September 11th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories and events for September 11 throughout music history

Photo: Richard E Aaron/Redferns

A Reggae Icon Is Laid To Rest

In 2020, Toots Hibbert, frontman of the legendary reggae band Toots and the Maytals, died at the age of 77. Hibbert was one of Jamaica’s most influential musicians, helping to popularize reggae in the 1960s with songs like “Pressure Drop,” “Monkey Man,” and “Funky Kingston.” Hibbert was such a seminal figure in the rise of reggae music that he is widely recognized as the artist that coined the term in the first place, via his 1968 single, “Do The Reggay.”

In 1982, John “Cougar” Mellencamp became the only male artist to have two singles in the US Top Ten as well as the No.1 album. “Jack and Diane” landed at No.4, while “Hurts So Good” came in at No.8. His album American Fool maintained the top spot for nine weeks.

In 1970, NME’s Keith Allston met with Jimi Hendrix, for what would turn out to be the artist’s final interview. In the article, Hendrix spoke about a new musical phase, even detailing collaborations with Miles Davis and Paul McCartney.

In 1987, reggae star Peter Tosh was tragically murdered in Kingston, Jamaica. Tosh rose to fame as a founding member of The Wailers, alongside Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer. After leaving the group in the mid-70s, Tosh established a successful solo career.

In 1977, David Bowie recorded a guest appearance on Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas TV show, duetting with Crosby for a medley of “Peace On Earth” and “Little Drummer Boy.” The now-iconic performance was one of Crosby’s last recordings before his death the following month.

In 1971, The animated Jackson Five series – The Jackson 5ive – premiered in the US on ABC.

In 1952, Ray Charles recorded his first session for Atlantic Records in New York City, performing “The Sun’s Gonna Shine Again,” “The Midnight Hour,” “Roll with My Baby,” and “Jumpin’ In The Mornin’.”

Looking for more things that happened on this day in music?
Keep scrolling for all of the headlines for September 11.

BORN ON SEPTEMBER 11:

1943: Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead)
1953: Tommy Shaw (Styx)
1965: Moby
1967: Harry Connick Jr.
1971: Richard Ashcroft (The Verve)
1977: Ludacris
1981: Charles Kelley (Lady A)

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Keep scrolling for all of our September 11 birthdays.

