Not every artist, song, or album can claim a place in Top 40 history, but the honor is significant for those who make it. On June 16, there have been many historical Top 40 moments worth remembering. For all the music lovers, here are the hit songs, cultural events, popular recordings, and challenges that made Top 40 history on June 16 of years gone by.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
You may recall these hit songs that dominated the charts on June 16:
- 1977: “Lucille” by Kenny Rogers was at the top of the Official U.K. Singles Chart, marking his first No. 1 hit as a solo artist. The song also reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Country Singles chart.
- 1990: Roxette’s “It Must Have Been Love” from the movie Pretty Woman reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- 2002: Elvis Presley reappeared on the Official U.K. Singles Chart with a remix of his 1968 song “A Little Less Conversation” debuting at No. 1. This made Elvis the artist with the most U.K. No. 1 hits.
Notable Recordings and Performances
In the 1960s, rock ‘n’ roll artists were making waves in the music industry, and these recordings and performances from June 16 carved a place in Top 40 music history:
- 1965: At Columbia Studios A in Manhattan, New York, Bob Dylan recorded “Like a Rolling Stone.” This album is still considered one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll recordings of all time, although it peaked at No. 2.
- 1967: The three-day Monterey Pop Festival, widely considered a precursor to the Woodstock Festival, kicked off in Monterey, California. Simon & Garfunkel, among the best-selling music performers of all time, headlined on this day.
Industry Changes and Challenges
June 16 has seen many genre-defining events in the music industry, such as:
- 1971: Tupac Shakur, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, was born in New York City. He’s had nine Top 40 singles, including “How Do You Want It/California Love,” which was the rapper’s only No. 1 hit.
- 2010: Warsaw, Poland, had the honor of hosting the Sonisphere Festival, which featured performances by Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. This kicked off the Big Four tour.
- 2016: During a performance at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton, Canada, Meat Loaf collapsed on stage for the third time in his career. He was singing “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” at the time.
This day in Top 40 music history won’t soon be forgotten. With all the significant moments contributing to the music industry, you can be sure June 16 will continue to have its place.
