• 1967 – Michel’le: American R&B singer famous for the 1989 hit “No More Lies.”
• 1967 – Gary Allan: American country music singer-songwriter with hits like “Watching Airplanes.”
• 1982 – Keri Hilson: American R&B/pop singer and songwriter (wrote for Timbaland, Britney Spears, wrote her hit “Knock You Down”).
• 1998 – Conan Gray: American pop singer-songwriter who first rose to fame on YouTube, with hits like “Heather.”

Music Legends We Lost (December 5)

• 2023 – Denny Laine: Founding member of the Moody Blues and later guitarist/vocalist for Paul McCartney’s Wings (died at age 79).
• 2022 – Jim Stewart: Co-founder of Stax Records, label behind Otis Redding and many soul greats (died aged 92).
• 2021 – John Miles: British rock singer/guitarist known for the 1976 hit “Music” (died age 72).
• 2015 – John Garner: Lead singer and drummer of early heavy metal band Sir Lord Baltimore (died of liver failure).
• 2012 – Dave Brubeck: Legendary American jazz pianist and composer of “Take Five” (died at age 91).
• 2002 – Bob Berg: American jazz saxophonist who played with Miles Davis (died from a heart attack).
• 2000 – Jack Nitzsche: Composer, arranger and producer who worked with the Beach Boys and Phil Spector (died of a heart attack).
• 1993 – Doug Hopkins: Co-founder and guitarist of Gin Blossoms, writer of “Hey Jealousy” (died by suicide at age 32).
• 1987 – Fat Larry James: Drummer and leader of Fat Larry’s Band, known for the hit “Zoom” (died of a heart attack).
• 1977 – Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Innovative jazz multi-instrumentalist famous for playing several saxophones at once (died of a stroke).

Notable Albums Released (December 5)

• 1965 – Going to a Go-Go by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (Motown album featuring hits like “The Tracks of My Tears”).
• 1966 – Buffalo Springfield by Buffalo Springfield (debut album including the classic “For What It’s Worth”).
• 1969 – Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones (rock album featuring “Gimme Shelter” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”).
• 1973 – Band on the Run by Paul McCartney & Wings (pop-rock album featuring “Jet” and the title track).
• **1975 – Live! ** by Bob Marley & The Wailers (popular concert album from the Jamaican reggae group).
• 1980 – Made in America by The Blues Brothers (soundtrack/live album featuring soul and R&B covers by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi’s band).
• 1980 – Trombipulation by Parliament (funk album, the band’s ninth studio release).
• 1981 – Damaged by Black Flag (influential hardcore punk debut album, including the song “Rise Above”).
• 2000 – Renegades by Rage Against the Machine (a covers album, their final studio release).
• 2011 – Speak Now by Taylor Swift (pop country album on which Swift wrote every song herself).

Chart-Topping Hits (December 5)

• 1960 – Elvis Presley’s G.I. Blues was No.1 on the US album chart (it would stay at the top for 10 weeks).
• 1964 – The Beach Boys’ Beach Boys Concert was No.1 on the US album chart.
• 1964 – Lorne Greene’s song “Ringo” topped the US singles chart.
• 1965 – The Beatles held the UK No.1 single with “We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper.”
• 1981 – Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” was No.1 on the US singles chart (marking its 10th week at the top).
• 1981 – Julio Iglesias’s “Begin the Beguine” reached No.1 on the UK singles chart.
• 1987 – Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” hit No.1 in the US (and also in the UK).
• 1992 – Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” began a 10-week run at No.1 in the UK.
• 1998 – R. Kelly & Celine Dion’s duet “I’m Your Angel” debuted at No.1 on the US Hot 100.
• 2004 – Band Aid 20’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” spent four weeks at No.1 in the UK.
• 2004 – U2’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was No.1 on the UK album chart (and also No.1 on the US album chart).