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September 11th

On this day in music

11 Sep 2024 Jon Bon Jovi helped coax a woman from jumping off a bridge in Nashville, Tennessee. The singer happened to be filming a music video on the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge when he saw a woman in a "moment of crisis," and helped persuade her to come off the ledge over the Cumberland River to safety.
11 Sep 2020 The Rolling Stones album Goats Head Soup was at No.1 on the UK chart. The 11th British and 13th American studio album by the Stones first released on 31 August 1973 had been remixed by Giles Martin for this 2020 reissue, including a deluxe edition with bonus tracks and unreleased outtakes.
11 Sep 2020 Toots Hibbert, frontman of the legendary reggae band Toots and the Maytals, died age 77 after being taken to hospital with Covid-like symptoms. One of Jamaica’s most influential musicians, he helped popularise reggae in the 1960s with songs like 'Pressure Drop', 'Monkey Man' and 'Funky Kingston'. He even claimed to have coined the genre’s name, on 1968’s 'Do The Reggay'.
11 Sep 2019 American songwriter and artist Daniel Johnston died of a suspected heart attack at his home in Waller, Texas, at the age of 58. Kurt Cobain once described him as 'the best songwriter on earth' and famously wore one of Johnston's t-shirts to the 1992 MTV Awards. Other musicians who have covered Johnston's songs include Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, Sufjan Stevens and Yo La Tengo.
11 Sep 2015 Mark Ronson’s hit Uptown Funk became the fifth biggest-selling single in British chart history with over two million UK sales and overtaking Paul McCartney & Wings’ 1977 chart-topper 'Mull Of Kintrye/Girls’ School'.
11 Sep 2014 American songwriter, singer, manager, and record producer Bob Crewe died aged 83. Crewe wrote a string of Top 10 singles for the Four Seasons, including 'Big Girls Don't Cry', 'Walk Like a Man', and 'Rag Doll'. He also had hit recordings with Lesley Gore, Michael Jackson, Bobby Darin, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson, Patti LaBelle, Barry Manilow and others.
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11 Sep 2006 A study from the University of Leicester found that more than a quarter of classical music fans had tried cannabis. Researchers were trying to find out what people's taste in music revealed about their lifestyles. The UK study also revealed that blues buffs are the most likely to have received a driving penalty. Hip hop and dance music fans were more likely to have multiple sex partners and were among the biggest drug-takers surveyed. More than 2,500 people were interviewed for the study, which was published in the scientific journal Psychology of Music.
11 Sep 2004 American lyricist Fred Ebb died of a heart attack at his home in New York City. Co-wrote, ‘New York, New York’ and ‘Chicago’ and worked with Liza Minnelli.
11 Sep 2003 Tommy Chong, one-half of the comedy team of Cheech and Chong, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and fined $20,000 for selling drug paraphernalia over the Internet. The 65 year-old Chong pled guilty to the charges last May. He remained free until April, 2004, when he went to jail.
11 Sep 2001 Walking to work in New York (as an comic book illustrator) Gerard Way witnessed the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre. The day's events inspired him to start a band, which became My Chemical Romance with Way becoming their lead singer.
11 Sep 1996 Noel Gallagher walked out on the rest of Oasis half way through an American tour after a fight with his brother Liam in a hotel in Charlotte North Carolina. Noel flew back to London the following day.
11 Sep 1993 Mariah Carey started a eight week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Dreamlover'. Also on the same day her fourth album 'Music Box' went to No.1 in the UK.
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11 Sep 1988 Michael Jackson appeared at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England on his Bad World Tour. Over 3,000 fans were treated by the St. John Ambulance service for passing out, hysteria and being crushed amongst the crowd of 125,000 fans, the largest concert of the 123-date world tour.
11 Sep 1987 Peter Gabriel cleaned up at this year's MTV Awards, winning best video, best male video, best concept video, best special effects and five other awards for the track 'Sledgehammer'.
11 Sep 1987 Level 42's 'It's Over', became the first CD video single to go on sale in the UK. It contained twenty minutes of music and five minutes of video (which remained unseen until CDV players went on sale).
11 Sep 1987 Peter Tosh of The Wailers was shot dead at his home in Kingston Jamaica by armed robbers.
11 Sep 1982 Chicago started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hard To Say I'm Sorry', the group's second US No.1. Taken from the film 'Summer Lovers', a No.4 hit in the UK.
11 Sep 1982 Frank Zappa's 'Valley Girl' reaches its chart peak of No. 32 on the US chart. The only Top 40 hit for the eccentric singer, who released over 60 albums in his lifetime. His daughter, Moon Unit Zappa, played the Valley Girl in the song.
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11 Sep 1982 John "Cougar" Mellencamp became the only male artist to have two singles in the US Top Ten as well as the No.1 album. ‘Jack and Diane’ was No.4, while ‘Hurts So Good’ was at No.8. His album ‘American Fool’ was at No.1 for the first of nine weeks.
11 Sep 1977 David Bowie recorded a guest appearance on 'Bing Crosby's 'Merrie Olde Christmas' TV show duetting with Crosby on 'Peace On Earth - Little Drummer Boy. The track became a UK No.3 hit five years later in 1982.
11 Sep 1976 KC and the Sunshine Band went to No.1 on the US singles chart with '(Shake Shake Shake), Shake Your Body', the group's third US No.1, a No.22 hit in the UK.
11 Sep 1971 The animated Jackson Five series premiered on ABC-TV in the US.
11 Sep 1971 Donny Osmond started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Go Away Little Girl'. The singers only US solo chart topper. The song had also been a No.1 for Steve Lawrence in 1963.
11 Sep 1970 NME’s Keith Allston interviewed Jimi Hendrix in England. The interview turned out to be Hendrix's last; he died a mere seven days later. During the interview, Hendrix talked about a new musical phase, with planned collaborations with Miles Davis and Paul McCartney.
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11 Sep 1968 Bassist from Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham was busted for cannabis possession as the band arrived in London to start a UK tour.
11 Sep 1967 Filming began for The Beatles ‘Magical Mystery Tour’. There was no script, nor a very clear idea of exactly what was to be accomplished, not even a clear direction about where the bus was supposed to go. The ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ bus set off for the West Country in England stopping for the night in Teignmouth, Devon were hundreds of fans greeted The Beatles at their hotel.
11 Sep 1965 The Beatles started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Help!, the group's sixth US chart topper.
11 Sep 1964 The London Evening News reported that a 16 year-old Eltham Collage boy, introduced as Laurie Yarham, was everyone's idea of a winner in a Mick Jagger look-a-like competition. Laurie looked like Mick Jagger and seemed to know his every action and the audience at Greenwich Town Hall were delighted, until the winner turned out to be Mick's younger brother Chris Jagger.
11 Sep 1962 After George Martin insisted that session drummer Andy White took Ringo Starr's place, The Beatles returned to EMI Studios in London for a third attempt at recording their first single. 'Love Me Do' was selected to be The Beatles' first A-side, with "P.S. I Love You" on the flip side (a reversal of the original plan). The single that was released on October 5th featured a version of ‘Love Me Do’ with Ringo on drums, but the album ‘Please Please Me’ included a version with Andy White on drums.
11 Sep 1956 Police were called to break up a crowd of rowdy teenagers following the showing of the film Rock Around the Clock at the Trocadero Cinema in London, England. The following day, The Times printed a reader's letter that said: "The hypnotic rhythm and the wild gestures have a maddening effect on a rhythm-loving age group and the result of its impact is the relaxing of all self-control." The film was quickly banned in several English cities.
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11 Sep 1952 After Atlantic Records bought Ray Charles' contract from Swingtime for $2,500, Charles recorded his first session for Atlantic, cutting four songs. Over the next seven years, he would record such classics as ‘Mess Around,’ ‘I Got a Woman,’ ‘Hallelujah, I Love Her So’ and ‘What'd I Say.’

