September 8th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Scroll down the page to see all the music headlines, stories and events for September 8 throughout music history

Photo by Jim Britt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Marvin Gaye Tops The Charts With ‘Let’s Get It On’

On September 8, 1973, Marvin Gaye began a two-week run at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the sultry “Let’s Get It On.” The song, which also served as the title track of Gaye’s 13th studio album, was written by Marvin Gaye and producer Ed Townsend and featured instrumentation by the legendary Funk Brothers. The track quickly became one of Motown Records’ biggest singles, as well as Gaye’s signature hit.

In 1990, Jon Bon Jovi topped the Billboard Hot 100 with his debut single as a solo artist, “Blaze of Glory.” The song, which landed at No.2 in the UK, was written by the Bon Jovi frontman for the Emilio Estevez-led film, Young Guns II.

In 2005, Help: A Day in the Life – a compilation benefiting War Child International – was released. The album, which featured some of the biggest bands in the UK, was not only thought to be the fastest-ever produced record, but also became the fastest-selling download album of all-time. Coldplay, Radiohead, Kaiser Chiefs, Antony and the Johnsons, The Magic Numbers, The Coral, Bloc Party, and Gorillaz all contributed to the 22-track album, which was made available for download just 30 hours after its marathon recording session.

In 2020, composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, saxophonist, and co-founding member of Kool & the Gang, Ronald Bell, died at the age of 68. Bell wrote and produced many Kool & the Gang’s biggest hits, including “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness,” and the enduring disco classic, “Celebration.”

In 1968, The Beatles performed “Hey Jude” on the UK television show Frost On Sunday in front of an invited audience. Clocking in at just over seven minutes, the song not only marked the first single to be released on The Beatles’ label, Apple Records, but was also the longest single ever, at the time, to top the British charts.

In 1984, 18 years after his chart debut, Stevie Wonder earned his first UK No.1 with the joyful ballad, “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” Written for the film The Woman In Red, the song remained in the top position for six weeks. “I Just Called to Say I Love You” also reached the No.1 spot across Europe, in the US, South Africa, Australia, and numerous other countries.

In 2003, David Bowie performed the world’s first interactive concert from London’s Riverside Studios, where he performed songs off his forthcoming album, REALITY, plus a handful of fan favorites. The show was broadcast to 21 cinemas around the globe, where audience members could speak to the rock star, and request songs, via microphones linked to ISDN lines.

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BORN ON SEPTEMBER 8:

1897: Jimmie Rodgers
1932: Patsy Cline
1945: Ron McKernan (Grateful Dead)
1979: Pink
1987: Wiz Khalifa
1989: Avicii
1990: Jay Weinberg (Slipknot)

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Keep scrolling for all of our September 8 birthdays.

