September 1 has been a big day in Top 40 music history throughout the decades. From No. 1 hits and landmark albums to the birth of a K-Pop superstar, the date has produced plenty of memorable moments.
Here are some of the most significant events from September 1 in music history.
Breakthrough Hits and Chart Milestones
Reaching No. 1 can take a song or album from successful to career-defining. Several artists connected to September 1 music history achieved major chart milestones.
- 1981: Daryl Hall and John Oates released their tenth album, Private Eyes. Its first two singles, “Private Eyes” and “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” both reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart.
- 1984: After 25 years as a musician, Tina Turner finally reached the pinnacle with “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” The song inspired the title of her biopic, earned her multiple GRAMMY Awards and was later inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame.
- 1992: Country rock band Alabama released “I’m in a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why),” the second single from their fourteenth album, American Pride. The track reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and the RPM Country Tracks chart.
- 1998: Madonna released the power ballad “The Power of Good-Bye,” the fourth single from her critically acclaimed seventh album, Ray of Light. The song debuted at No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 before eventually peaking at No. 11.
- 2002: Coldplay reached No. 2 in the U.K. with A Rush of Blood to the Head. The album became a global success and earned the band its second GRAMMY for Best Alternative Album.
- 2008: Friendly Fires released “Jump in the Pool,” the third single from their self-titled debut album. The track peaked at No. 57 on the UK Singles Chart and was ranked No. 87 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Best Songs of 2008.”
Cultural Milestones and Music Birthdays
September 1 has also been significant for the artists who were born on this date and the performers whose careers made an impact on popular music.
- 1949: British-American singer and songwriter Barry Gibb was born in Douglas, Isle of Man. He rose to international fame as a founder and de facto leader of the Bee Gees alongside his younger fraternal twin brothers, Maurice and Robin. The trio enjoyed enormous success during the 1970s and 1980s with hits including “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Stayin’ Alive.” Gibb is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a six-time GRAMMY winner and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
- 1962: Tommy Roe’s “Sheila” began a two-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Roe wrote the song when he was just 14 years old. It also reached No. 1 in Canada and No. 3 in the U.K.
- 1984: Joe Trohman was born in Hollywood, Florida. The co-founder and guitarist of Fall Out Boy has helped the band score four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. Fall Out Boy has also produced platinum and multi-platinum singles including “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” and “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up).”
1997: Jungkook of BTS was born on September 1. He would go on to become one of the most recognizable stars in K-Pop and a member of BTS, the first Korean act to top the U.S. album charts and the fastest group since The Beatles to earn four No. 1 albums.
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- 2016: A plaque was added to Freddie Mercury’s family home in Feltham, west London. Mercury lived at the home after his family emigrated from Zanzibar in 1964.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Some of September 1’s music-history moments involve the recording studio and the concert stage.
- 1973: Paul and Linda McCartney began recording tracks for the upcoming Wings album Band on the Run while in Nigeria. They collaborated with Denny Laine on the album, which was released later that year.
- 1980: Fleetwood Mac wrapped up their tour with a concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. As the concert ended, Lindsey Buckingham announced to the crowd that the band would be taking a hiatus. The break lasted until 1982.
Industry Changes, Challenges and Losses
The music business is constantly changing, and September 1 has also been connected to some unusual incidents and significant losses.
- 2011: Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight over his sagging pants. The incident generated widespread attention on social media, eventually prompting an apology from Southwest.
- 2012: Lyricist Hal David died from a stroke at the age of 91. He was best known for his songwriting partnership with Burt Bacharach, which produced some of the most enduring songs in American pop music, including “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “What the World Needs Now,” “Walk on By” and “I Say a Little Prayer.”
- 2013: Singer and bassist Joe Kelley of Chicago rock band The Shadows of Knight died of lung cancer at age 67. The group was best known for its cover of Them’s 1964 hit “Gloria,” which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- 2023: Jimmy Buffett, best known for “Margaritaville,” died at age 76. In addition to his signature song, Buffett had five other Top 40 hits, including “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Knee Deep” with the Zac Brown Band.
Why September 1 Matters in Music History
From chart-topping hits and influential albums to legendary performers, surprising career moments and heartbreaking losses, September 1 has left its mark on popular music.
The date connects artists from across generations and genres, including Tina Turner, Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, Barry Gibb, Coldplay, BTS and Jimmy Buffett.
From Fleetwood Mac’s memorable final performance before their hiatus to Billie Joe Armstrong’s embarrassing flight fiasco, September 1 has been a memorable day in Top 40 music history.