Born on this day in music

11 Sep 1981 American country music singer-songwriter and founding member of Lady Antebellum, Charles Kelley. Their debut album included the trio's debut hit, 'Love Don't Live Here', along with the singles, 'Lookin' for a Good Time' and 'I Run to You'.
11 Sep 1977 Jonny Buckland, guitarist with Coldplay who had the 2000 UK No.4 single 'Yellow' and the 2000 UK No.1 album Parachutes and the 2005 worldwide No.1 album X&Y. The band have won a number of music awards throughout their career, including eight Brit Awards, winning Best British Group three times, five MTV Video Music Awards and seven Grammy Awards.
11 Sep 1977 Ludacris, (Chris Bridges), 2001 UK No.10 single with Missy Elliott, 'One Minute Man', 2002 US No.3 album 'Word Of Mouf'.
11 Sep 1971 Singer, songwriter Richard Ashcroft, from English rock band The Verve, who had the 1997 album Urban Hymns, one of the best-selling albums in UK Chart history. The album features the hit singles 'Bitter Sweet Symphony', 'The Drugs Don't Work' and 'Lucky Man' and spent over 100 weeks on the UK chart. Ashcroft had the 2000 solo UK No.3 single 'A Song For The Lovers', and the 2000 UK No.1 album Alone With Everybody.
11 Sep 1967 Harry Connick Jr, singer, actor, (1991 UK No.32 single 'It Had To Be You, Recipe For Love').
11 Sep 1966 Gregory Kane, Hue and Cry, (1987 UK No.6 single 'Labour Of Love'). 2000 UK No.1 album 'Play').
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11 Sep 1965 Moby, (Richard Hall), producer, vocalist, 1991 UK No.10 single 'Go'. His album 'Play' was the biggest selling UK indie album of 2000, spending 81 weeks on the chart and going platinum in over 20 countries. Moby is a descendent of 'Moby Dick' author Herman Melville.
11 Sep 1958 Mick Talbot, Keyboards, Style Council, (1983 UK No.3 single 'Long Hot Summer' plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles). Merton Parkers, (1979 UK No.40 single 'You Need Wheels).
11 Sep 1957 Jon Moss, drums, Culture Club, (1983 UK No.1 & 1984 US No.1 single 'Karma Chameleon' plus seven other UK top 10 singles).
11 Sep 1953 American musician, singer, and songwriter Tommy Shaw from Styx who had the 1979 US No.1 & 1980 UK No.6 single 'Babe'. He has played with other groups including Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades as well as releasing several solo albums.
11 Sep 1948 John Martyn, (Iain David McGeachy), singer, songwriter, guitarist, who had the 1973 album 'Solid Air'. Martyn died in hospital on 30th Jan 2009 in Ireland at the age of 60. The folk, blues and funk artist was widely regarded as one of the most soulful and innovative singer-songwriters of his generation and had been cited as an influence by artists as varied as U2, Portishead and Eric Clapton.
11 Sep 1947 Richard Jaeger, percussionist, Worked with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, The Pointer Sisters. He died on 27th August 2000.
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11 Sep 1946 Dennis Tufano, lead singer with American Sunshine pop group The Buckinghams who had the 1967 US No.1 single 'Kind Of A Drag' and became one of the top selling US acts of 1967.
11 Sep 1943 American percussionist and musicologist Mickey Hart, best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band Grateful Dead. In 1991, Hart produced the album Planet Drum, which remained at No.1 on the Billboard World Music chart for 26 weeks, and received the first ever Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.
11 Sep 1943 American guitarist and singer, Jack Ely, best known for singing the Kingsmen's version of 'Louie Louie'. For a while, the record was banned by a handful of US radio stations because of its indecipherable lyrics, which were rumored to contain some naughty words. Even the F.B.I. investigated the song, but finally concluded that they could find nothing wrong. Ely died on 27th April 2015.
11 Sep 1940 Bernie Dwyer, from the 1960s pop band Freddie and the Dreamers. They scored the 1963 UK No.3 single 'You Were made For Me', and the 1965 US No.1 single 'I'm Telling You Now'.