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September 8th

On this day in music

8 Sep 2020 American composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, saxophonist and co-founding member of Kool & the Gang, Ronald Bell died age 68. He wrote and produced many of the Kool & the Gang’s songs, including ‘Celebration’, ‘Cherish’, ‘Jungle Boogie’ and ‘Summer Madness’. He said his favorite song was ‘Celebration’, which he wrote after picking up a Bible in a hotel room.
8 Sep 2016 Jamaican singer, songwriter and producer, Prince Buster died in a hospital in Miami, Florida, after suffering heart problems. The first Jamaican to have a top 20 hit in the UK, Prince Buster defined the sound of ska in the 1960s before going on to inspire the Two Tone movement of the late '70s.
8 Sep 2011 Jury selection began for the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray. Prospective jurors were asked to fill out a 30-page questionnaire to determining their level of knowledge of the case and any strong views about Jackson or Murray.
8 Sep 2007 A commemorative plaque dedicated to Don Arden and the Small Faces was unveiled at 52–55 Carnaby Street, London, Arden's former offices. Arden achieved notoriety in Britain for his aggressive, sometimes illegal business tactics and looked after the career's of Small Faces, the Move, the Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath. He was the father of Sharon Osbourne (and father-in-law of Ozzy Osbourne).
8 Sep 2007 Foxy Brown was sent to jail for a year in New York for violating her probation terms after she travelled outside New York without the court's permission and had missed anger management classes. The rapper (real name Inga Marchand), was arrested for allegedly assaulting a neighbour and in October 2006 she was put on probation for allegedly assaulting two nail salon workers in August 2004.
8 Sep 2005 Rod Stewart was ordered to pay a Las Vegas casino $2m (£1.1m) for missing a New Year concert in 2000. Stewart had said he was unable to play at the Rio hotel and casino because his voice disappeared after an operation to remove a cancerous thyroid tumour. The singer said his voice only recovered in time to begin a world tour in June 2001 and he had since performed 150 shows.
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8 Sep 2005 A charity album featuring some of the biggest bands in the UK was thought to be the fastest ever produced. Coldplay, Radiohead, Kaiser Chiefs, Antony and the Johnsons, The Magic Numbers, The Coral, Bloc Party and Gorillaz were among those who recorded tracks for ‘Help: A Day in the Life.’ The whole 22-track album was made available for download from the War Child website the following day.
8 Sep 2004 Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant was guest of honour at the unveiling of a statue of 15th century rebel leader Owain Glyndwr at Pennal church, near Machynlleth in Wales. Plant, who owns a farmhouse in the area had donated money towards a bronze sculpture of the Welsh prince.
8 Sep 2003 David Bowie performed the first interactive concert when his performance was beamed live into 21 cinemas from Warsaw to Edinburgh. Members of the audience talked to Bowie via microphones linked to ISDN lines and took requests for songs from fans.
8 Sep 2002 Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson started his new job as an airline pilot. The heavy metal singer qualified as a £35,000 - a year first officer with Gatwick based airline Astraeus who took holidaymakers to Portugal and Egypt.
8 Sep 1999 Sean Puffy Combes and his bodyguard Paul Offered both pleaded guilty to harassment in a New York Court. The pair faced charges of assaulting record company executive Steve Stoute with a champagne bottle a chair and a telephone.
8 Sep 1997 29 years after the band first formed, Led Zeppelin released 'Whole Lotta Love', their first ever single in the UK. The track recorded in 1969 and featured on the bands second album was issued to promote their re-issued back catalogue.
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8 Sep 1997 Derek Taylor the publicist for The Beatles died aged 67. Taylor had been responsible for many of the legends surrounding their career and had also worked with The Beach Boys and The Byrds. In 1967 he helped organise the Monterey Pop Festival together with Lou Adler and John Philips. He helped launch the Beatles Anthology trilogy in the 90s.
8 Sep 1993 Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love appeared on stage together at a show in Hollywood. They performed a song they wrote together 'Penny Royal Tea'.
8 Sep 1990 Jon Bon Jovi went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Blaze Of Glory', a No.2 in the UK. The track appeared in the motion picture Young Guns II, for which it was originally recorded.
8 Sep 1984 Stevie Wonder had his first UK No.1 with 'I Just Called To Say I Love You'. Taken from the film 'The Woman In Red', it was 18 years after Wonder's chart debut in 1966. The song stayed at No.1 for six weeks.
8 Sep 1979 Led Zeppelin scored their eighth UK No.1 album when 'In Through The Out Door' went to the top of the charts for two weeks. The eighth studio album by Zeppelin, was their final album of entirely new material.
8 Sep 1977 Guitarist Jimmy McCulloch left Wings to help re-form the Small Faces. McCulloch had played with Paul McCartney band on the Venus and Mars and Wings At the Speed of Sound albums, as well as on the Wings Over America tour. He died two years later at the age of 26. Drummer Joe English also left Wings at this time, joining Sea Level.
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8 Sep 1974 Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young and The Beach Boys all appeared at the New York 'Summersault '74' at Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury.
8 Sep 1973 Marvin Gaye Gaye started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Let's Get It On', his second US No.1, only reached No.31 in the UK.
8 Sep 1971 The Tams were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hey Girl Don't Bother Me', a reissue of a 1964 US hit.
8 Sep 1968 Led Zeppelin appeared at Raventlow Parken, Nykobing, Falster, Denmark supported by The Beatnicks and The Ladybirds, (who were a all girl topless go-go dancing outfit). This was the group's third ever live gig.
8 Sep 1968 The Beatles were seen performing ‘Hey Jude’ on the UK television show 'Frost On Sunday' in front of an invited audience. The song was the first single from The Beatles' record label Apple Records and at over seven minutes in length, 'Hey Jude' was, at the time, the longest single ever to top the British charts. It also spent nine weeks as No.1 in the United States—the longest run at the top of the American charts for a Beatles' single.
8 Sep 1957 Reet Petite' by Jackie Wilson was released for the first time, it became a UK No. 1, 29 years later. During a 1975 benefit concert, Wilson collapsed on-stage from a heart attack and subsequently fell into a coma that persisted for nearly nine years until his death in 1984.
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8 Sep 1956 Eddie Cochran signed a one year contract with Liberty Records, Cochran went on to give Liberty three top 40 hits over the next several years including ‘Summertime Blues,’ ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ and ‘C’mon Everybody’.

