The seventh day of December is a day filled with significant incidents and milestones for the musical world. Artists and bands have accomplished various tasks on this day, such as the release of legendary albums and topping the charts with songs. It is a day on which people commemorate and celebrate the birthday of legendary singers and songwriters and honor the talents that were lost to us. The genres range from rock and pop to soul and country.
For instance, on the 7th of December in 1967, Otis Redding recorded the song “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” which was his last studio recording. On another 7th of December in the year 2003, singer Britney Spears marked a historic moment as she became the first female artist to start four consecutive number one albums in the US. It was on this day that singer Harry Chapin was born (1942), and Greg Lake died (2016). Some classic records from Wings and Foreigner were released on the 7th of December.
In the sections below, some important events and facts associated with the day of December 7 include events that made great impacts on the music industry and the birthdays and deaths that occurred on this day. For all music fans out there, then December 7 is yet another day to celebrate.
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Major Events in Music History (December 7)
- 1963 – The Beatles’ second album With The Beatles began a 21-week run at No. 1 on the UK chart.
- 1967 – Soul singer Otis Redding recorded his classic song “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” in his final studio session.
- 1968 – The Beatles’ self-titled double LP (the “White Album”) started a seven-week run at No. 1 in the UK.
- 1971 – Paul McCartney’s band Wings released their debut album Wild Life.
- 1974 – Jamaican singer Carl Douglas spent two weeks at No. 1 in the US with “Kung Fu Fighting.”
- 1974 – Soul singer Barry White earned his first UK No. 1 single with “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything.”
- 1976 – The Eagles released “New Kid in Town,” which became the group’s third US No. 1 single.
- 1977 – Dr. Peter Carl Goldmark, inventor of the LP record, died in a car crash, marking the loss of a music pioneer.
- 1991 – George Michael and Elton John reached No. 1 in the UK with their live duet of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me.”
- 2003 – Britney Spears became the first woman to debut four consecutive No. 1 albums on the US chart when In the Zone entered at the top.
Notable Birthdays in Music (December 7)
- 1942 – Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin (known for “Cat’s in the Cradle”) was born.
- 1949 – Singer-songwriter Tom Waits (known for his gravelly voice and songs like “Rain Dogs”) was born.
- 1958 – Tim Butler, bassist for the rock band The Psychedelic Furs, was born.
- 1966 – Louise Post, co-lead singer and guitarist of the alternative rock band Veruca Salt, was born.
- 1973 – Singer-songwriter Damien Rice (known for “Cannonball”) was born.
- 1974 – Nicole Appleton, Canadian-British singer from girl group All Saints, was born.
- 1979 – Pop singer Sara Bareilles (known for “Love Song”) was born.
- 1986 – Nita Strauss, American rock guitarist known for her work with Alice Cooper, was born.
- 1986 – JB Gill, English singer and member of boy band JLS, was born.
- 1987 – Pop singer Aaron Carter (younger brother of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter) was born.
Music Legends We Lost (December 7)
- 1980 – Darby Crash, 22-year-old punk singer of The Germs, died of a drug overdose.
- 1990 – Dee Clark, 52-year-old R&B singer (“Raindrops”), died after heart surgery.
- 1987 – Richard Taylor, 47-year-old lead singer of soul group The Manhattans (“Kiss and Say Goodbye”), died.
- 1987 – Winfred “Blue” Lovett, 31-year-old vocalist of R&B band Maze, died of a brain tumor.
- 2008 – Dennis Yost, 65-year-old lead singer of pop band Classics IV (“Spooky”), died of a respiratory illness.
- 2016 – Greg Lake, 69-year-old prog-rock vocalist/bassist (Emerson, Lake & Palmer), died of cancer.
- 1977 – Peter Carl Goldmark, 71-year-old engineer who invented the long-playing (LP) record, died in a car crash.
- 2023 – Benjamin Zephaniah, 65-year-old British dub poet and musician, died after a battle with illness.
- December 7 has also marked the passing of many other talented musicians, making the date one of remembrance.
- Fans around the world use this date to reflect on the legacies of the artists we lost, as their music lives on.
Notable Albums Released (December 7)
- 1967 – British rock band Traffic released their debut album Mr. Fantasy.
- 1971 – Paul McCartney & Wings released their debut album Wild Life.
- 1973 – Progressive rock band Yes released their double album Tales from Topographic Oceans (UK release).
- 1981 – The Beach Boys released a compilation album Ten Years of Harmony (USA).
- 1984 – Foreigner released Agent Provocateur, featuring the hit “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
- 1984 – Roger Hodgson (formerly of Supertramp) released his solo album In the Eye of the Storm.
- 1987 – Foreigner released Inside Information, their sixth studio album.
- 1999 – R&B singer Kelis released her debut album Kaleidoscope.
- 2004 – Eric Clapton released Sessions for Robert J, a blues album paying tribute to Robert Johnson.
- 2018 – Van Morrison released The Prophet Speaks, a collection of soulful covers.
- 2018 – John Mellencamp released Other People’s Stuff, an album of songs he wrote for other artists.
- 2004 – Rapper Cam’ron released Purple Haze, adding a hip-hop album to the date’s releases.
Chart-Topping Hits (December 7)
- 1975 – The Eagles scored a No. 1 US hit with “New Kid in Town.”
- 1974 – Carl Douglas hit No. 1 in the US with “Kung Fu Fighting,” one of the best-selling singles ever.
- 1985 – Mr. Mister’s power ballad “Broken Wings” topped the US charts.
- 1979 – The Police earned a UK No. 1 single with “Walking on the Moon.”
- 1991 – George Michael and Elton John’s duet “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” reached No. 1 in the UK.
- 2008 – Leona Lewis reached No. 1 in the UK with her single “Run.”
- 1996 – Toni Braxton’s ballad “Un-Break My Heart” spent 11 weeks at No. 1 in the US.
- 1991 – Michael Jackson’s song “Black or White” reached No. 1 on the US pop chart.
- 1975 – Barry Manilow had his first US No. 1 hit with the song “Mandy.”
- These tracks are just a few of the many hits that have topped charts on or around December 7, showing the date’s impact on popular music.