Pick a Day

Music History Events: Milestones

August 10, 1963 Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips (Part 2)" becomes the first live recording to hit #1 in the US. It holds the position for three weeks.More

January 20, 1962 Dick Dale's guitar instrumental "Let's Go Trippin'" hits #60, becoming the first Surf Rock song to chart. Many groups, including The Beach Boys, subsequently cover the song.More

December 11, 1961 Motown Records scores their first #1 on the Hot 100 when The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" tops the chart.

August 4, 1958 Bobby Darin has his first hit as "Splish Splash" reaches #3 in America. The song is later used on Sesame Street as a way to encourage kids to get in the tub.

March 14, 1958 The RIAA issues their first Gold Single for sales of a million copies, which goes to Perry Como's "Catch A Falling Star." Record labels have been awarding their own artists Gold records for years, starting with Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo Choo" in 1942, but this is the first RIAA official certification.

January 8, 1957 Rock and roll comes to Australia when Bill Haley, LaVern Baker and The Platters kick off a tour at Newcastle Stadium that continues on to West Melbourne Stadium and Sydney Stadium. It's the first rock stadium show, pre-dating the Beatles Shea Stadium concert by eight years.

August 27, 1955 Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame" hits #10 in the US, becoming the first R&B song to hit the Top 10 on the Pop chart. Three weeks later, Pat Boone's cover hits #1.

January 2, 1926 The first edition of the legendary British music magazine Melody Maker is published, promising news and information for "all who are interested in the production of popular music."

April 5, 1923 Joe Oliver and King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, featuring a young Louis Armstrong, make the first jazz recordings by an African American band at Gennett Records in rural Richmond, Indiana.More

April 9, 1860 An anonymous vocalist sings "Au Clair De La Lune" to Parisian inventor Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville, who makes the first known and oldest surviving recording of the human voice.More

February 24, 2024 Beyoncé becomes the first Black woman to top the Country chart when "Texas Hold 'Em," a song she surprised released the night of the Super Bowl, hits #1 on that tally.

January 27, 2024 Max Martin breaks Beatles producer George Martin's record for most #1 hits as a producer when "Yes, And?," which he helmed for Ariana Grande, becomes his 24th chart-topping production. His first was "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears in 1999.

August 26, 2023 Oliver Anthony becomes the first artist with no chart history to debut at #1 in America when "Rich Men North Of Richmond," recorded outdoors in one take with his dogs nearby, shoots to the top.More

August 5, 2023 For the first time since 1958, country songs claim the top three spots on the Hot 100: #1 "Try That in a Small Town" by Jason Aldean #2 "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen #3 "Fast Car" by Luke Combs (a cover of Tracy Chapman's song)

April 12, 2023 "Gasolina" by Daddy Yankee becomes the first reggaeton song entered into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Other songs added include "Margaritaville" and "Stairway To Heaven."

April 8, 2023 Jimin of BTS becomes the first South Korean solo artist to hit #1 in America when his song "Like Crazy" debuts at the top spot. PSY came close in 2012 when "Gangnam Style" went to #2.

November 5, 2022 Thanks to huge streaming numbers, Taylor Swift claims every spot on the Top 10 of the Hot 100 with songs from her album Midnights, with "Anti-Hero" at #1. She's the first artist to do so; Drake held nine of the Top 10 for a week in September 2021.

October 29, 2022 Kim Petras becomes the first transgender singer to top the Hot 100 when her Sam Smith collaboration "Unholy" goes to #1.

December 12, 2020 Bad Bunny's El Último Tour Del Mundo hits #1 on the US albums chart, becoming the first album entirely in Spanish to top the tally.

April 30, 2020 On his 100th birthday, Captain Tom Moore lands the UK #1 hit with a new version of "You'll Never Walk Alone." Moore, a decorated veteran of World War II, raised money for coronavirus relief by walking in his garden. The song was assembled by Michael Ball using Moore's vocals.

December 3, 2017 LL Cool J, 49, becomes the youngest person to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, and the first rapper to do so.

May 22, 2016 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper becomes the first streaming-only entry on Billboard's albums chart when it debuts at #8.

December 12, 2015 Chance the Rapper becomes the first unsigned artist to perform as musical guest on Saturday Night Live.

April 13, 2015 "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa breaks the Spotify record for most-streamed track in a single day in America when it is streamed 4.2 million times.

August 23, 2014 The Guardians Of The Galaxy soundtrack, an awesome mix of '70s hits, goes to #1 in America, where it stays for two weeks.More

November 19, 2011 17-year-old Justin Bieber hits #1 with his Christmas album Under The Mistletoe, making him the only teenager ever to top the chart with a holiday album.

March 5, 2011 Justin Bieber, 17, hits #1 with Never Say Never - The Remixes, a companion to his Never Say Never concert film. This makes him the only male solo artist with two #1 albums before turning 18. Before the year is over he adds a third with his Christmas album Under The Mistletoe.

May 15, 2010 Usher hits #1 in America with his Will.i.am collaboration "OMG," giving him chart-topping hits in the '90s, '00s, and '10s.

July 1, 2009 Following Michael Jackson's death the previous week, he becomes the first act to sell more than 1 million song downloads in a week.

December 31, 2008 At halftime of the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, 40,148 fans perform the "Y.M.C.A." dance while the Village People perform, establishing a Guinness World Record. It is the most memorable part of the game, which Oregon State wins 3-0 over Pittsburgh.