Born on this day in music

8 Sep 1990 American musician and drummer Jay Weinberg, from heavy metal band Slipknot. He is the son of American drummer Max Weinberg from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
8 Sep 1989 Swedish DJ, remixer, and record producer, Tim Bergling, (Avicii). He was nominated for a Grammy for Best Dance Recording with 'Levels' at the 2013 Grammy Awards. His biggest single was 2013’s 'Wake Me Up'. He recorded with Wyclef Jean, Robbie Williams, ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, Rita Ora and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. Avicii died on 20 April 2018 aged 28. It was reported that the cause of death was a suicide due to self-inflicted injuries with a broken wine bottle.
8 Sep 1987 Wiz Khalifa (Cameron Jibril Thomaz), American rapper and singer-songwriter. He scored the 2014 US No.1 album Blacc Hollywood and his 2015 single ‘See You Again’ (from the soundtrack of the 2015 film Furious 7 as a tribute to actor Paul Walker) spent 12 non-consecutive weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100 and was a No.1 in seven other countries.
8 Sep 1980 Slim Thug, US rapper (born Stayve Jerome Thomas). 2005 US No.2 album Already Platinum’ and the 2006 US No.1 single with Beyoncé 'Check On It’, Thug has also worked with Gwen Stefani and LeToya Luckett.
8 Sep 1979 Pink, (Alicia Moore), who had the 2001 UK No.2 single 'Get The Party Started', the 2001 US & UK No.1 single with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and Mya Lady Marmalade. Pink has become one of the most successful artists of her generation, having sold over 110 million records worldwide.
8 Sep 1975 Richard Hughes, drums, Keane, their 2004 UK No.1 album 'Hopes And Fears' was the second best-selling British album of the year.
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8 Sep 1972 American filmmaker and music video director Lance Bangs. He has created videos for many artists including Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Green Day, Arcade Fire, R.E.M., Death Cab for Cutie, The Black Keys, Pavement and George Harrison.
8 Sep 1971 American musician Jason "Jay" Mehler. He played guitar with Kasabian from 2006 to 2013, when he quit to become a touring member of Beady Eye, until their disbanding in late 2014. Mehler continued as a session and touring musician for Liam Gallagher since 2017.
8 Sep 1960 Aimee Mann, US singer songwriter, member of Til Tuesday, solo, (1993 album 'Whatever').
8 Sep 1960 David Steele, from British band Fine Young Cannibals, who had the 1989 UK No.5 single 'She Drives Me Crazy', and as a member of The Beat had the 1983 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Can't Get Used To Losing You'.
8 Sep 1958 American musician and record producer Michael Lardie from rock bands Great White and Night Ranger. He worked on records by artists as diverse as Black Flag, Kajagoogoo, Dokken and Saint Vitus.
8 Sep 1958 David Lewis, from American band Atlantic Starr who had the 1987 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Always'.
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8 Sep 1947 Benjamin Orr bass, vocals, The Cars, who had the 1978 UK No.3 single 'My Best Friend's Girl.' Their 1984 US No.3 & 1985 UK No.4 'Drive' was used as part of the soundtrack for the Live Aid concert. Orr died of cancer in Atlanta on 3 October 2000, aged 53.
8 Sep 1946 American rock musician George Tickner. He played rhythm guitar and co-wrote songs as a founding member of Journey. Before joining Journey, Tickner was a member of the San Francisco psychedelic rock band Frumious Bandersnatch. Tickner died on 5 July 2023, at the age of 76.
8 Sep 1945 Ron McKernan, organ, and one of the founding members of Grateful Dead who played in the group from 1965 to 1972. Unlike the other members of the Grateful Dead, McKernan avoided psychedelic drugs, preferring to drink alcohol (namely whiskey and flavored fortified wine). By 1971, his health had been affected by alcoholism and liver damage and doctors advised him to stop touring. He died on 8th March 1973 from cirrhosis of the liver aged 27.
8 Sep 1945 English musician Kelly Groucutt, bassist, with Electric Light Orchestra, who had the 1979 UK No.3 & US No.4 single 'Don't Bring Me Down' plus 26 other Top 40 hits. Groucutt began his musical career at 15 as Rikki Storm of Rikki Storm and the Falcons. He died from a heart attack on 19 February 2009 aged 63.
8 Sep 1942 Sal Spampinato, The Beau Brummels, (1965 US No.8 single, 'Just A Little.')
8 Sep 1942 Brian Cole, bass, vocals, The Association, (1967 US No.1 single 'Windy'). Cole died on 2nd August 1972.
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8 Sep 1932 Patsy Cline country music singer. Her hits began in 1957 with Donn Hecht's and Alan Block's 'Walkin' After Midnight', Hank Cochran's and Harlan Howard's 'I Fall to Pieces', Willie Nelson's 'Crazy' and ended in 1963 with Don Gibson's 'Sweet Dreams'. She died aged 30 on 5 March 1963 at the height of her career in a plane crash. She was one of the most influential, successful and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century. Ten years after her death, in 1973, she became the first female solo artist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
8 Sep 1925 Peter Sellers actor, The Goons, (1956 UK No.9 single 'Ying Tong Song' with The Goons, 1960 UK No.4 single 'Goodness Gracious Me', with Sophia Loren, 1965 UK No.14 single 'A Hard Day's Night'). Sellers died of a heart attack on 24th July 1980.
8 Sep 1897 Jimmie Rodgers singer, songwriter, the first country music star. Sold over 12 million records and was the first person to be elected into the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Rodgers died on 26th May 1933.