This Day in Top 40 History: February 6
On this day in Top 40 history, a pop star, Sonny Bono, becomes a mayor and later a congressman. Also on February 6, The Eagles undergo a long and torturous…
On this day in Top 40 history, a pop star, Sonny Bono, becomes a mayor and later a congressman. Also on February 6, The Eagles undergo a long and torturous legal battle, and The Beatles have their beginning.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Memorable hits and chart-toppers include:
- 1958: A young George Harrison joins the group The Quarrymen with John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The Quarrymen eventually became The Beatles, changing the sound and vibe of early rock and roll.
- 1982: German group Kraftwerk's single, "The Model/Computer Love" reached #1 on the UK charts, the first German band to hit #1, where it stayed on the UK charts for 21 weeks.
- 1988: Singer Dusty Springfield pairs with the Pet Shop Boys in a duet of the song "What I've Done to Deserve This." The song hit #2 in the U.S. and UK.
Cultural Milestones
On February 6, cultural impacts include:
- 1943: Crooner Frank Sinatra made his radio debut with "Your Hit Parade." During Sinatra's long career, he became known as one of the biggest names in the music industry.
- 1945: Bob Marley is born in Jamacia. Marley introduced reggae to the mainstream and subsequently, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 in honor of his contribution to reggae music's influence on future musicians.
- 1966: The Animals appeared for the fifth time on the Ed Sullivan Show and performed their war protest song, "We Gotta Get Out of This Place."
Notable Recordings and Performances
February 6 had diverse recordings and interesting displays.
- 1953: Perry Como, the easy-listening crooner with a six-decade career, and his group The Rumblers had "Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes" become a hit on the newly-formed UK Singles chart.
- 1982: The J Geils Band lands "Centerfold" #1 in the U.S. and has a six-week run.
- 2007: Performer Kylie Minogue's stage costumes and awards go on display at the Victor and Albert Museum in London, England, to showcase her evolving style.
Industry Changes and Challenges
There were some interesting changes and challenges for the music industry on this day.
- 1987: Sonny Bono from the duo Sonny and Cher runs for mayor of Palm Springs, California. Republican Bono also became a member of Congress. The transition from pop star to politician is a major change.
- 1990: Singer Billy Idol almost loses his leg in a serious motorcycle accident. Idol was slated to play the villain T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day when his accident happened. Instead, Robert Patrick landed the role in this now iconic movie rocketing Patrick's acting career.
- 2001: Don Felder, former guitarist for the Eagles, gets a phone call that the band has decided to drop him and shortly after received his final termination notice. Felder filed a lawsuit against Eagles members Don Henley and Glen Frey and they filed a lawsuit against Felder, eventually settling out of court.
What a day February 6 was in Top 40 history. We saw musicians turning into politics, Billy Idol losing the role of the T-1000, and top hits still played today. These events may seem simple during their day but have long-lasting effects on the music industry and the cultural impact they have.
