July 4 is a big day for music fans. Families and friends often crank up tunes while celebrating. Here are notable moments in Top 40 history that happened on Independence Day.
Breakthrough hits and milestones
– 1964: The Beach Boys hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. The song stayed atop the chart for two weeks.
– 1986: Run-D.M.C. teamed with Aerosmith for a rap-rock version of Aerosmith’s 1975 hit. The collaboration pushed Run-D.M.C. up the charts and helped bring Aerosmith back into the mainstream.
– 1988: Kylie Minogue released her debut album, Kylie. It didn’t crack the U.S. Top 40 but spent six weeks at No. 1 in the U.K. and produced several U.K. Top 40 singles.
– 1995: Foo Fighters released their self-titled debut, written and recorded by Dave Grohl. The album debuted at No. 23 on the Billboard 200.
– 2005: Missy Elliott dropped The Cookbook, featuring Fantasia, Mary J. Blige, Mike Jones, and Ciara. It hit No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums Chart and reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Cultural moments
– 1895: A patriotic song was first released on July 4 and remains culturally significant in the U.S.
– 1958: Kirk Pengilly, a founding member of INXS, was born in Melbourne. INXS later scored multiple U.S. Top 40 hits.
– 1970: American Top 40 debuted with Casey Kasem, using Billboard charts to craft its weekly list.
– 1982: Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne married in Hawaii. Sharon played a key role in building Ozzy’s solo career. They stayed together and raised three children.
– 1995: Post Malone was born in Syracuse, New York. He would grow into a major artist by mixing genres and connecting with wide audiences.
Enjoy the music this July 4 — it’s a day packed with hits and history.
